Page 3 of When We Were Young

‘Can we have your full attention, sir?’ barked Senior, his neat white moustache twitching. ‘You’ve been asked to move on several occasions. You’re causing an obstruction.’

‘An obstruction?’ said Will. ‘Christ, have you got nothing better to do?’

Senior scowled, veins bulging at his temples. ‘I’m arresting you for causing a breach of the peace and for causing anobstruction.’

Will stifled a snort of laughter. Senior’s eyes widened. He nodded to Junior, who manhandled Will into a pair of handcuffs.

‘You’re not seriously arresting me?’

The girl was still on the wrong side of the barriers, watching along with everyone else. It was his turn to be embarrassed now.

‘Yes. I. Am,’ said Senior.

Junior pulled Will by the elbow.

‘Hang on, what about my stuff?’

‘Not my problem, son,’ said Junior, which was rich coming from him considering he looked like a kid playing dress-up.

‘You can’t do that!’

‘Watch me.’

‘Ah, comeon!’

Over his shoulder, he looked back at the girl. She was through the barriers now, watching them drag him away. He’d got her attention at last, but for all the wrong reasons. Today of all days. The day when he was finally going to say something.

Chapter 3

March 2016

Liv

What just happened? Through the shattered windscreen, I see a lamppost embedded in the car bonnet.

Mum is sayingAre you okay?over and over as pain seeps across my shoulder and chest. ‘Liv, answer me, please! Are you okay?’

‘Yeah… I think so. What happened?’

Blood trickles from her eyebrow in a thick red line. She drops her head into her hands, spreading the blood around, making me feel sick. ‘I don’t know… I got distracted.’

‘You’ve cut your head,’ I tell her, but she ignores me.

‘That music… that song… I knew him.’

‘Who? What are you talking about?’

‘I can’t listen to that…’

Steam hisses from under the bonnet. We should get out.

I stumble around the back of the car and help her out, but as soon as we reach the pavement, she sinks to her knees in tears. She’s freaking me out. Maybe she has concussion.

‘Should I call an ambulance?’ I ask.

She’s crying uncontrollably now. ‘No… I’m okay.’

She’snotokay.