Free Someone Like me by Lesley Cheetham

then.
                  Tess led me down a steep set of uncarpeted steps and I hung onto the railing as I went down. The guys were rehearsing in a long oblong space. The music wasn’t bad, a rock beat provided by Des on drums, Khaled on bass and Mark playing guitar and singing.
    Mark’s voice was deep and soulful and Tess and I sat together on the floor, backs against the wall and listened to the set. Mark was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, his skinny hips writhing around to the beat. He was wearing a pork pie hat, which on anyone else would look ridiculous. Tess nudged me.
    ‘Stop staring,’ she said. I blushed, glad the room wasn’t very well lit – not a lot of light got in down here and the lamp was dull and yellow. Mark was kind of nice looking.
    ‘Des,’ shouted Mark suddenly, making us jump and look up. ‘You’ve played it wrong again – I keep telling you.’
    ‘OK guys,’ Khaled intervened putting his guitar down on the floor, ‘time for a break, I think.’ He went over to a rucksack which was placed by the door and the ensuing clinking sound was music to my ears as he pulled out a six pack of beer bottles and a couple of cans of coke. He handed a bottle each to Mark and Des. ‘I didn’t realise we’d have company,’ he said, looking straight at me. ‘Beer?’ he held a bottle out to me.
    ‘Thanks,’ I said, aware of all eyes on me.
    ‘Tess?’ he turned to her.
    ‘No way,’ she said, pulling a face. ‘Beer is gross and undignified.  I’m  surprised  at  you  Jas.’  I  avoided her eyes. He passed her a coke and flicked one open for himself, sitting down near us on the floor.
    I shrugged, sipping at the cool lager. It slid down easily and I allowed myself to relax.
    ‘Thirsty?’ Mark asked and directed a smile straight at me. I took another gulp of beer, hoping to cool the heat of my face. He put down his guitar and came and joined the three of us on the floor. Des stayed tapping softly on  his  drums, going  over  and  over the rhythm. I had
    never spoken to Des – he was very quiet and geeky – totally obsessed with music according to Tess. He works in the music shop in town, which is where Mark had met him.
    ‘I heard about you and Fiona,’ said Tess to Khaled. He punched his leg.
    ‘You girls, man, do you have to talk about everything?’
    ‘What’s that?’ asked Mark.
    ‘They’ve split up,’ Tess said. ‘Khaled and Fiona.’
    Khaled was shaking his head. ‘You are so annoying Tess. I can’t keep nothing secret around here.’
    ‘Sorry to hear that mate.’
    Khaled shrugged. ‘Plenty more fish in the sea and all that.’
    ‘Are you going out with Sadie now?’ That was Tess. I couldn’t believe her sometimes. Khaled exploded. ‘Don’t you start! I hardly know the chick.’ He looked uncomfortable.
    ‘Sadie? Posh Sadie?’ Mark grinned. ‘You’re a dark horse mate.’
    The background drumming had stopped. Des was listening in too.
    ‘Yeah her. I know her, so what? And I spoke to her – is that a crime?’ He looked at me. ‘I’m glad to see the back of Fiona, she was way too possessive. Always wanting to know where I was. You know that weekend we went to the gig?’ he looked at Mark. Mark nodded. ‘She gave me hell after that, said she’d been trying to ring me and why didn’t I answer, where had I been? I’d told her we were going to a concert and I wouldn’t be able to hear my phone. She wouldn’t let it rest. She wasn’t even home that weekend – she was on that course  so  I  don’t  get why she was so bothered what I was doing.’
    ‘What was the concert?’ I asked.
    The Flying Toucans . They played the Roundhouse. It was fantastic.’
    Mark nodded agreement. ‘We crashed over at my mate Toby’s and we went round Camden Market the next day to pick up some new gear for the band. It was a great weekend. Shame you missed it, Des.’
    ‘Some of us have work to go to mate.’ Des grinned and started tapping at his