Page 30 of When We Were Young

‘Yes! You make my life miserable!’ With a toss of the head, she stamps up the last few steps to her room.

The door slams.

Teenagers say this to their parents. I probably even said it to mine.

But I am one big bruise, raw and tender, and her words dig into me like pointed fingers.

Chapter 16

January 1995

When Will and Matty pulled up outside the rehearsal studio that Sunday, Reu wasn’t waiting outside.

‘Where is he?’ Matty asked as they got out of the car.

‘Maybe he’s inside?’ But the door was locked.

‘The buses are probably running late. Shall we get started?’

They spent half an hour jamming. Will wasn’t feeling it, but it was Matty who spoke up. ‘Something’s not right. Reu’s always here first. We should look for him.’

Will agreed. ‘Let’s follow the bus route back to his place. You know what it’s like when a bus breaks down, they kick you out and make you wait for the next one.’

They jumped in Matty’s mum’s car and checked all the bus stops on the route until they reached Reu’s estate.

Will looked up at the concrete high-rise. ‘Whenever we’ve dropped him off before, he goes in that door. Don’t suppose you know his flat number?’

‘Nope. The one time I picked him up, he was waiting outside.’

Two teenagers loitered nearby. Will got out of the car. ‘Hey guys, do you know Reu? Skinny kid. Long black, curly hair.’

‘Yeah, what’s it to you?’ asked the spotty one.

‘Do you know his flat number?’

‘What’s it worth?’ asked the taller one.

‘You’re joking. You want money to tell me where he lives?’

‘Either you wanna know or you don’t.’

‘Fucksake.’ Will rummaged in his pockets. ‘I’ve only got a tenner.’

‘That’ll do.’

‘I know it’ll do. It will more than bloody do.’ Will called over to the car, ‘Matty, have you got any change?’

‘It’s the tenner or nothing, mate,’ said the tall one, but Matty was shaking his head, anyway.

Will held out the note but wouldn’t let go until the spotty one said ‘Forty-four’ and they ran off laughing. He could’ve picked a number at random. Will pressed the buzzer gingerly.

‘Yeah?’ came a female voice.

‘Is Reu there?’

‘Who’s asking?’

‘I’m a friend of his – Will.’