Page 16 of When We Were Young

‘We do, it’s just… delayed.’

‘No, we don’t have a fucking house kit. You’ll have to ask these guys if you can borrow theirs.’

On stage, two band members were locked in a vicious argument. Will didn’t fancy his chances of getting them to share.

The doors from the loading area swung open and the headline band dragged in their gear. Will gave them a minute, then sidled up to the one who looked most like a drummer. ‘You’re Space Pirates, aren’t you?’

‘SpaceJunkies,actually.’

‘You’re the drummer,’ Will ventured.

‘Yeah.’

One out of two – not bad.‘Any chance we can borrow your kit?’

‘Fuck off!’

Will slumped into a seat at the table where Matty and Reu were waiting. ‘The Space Junkies won’t let us borrow their kit.’

‘Let me try,’ said Reu.

Reu walked up to the drummer and started talking. Whatever Reu was saying made him nod and smile. Then theyhigh-fived. Matty and Will exchanged looks.

Reu returned a few minutes later, grinning. ‘He’s gonna let us use it.’

‘How come?’ asked Will.

‘I’ve been to a few of their gigs. I remembered stuff about his kit and the rolls he does. And I flattered him a bit.’

‘Reu, you genius!’ Matty gave Reu a playful punch on the arm. ‘Ah, look, there’s Mitch.’

Mitch was marching towards them, brow creased. ‘Where the fuck were you?’ he spat.

‘Where the fuck wereyou?’ replied Will.

‘I went to your house – no one was there!’

‘You were meant to be there at four – we waited ages for you.’

‘You don’t needthatlong to get here. It’s only twelve miles!’ Mitch noticed Reu standing beside Will. ‘What’s he doing here? Were you going to get him to play instead of me?’

‘No. Reu helped with the gear, but he’d have played if we needed him to.’

‘You back-stabbing bastards…’

‘If we’d waited for you, we’d be off the bill,’ said Matty.

‘It’s always you two against me. I’m fucking sick of it! Let him play, see how that goes. I hope you bomb tonight – at your precious Mean Fiddler. Shame there’s no one here to see it.’ He knocked into Reu on his way to the door.

‘Looks like you’re up, Reu,’ said Matty.

All the colour drained from Reu’s face.

Considering their new line-up, Will shortened the set list and put the songs Reu was most comfortable with first – they’d have to wing the rest. Andy didn’t give them long to sound check and it sounded rubbish, and despite rushing to get there, they still had to wait a full hour before performing. They sat there hardly talking, nervous energy buzzing in the air between them.

‘I just spoke to one of the Space Junkies,’ said Matty after a trip to the gents. ‘He told me they’ve got an A&R man from Island Records coming tonight,’

‘Wow,’ said Will. ‘They must be good.’