Ryan shrugged, acting indifferent. “Might help.”

He secretly hoped that Ash’s interest would draw Fizz out of his doom and gloom. After all, who in

their right mind could resist Ash?

Hearing thumps and bumps behind them, Ryan and Ash both looked down the flight of stairs.

“What are you doing?” Ryan called. “Stay outside with the equipment!”

“Rachel’s there,” Dee called back. “Havin’ a fag.”

“Oh, right.”

With Rachel keeping guard outside, they were able to get the gear upstairs a lot quicker. Although it

did mean less time for breathers in between. They left the amps till last, as they were the heaviest.

Ryan made sure he picked up his own cab, and that Ash was the one helping him. They carried it

upstairs, while Dee and Glen crashed and bumped behind them with Dee’s bass amp. “Not so fast!”

Glen complained.

“Careful,” Dee grumbled back. “That’s my leg, you knob!”

“What?”

Thump.

“ARGH! Fuck’s sake!”

Smirking over the top of Ryan’s amp, Ash muttered, “It’s like the bloody Chuckle Brothers.”

“Scarily accurate,” Ryan muttered back.

They carried the amps upstairs without too many mishaps, and deposited them in their new

designated practise room in the pigeon loft. After minor disagreements over where to place the

equipment, Glen started moving his drums into position.

“Don’t set them up yet,” Ryan told him. “I want to get some carpet down on the floor to muffle the

noise a bit.”

“Are we sticking carpet on the walls too?” Ash asked.

“Not sure,” Ryan said. “Let’s see how hot we get on first. There’s some old carpet in the cellar we

can use. Er, if you guys wanna go get it for me?”

“I’ve got some egg boxes at home,” Dee piped up.

Everyone turned to frown at him.

“What?” Ryan asked.

“Egg boxes. Thought we could fill ‘em with sand, and stick ‘em on the walls. Be like those soundproofing

tiles.”

Ryan couldn’t believe he was hearing this. Ash bit his lip, obviously trying not to smile.

“Dee,” Ryan said, as nicely as possible. “Egg boxes full of sand are not going to do the same job as

sound proof tiles, which are made of foam.”

“Sand will still deaden the sound,” Dee insisted. “I’ll bring ‘em along and do it for you. It’ll work

great.”

Ryan threw his hands up, defeated. “Sure, why not?”

“Awesome, dude!” Dee grinned.

“Stop saying dude,” Ash told him.

“No way, dude.”

“Okay,” Ryan interrupted, before any bickering could ensue. “Come and help me with this carpet,

then.” He herded them out of the room, and down the hall.

Ash hung back, eyes darting over to the open doorway of Fizz’s room. “Think I’m...gonna grab a

coffee,” he said casually.

Ryan wasn’t fooled. “Okay,” he smirked. “See you in a few.”

Chapter Five

The boy, Fizz, laid on his bed fully clothed, nestled in the bunched up sheets. His pale blue eyes

stared vacantly, and the small device that now played his music – after the red-head had insisted upon

it – was blaring tinnily into his ears. I watched him from the corner of the room.

Those other boys had struggled past the open doorway – as there was no door in its frame – several

times, hefting their music equipment. I only knew they were machines to do with music because I’d

seen similar models downstairs in the bar, set up for various rag taggle musicians to play in the

evenings, when the bar was busiest.

At least now I knew what made that incredible racket my new lodger listened to. Guitars powered

by electricity. Simply fascinating. And drums. So many drums, it seemed impossible that one human

being could play them all at once. The energy that was created through live music was electric in

itself, and I was positively thrilled to see the colourful Ryan and these boys set up shop in the larger

room, two doors down the hall. I could hear them discussing carpets, then Ryan was hurrying his

companions away.

One boy hung back, and hovered at the door. It was the handsome Indian, I was pleased to see.

I was out in the hallway in an instant. Standing behind him, I concentrated enough energy to push

him into the room with a nudge. It was a gentle, persuasive trick. He was so focussed on Fizz, he

didn’t notice a thing.

Hopping back into the room to watch them, I felt the grin spread over my face. Fizz finally noticed

he had a visitor, and pulled the noisy ear plugs away as he sat up. His blue eyes were wide, panicked.

“Hey.” The boy smiled warmly. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt or anything.” He waited, perhaps

for Fizz to say something. Fizz stared at him blankly, as if wondering what on earth he could want. “I

met you the other day,” the boy said, looking somewhat bashful. “The name’s Ash. I, um...I was gonna

go grab a coffee. Not the crap they serve downstairs, a nice one, I mean. From that café up the road.

Just wondered if you wanted anything?”

Fizz still stared at him, not answering.

“My treat,” Ash pressed, a nervous laugh on the edge of his voice. “It’s the least I can do, seeing as

we’re gonna make a racket later and likely deafen you.”

A great swell of emotion rose in Fizz. He was clearly confused, worried, yet excited by the offer

from this boy. It was the first tinge of hope that I’d felt in him, so I didn’t waste a second to crouch

behind him and whisper in his ear, “Say yes.”

Fizz sat up sharply. “Yes?” he said, sounding confused.

Ash looked relieved. “Great! What do you want? Flavoured latte? Cappuccino? Choccochino?

Frappe with cream?”

“Huh?” Fizz became flustered. “No, I mean – really, I don’t – I don’t want to put you to any

trouble.”

“No trouble.” Ash waved his concerns away. “Tell you what, I’ll bring you a surprise.” He flashed a

cheeky smile, then he ran off, probably before Fizz had the chance to say no. Fizz was left on his own,

clearly wondering what had just happened.

I was pleasantly surprised, too. Some people were easier to manipulate than others, and I hadn’t

tried such a thing in a long time. Obviously, in his current miserable state, my lodger would prove no

trouble at all to wrap around my little finger. I suppressed a chuckle, and resumed my place in the

corner of the room, near the window.

Fizz slowly sprang into action. As close to action as he was likely to get, at any rate. He turned on

the lamp, as the daylight had faded with the setting sun. He also turned off his music – thank goodness

– and smoothed down the covers on his bed.

Aha, I thought to myself. So you do care what Ash thinks.

Ryan and those other two louts returned, bumping and thudding down the hall with scraggy rolls of

carpet. Ryan said hello to Fizz as he passed, and afforded him a quick smile. Fizz watched them drag

the carpet past his door, and I could feel a desire to help bloom within him. Unfortunately, it couldn’t

overcome the crippling shyness and insecurities this boy harboured. I tutted to myself. What a waste

of life.

With the distant chatter having resumed down the hall as Ryan and his cohorts prepared their room,

Fizz seemed at a loss. He sat on his bed, waiting for Ash’s return. Soon enough, soft footsteps

preceded his arrival. I heard Fizz’s breathing pick up, and his heart rate increase. Ash appeared at the

door, holding two plastic cups. They were transparent, with domed lids, and straws stuck in their tops.

The contents were thick and swirled with two tones of colour. I had seen the bar staff downstairs drink

these strange confections by the gallon, sucking them up through the straws.

As far as I could work out, fashionable fellows drank their coffee cold these days.