“How about this?” Alex holds up a black skater dress I forgot I owned. It’s got a little daisy print on it in white and yellow. I bought it from ASOS one day while I was supposed to be revising with Kira and Amara but have never worn it.
“That is just perfect!” says Elliot. “My boyfriend, ladies and gentlemen: stylist extraordinaire.”
Alex shrugs. “Hey, you work in retail long enough, you pick up a few pointers.”
I take the dress from Alex’s outstretched hands and nip into the bathroom. I change into the skater dress, and face myself in the mirror.
I can’t believe I’m finally getting to see Noah in concert. It feels like I’ve been both waiting for and dreading this moment ever since he got the call that he was going to be supporting The Sketch on tour. I pull my long red hair out of its bun, and it falls in waves around my face. Mum has shown me a little trick with eyeliner, which I try now, flicking the line up past the outer corner of my eye. Instantly my eyes look more alluring and catlike. Maybe I can pull this off. My new tagline: Girlfriend of Noah Flynn.
I think I’m going mad as the first few beats of Noah’s album start playing in my head, but when I open the bathroom door I realize that Elliot and Alex are playing “Elements,” one of the eight songs on Autumn Girl. Each song Noah has written is better than the last—but the title track, “Autumn Girl,” which was written for me, is still my favourite, of course.
Alexiot have linked hands, and Elliot leans his head on Alex’s shoulder. They’re just way too adorable and I don’t want to intrude. But Elliot must hear me because he looks over his shoulder at me. His jaw drops. “You’re killing it, Ocean Strong!”
“Why, thanks,” I say, doing a little curtsey.
“All right, kids—let’s blow this popsicle stand,” says Elliot in a low drawl.
Both Alex and I look at him, frowning.
“What, don’t you like my new Americanisms? I thought I’d practise before seeing Noah again. Now, accessories.” He pushes a handful of bangles onto my wrist and puts a long, dangling necklace round my neck. He smiles at me. “You just need your Converse, and then you’re ready.”
I look in the full-length mirror.
“You look great, Pen. That outfit is perfect,” says Elliot. “Leah Brown, you may be the hottest pop star on the planet but you’ve got nothing on my girl.”
I allow myself to smile, and tell myself I look good. And I do. I feel confident. But I still pick up a jacket to go over top. Elliot grimaces.
“What?” I say. “It might be cold in the restaurant.”
“Speaking of, we better get a move on!” Elliot looks down at his watch.
“Tom!” I yell down the stairs to my brother. “Will you drive us?”
I hear a grunt in response that I’m going to take as a “yes.”
But, when we get outside, Alex doesn’t join us in the car. He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Sorry, guys, I have to head home to do something first. I’ll meet you at the concert, OK?”
Elliot’s happy mood deflates, his shoulders slumping.
“Are you sure?” I say. “I know it must be really boring to have to hang out with a bunch of Year Elevens but most of them are all right.”
“It’s not that,” he says. “I just have stuff to do.”
“Oh, OK.”
He leans over and gives Elliot a quick kiss, but Elliot’s heart isn’t in it. Then, once Alex is gone, he shrugs his shoulders and is instantly back to his normal self. “Let’s go!”
• • •
A few minutes later, we pull up in front of GBK, courtesy of chauffeur Tom. Elliot jumps out of the car, but just as I’m about to follow him Tom reaches over and grabs my arm. “If you get into trouble, or need any help, call me straightaway, got it, Pen-pen?”
I pull him into a hug, which he accepts with stiff shoulders. But I know he loves me really.
On a Friday night, Brighton is packed with commuters returning from work in London and revellers heading for a night out. There’s a boy who looks younger than me playing guitar on the pavement. He sings softly, but he has an amazing voice. No one else stops to look—not even Elliot, who is so wrapped up in his own world he could walk past the London Symphony Orchestra and not notice—but I find myself lingering. I’m rooted to the spot by the boy’s beautiful music.
“May I take a picture?” I ask him when he strums a final chord.
“Sure,” he says. I snap a few shots, and then take a pound out of my purse and put it in his guitar case. He grins gratefully at me and I make a dash for the restaurant as the heavens open and it starts to pour with rain. Typical British summer.
Inside, everyone is waiting. Elliot rushes up to me and pulls me to a stop. “Don’t freak out,” he says.
“What do you mean?” I frown. But then he steps to one side.
Megan is standing behind him.
And she’s wearing the exact same dress as me.
Chapter Three
I wrap my jacket even tighter round my body, covering my dress. Megan smiles serenely, looking surprisingly cool about it, but that’s probably because I’ve already turned tomato red with embarrassment. I almost turn round and walk out of the restaurant right there and then, but Elliot grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze.
“Oh my god, Penny, we’re wearing identical dresses!” Megan says, tossing her long chestnut hair. “Did you find this on ASOS too? Better make sure Noah doesn’t see me first or else he might get confused and give me the backstage pass.” She gives me an exaggerated wink that turns my stomach. I can’t help thinking she looks way better in the dress than I do.