The Reunion

Chapter 5

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, SIX MONTHS AND THREE WEEKS AGO

Graham stood at the end of the table. The other three band members sat with a look of disbelief etched on their faces. They were all looking at him as if waiting for him to finish the punchline to this, so far, non-amusing joke. But it wasn't going to come.

'So, you've been approached to star in a film?' said Gillian.

'Yes,' said Graham. He looked quite happy for himself and thought what he was asking for was not unreasonable.

'And you want to take a sabbatical for six months?' Samantha clarified. Graham nodded. 'And what have Marcus and Alicia said about it?'

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'Well, I haven't actually discussed it with them.' Graham sounded a little sheepish. 'I thought I would run it past you three first.'

'They'll never agree to it,' said Gillian.

'Of course they won't,' said Tony. 'We're going to be kicking off our world tour in a month. Talk about bad timing.'

'You all know that acting is something I'd like to try,' Graham argued. 'I've never hidden that from you.'

'Well you don't seem to be giving us much thought,' said Samantha. 'How many times have you heard of a group taking six months to a year off and then getting back together again? Do you want to leave the group?'

'No... well, not at the moment, at least,' said Graham. 'But why shouldn't we all be giving the chance to pursue other projects?'

'Because it doesn't work, that's why.' Samantha was getting angry. 'You, you, you. That's all you think about.'

'If that was true, Sam, then I would have broken up with you ages ago,' Graham retorted unkindly.

Without saying another word, Samantha stood up and left the room.

'Go after her,' Gillian ordered. '

Nah,' Graham said, sitting down. 'It'll be best to let her cool down.'

Gillian stood up. 'I'm going to make sure that she's okay.'

37

The two boys did not say a word as Gillian left the room. And then Graham looked at Tony. 'You think I'm wrong, don't you?'

'I don't blame you for wanting to set new horizons for yourself,' said Tony. 'But we all know that you will not be granted a sabbatical, Graham. We're a moneyprinting machine. You signed a contract the same as me. And that will be renegotiated at the end of this tour. You can probably get what you want then. But until that time, you're just a puppet like the rest of us.'

'I was meaning being wrong about Sam,' said Graham.

'Oh, that. Yeah, you were bang out of order.'

Samantha had gone to her hotel room. She was sat at her writing table and was busy scribbling lyrics. There were more crossing outs than actual words, but the title was quite clear – Let You Go. You could just about make out the first verse and the chorus.

I should have been better than that.

Couples break up all the time.

Can we remain friends?

I'm sure we'll bear it in mind.

Does it matter who Cast the first stone?

The tears have all gone now

We're better off alone

I shouldn't have phoned you

Or sent that text.