Page 9 of Any Kind of Life
The door opened, and Edie stared back at her with wonder. “H-hi.”
“Hey, kid. Got a minute?”
Edie nodded and stepped to the side. “Okay.”
Paige shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans, stepping into the room. Edie’s bedroom was immaculate, but every inch of Hannah and Caz’s home was. “You didn’t stay downstairs for long before. Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” Edie shifted from left to right, her cheeks red. “Are you leaving now?”
“No, we’re going to stay for a while. Don’t you want to come and join us?”
“N-no. It’s okay. I have homework to do.”
Paige sat on the edge of Edie’s bed, patting the space beside her. “Come and sit down.”
Edie did so, picking at her fingernails when she rested her hands in her lap.
“Edie, is everything okay? Is school going well and stuff?”
“Yeah. I got top marks on some mock GCSE exam we did the other day. Mrs Churchill says I’m doing better than my predicted grades.”
“That’s amazing. But you’re way more clever than all of us lot put together.” Paige winked, nudging Edie with her shoulder. “If school is good, then is there something else on your mind?”
Edie chewed her lip, her eyes still focused on her hands.
“If there was something, you know you can talk to me, don’t you? Anything at all. And I’d help in any way I could.”
Edie turned a little, finally looking at Paige. “You know, because you’re famous now? Well, does that mean you won’t be friends with my mums anymore?”
God, Paige didn’t know what to tackle first. The fact that Edie thought she wouldn’t be friends with Hannah and Caz anymore, or the ease at which she spoke ‘her mums’. “Me? Not be friends with you and your mums? No way. We’re all practically best friends. I won’t be around for a few weeks, but once I’m home, I’ll be here to hang out with everyone again.”
Edie smiled. “Are you sure?”
“You’re stuck with me, kid. Whether you like it or not.” Paige grinned, picking up Edie’s phone where it sat on the bed. A playlist was visible on the lock screen. “So, what do you think about this stuff you’re listening to?”
It was still Paige’s music that was playing.
“Any good?”
“Amazing. You’re so talented. All my friends are jealous that I know you.”
“You did tell them that I’m basically your auntie, didn’t you?”
Edie took her phone from Paige and turned it over. She reached for a sharpie on her desk and regarded Paige with a shy smile. “Would you sign my phone case for me?”
“Sure. Anything else while I’m here?” Paige took the phone and scribbled her name across the back of it. She side-eyed Edie, adoring the grin Hannah’s daughter wore. Who knew she could make a child so happy just by singing and playing piano.
“Um, can I have a look and bring some stuff downstairs in a minute?”
Paige nodded. “Of course. I’m not going anywhere yet. Here for a few hours.”
Paige got to her feet, surprised when Edie followed and wrapped her arms around her. “Thanks for being great, Paige.”
“Hey,” Paige said, pulling back and holding Edie by the face. “I’m still just the same person I was before all of the lights and crowds. And soon, I’ll be that person all over again.”
“I wish I could see you live. Mum tried so hard to get me tickets. For me, her, and Caz, but the site crashed.”
No. That wouldn’t do. If Paige couldn’t get her favourite people tickets to see her perform, what was the point in all of this?