Free The One and Only by Sophie McKenzie

with ancient oil paintings dotted along the corridor.
    Eve’s eyes fixed on the artwork as George led us down the corridor towards a large, surprisingly modern, steel kitchen. All the surfaces were covered. Pizza slices lay slumped over takeaway boxes, while bags of crisps and half-eaten sausage rolls were dotted among the army of empty cans, bottles and glasses. George leaned on the counter, picked up an open bottle of white wine by the sink and took a swig.
    ‘ Ugh .’ He turned round. ‘Warm and sweet. Disgusting. Still, we didn’t care at four this morning.’
    He grinned and his face lit up. His eyes were a startling green, almost the same colour as his grubby T-shirt, and he had dark stubble all over his chin. Something about him reminded me of Ryan.
    He glanced at Eve.
    ‘So these are your refugees, Al?’ he said, raising his eyebrows. ‘At least they’re raising the hottie quotient.’
    I moved closer to Eve, slipping my arm round her shoulders.
    But George didn’t notice. He was staring at Alejandro. ‘So are you,’ he said. ‘In fact you’re looking really fit.’
    I froze with embarrassment as George reached over and kissed Alejandro on the lips.
    Oh my God.
    Why hadn’t it occurred to me Alejandro’s friend might be gay too?
    I looked away, knowing my face was bright red.
    I heard George laugh. ‘I know what you’re going to ask. He’s not here – so no competition for the drums. But Cal’s here. And Jess, of course.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘And Clara and Em and Frank and James and God knows who else. Most of them’ll be gone later. Then we can jam. Yeah?’
    ‘Sure.’Alejandro smiled. ‘But I have to return to Madrid in a few days. I already missed one gig. I can’t miss another. Listen, George. This is Eva. And this Luke.’
    I looked up at George, hoping my face was no longer so red.
    He smiled at me, his brows slightly raised – as if he were searching for the answer to a question.
    I suddenly realised what the question probably was and tightened my grip on Eve’s shoulder. ‘Hi.’ I held up my hand, palm up in a ‘stop sign’ gesture, to make it quite clear kissing me was in no way an option.
    ‘Hi,’ George said. He seemed to wake up properly. ‘You guys want something to eat or drink. Or d’you need to crash?’
    I gazed hopefully at Eve.
    ‘I’d love a cup of tea,’ she said.
    Of course.
    Making it with your boyfriend. Or tea.
    No contest.
    ‘No problemo.’ George slouched over to the kettle and switched it on.
    We sat in the kitchen for an hour or so. Alejandro and George did most of the talking – reminiscing and chatting about various people. The drummer in George’s band – abroad at the moment – was an old mutual friend of theirs. He’d introduced Alejandro to George at some concert a couple of years ago. But whereas Alejandro was already doing loads of professional work, George’s band were still trying to get decent gigs.
    ‘Your father will help though, no?’Alejandro said.
    He’d already told me George’s dad was a record producer and had loads of contacts in the music business.
    ‘Yeah, sure,’ George shrugged. ‘But it’s not a free pass. Mum and Dad want me to go to uni first.’ He grimaced in my direction. ‘This is supposed to be my gap year. They think I’m working until spring, but I jacked in my job as soon as they left for Australia.’ He grinned. ‘We just hang out here. Cal and I play all the time. ’S great. I mean I’d rather be in London but the flat there’s tiny and it isn’t soundproofed so . . .’
    I asked a few questions as they talked – genuinely interested in the music they were into – and also keen to remind them I was there in case they suddenly forgot and started holding hands or something.
    But Eve withdrew more and more, shrinking silently away from the group, lost in her own thoughts.
    George glanced at her several times. She didn’t seem to notice. In fact, she only ever looked up from the table to