Page 64 of Our Song

‘Well, yeah, it’s just that it’s the last practice before the gig,’ he said.‘Maybe I shouldn’t run off straight away.’

The temptation to say ‘Yeah, you’re right, you shouldn’t’ was so, so strong.Jess was clearly asking him out.And for fuck’s sake, he must know that.If you just want some company at a family party you ask one of your mates.You don’t invite the hot man you’ve only known for two months to be your plus-one.But what was I going to say?‘No, you can’t go to the party with that gorgeous girl who you clearly really like, you have to go to the pub with me?’What wouldthatsound like?I thought of the fondness in his voice when he talked to her.Pathetic, that’s what it would sound like.

So I said, ‘Don’t be silly, of course you should go!’

‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’

‘Why would I mind?’I said, wrinkling my nose as if that was the most ridiculous suggestion I’d ever heard.‘Come on, we’d better change and buy these before the shop closes.’

‘It’s not definitely a date,’ said Katie the next day.

‘It’s notnota date,’ I said miserably.We were sitting in the Buttery eating unsatisfactory sandwiches.‘It’s not just a little thing in her family house.It’s in some fancy hotel in town.’

‘Laura!’I looked up to see Ruairí approaching our table, a rolled-up tube of paper in one hand.With a sinking feeling I realised I’d completely forgotten to contact the others about deciding on a band name.

‘Oh shite, Ru, I’m so sorry, something came up—’ I began but Ruairí interrupted me.

‘Look, when I didn’t hear from you I had to finish the posters anyway.’He unrolled the tube and held up a poster.

‘Oh my God!’I stared at him in horror as Katie let out a gleeful hoot of laughter.

At the top of the poster, over a diagram taken from an old sociology book about juvenile delinquency, were the names Sourpuss, then Shatner and then finally The Band Laura’s In.

‘You left me no choice!’said Ruairí.‘I don’t know what the hell Tim’s calling himself these days.And I couldn’t remember your other bandmates’ names.’He handed me the tube of posters.‘Can you put these up in the northside music shops?’

I nodded.When he’d gone Katie said, ‘Well, at least you’re asserting yourself in the band!’

I hit her with the roll of posters.

Luckily my bandmates were more amused than annoyed by my accidentally hogging the limelight.

‘A lesson learned,’ said Tadhg.‘We’ll have to have a proper name by our next gig.And besides,’ he added, ‘you’re clearly the star of the show, Lol.’

I smiled back at him, but the jokey compliment didn’t land quite the same as it would have a few days earlier.

On Saturday afternoon, roughly half an hour before we usually wrapped up our weekly practice, Tadhg untangled himself from his guitar strap.

‘Sorry, all,’ he said.‘But I’d better head now.I’ve got to get home, dump my guitar and change before I head back to town.’

‘Ready for your hot date?’said Brian with a grin.

Tadhg laughed.‘It’s family party, I wouldn’t call it a hot date.Sorry I can’t help with the tidying up.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’I said.‘You go and have a great time with Jess.’

If my smile didn’t reach my eyes, I hoped he didn’t notice.

But still, said a voice in my head,he did say itwasn’ta hot date.And the hope continued to bloom.

I couldn’t bring myself to contact him the next day, and he didn’t contact me.Then on Monday I was crossing Front Square when I saw him walking towards me from the direction of the Áras an Phiarsaigh building, where he had most of his classes.He was with Jess.My stomach lurched.I had an urge to run back through Front Arch and hide.But it was too late, he’d seen me and waved, so I had to join them.

‘Hi!’I said in my most cheerful voice.‘How was your party?’

Jess looked at Tadhg in amusement.‘It was great.Almost too great, to be honest.I think my family prefer Tim to me now.’

Tadhg laughed.‘I wouldn’t go that far.’

‘I would.’She turned to me, smiling.‘The sound system broke down and Tim managed to find a guitar in the hotel and entertained everyone until they fixed it.’

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