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Chapter Forty-Five

My heart just wasn't in it for my group performance. I'd had a taste of how good it was to play with Noah, and the new guitarist who'd stepped up to join our band just wasn't cutting it.

After receiving an average mark and some 'constructive' criticism from Dan and the other tutors, I said goodbye to Charlotte and Kris, grabbed my bag, then rushed off to catch my train from Paddington.

Watching the lush green countryside roll by the window, I already missed Noah. Pulling out my phone I took a selfie, looking bored - but pretty cute, as far as I was concerned - with my headphones on.

'Stop this train' I captioned it simply, in reference to the John Mayer song currently playing in my ears, then sent it to Noah.

Within a few seconds I received a reply. A selfie of him, sat on top of a guitar amp in a recording studio, also looking bored.

'I want to get off and go home again...' he replied, continuing the lyric.

I smiled to myself as I typed a response. 'Not gonna miss you this weekend x'

'Me neither, not at all x'

Still with a lazy smile across my lips, I closed my eyes and lost myself in the laid-back soundtrack ringing in my ears. Every song made me think of him. Noah's face was drowning out the noise of crying babies and business people talking too loud on their phones more than the music itself.

By the time I reached Bath, I felt a world away from London. And from Noah. The sight of my mum standing in the ticket hall was welcome and, as she flung her arms around me, I felt quite emotional. She looked older every time I saw her. In photos from her youth, my mum was the spitting image of me. Long, thick, dark hair, big brown eyes, and wide lips that covered most of her face when she smiled for the camera.

Deciding to stop for coffee on our way home, we pulled into the car park of a coffee chain drive-thru. Sometimes I wonder when coffee became such a 'thing' that it needed its own drive-thrus. But, considering I was addicted to the stuff, I wasn't going to let it put me off getting one.

"I thought we could go sit inside?" said my mum, turning to face me with a hopeful grin.

"Sounds good," I smiled back, opening the passenger door and stepping out.

As we settled in with our drinks at a cosy table in the corner, it seemed as though we were both making small talk. Things had never been awkward between mum and me, but it felt as though we were both avoiding an elephant in the room.

Eventually, she moved the conversation on to the subject I knew she really wanted to discuss.

"So... what happened earlier this week? When George came to see you?"

Rolling my eyes, I took a sip of my latte before replying.

"For a start," I began, "He shouldn't have come up in the first place. He's not my boyfriend anymore mum, he's not even really a friend, so I don't know why you gave him my address-"

"He cares about you, sweetheart," she interrupted. "I've seen him a few times since you two split and he's always asking after you. I was shocked you hadn't told him about the accident."

"Mum! Why would I have told him?" I snapped. "We're not a part of each other's lives anymore, don't you get that?"

"He told me you speak to each other regularly," she said quietly. "I thought you were still close."

"Well he's a liar, mum," I sighed. "I haven't spoken to George since we broke up and I'm happy that way. Why have you seen so much of him anyway?"

"He pops round when he's back from Uni," she said, looking embarrassed. "I thought it was sweet of him, you know, to check in on me now you've left and I'm... now I'm on my own, Abs."