We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman Page A

bringing her pretty features into full focus, allowing me a glimpse of the girl she should have been. When she laughs, her eyes sparkle and she has two little dimples that form in her cheeks. Neither of us acknowledge the medication that flows steadily into her slight frame from the IV by her side; we both just want to pretend it’s not there.
    â€˜This is a great experience,’ she tells me. ‘This is a good moment.’
    â€˜Yeah, it’s a laugh,’ I acknowledge, smiling at Ben as he twists and grooves with the two little kids.
    â€˜No, it’s more than that,’ Issy says. ‘It’s a happy thing. See?’ She nods at her mother, who is laughing at her little sister. ‘I haven’t seen Mum like this in such a really long time. I’m so glad I’m seeing it now.’
    Finally Ben’s impromptu set list runs out, and he takes a bow, and then another, and one more just for luck, coming over and flopping down on the floor next to us, blowing his fringe out of his eyes, and grinning.
    â€˜Did you like that?’ he asks Issy, who is at once a melting mess of mortification, unable to look up from her lap.
    â€˜I’ve got a book I think you might like,’ I tell Issy, desperate to rescue her from the excruciating awkwardness of being around an attractive male. ‘I’ll be back in a second. Ben, come with me.’
    Oblivious, he gets up and follows me, waving to his fans one last time, even though they are now more interested in the night’s main attraction: Albie, the therapeutic Labrador.
    â€˜That was a massive laugh,’ Ben says, dropping his arm around me as we go into my room and dragging me into a hug, so that my nose is smooshed against his chest. I let myself rest for a beat, let myself take strength from him as I feel the weakness and background pain intrude into my thoughts again, and then doggedly fight my way out of his embrace, because it is far too tempting to stay there, which would be a little bit awkward after the actual kiss-of-death (alleged) incident.
    â€˜I was awesome,’ he goes on. ‘They were a great crowd. Hey, maybe we should do a full-blown gig? I could get the band in? We could put a show on right here!’
    â€˜You are nuts,’ I say fondly, knowing that he would do exactly that. ‘But also fairly cool. Thank you for saving us inmates from Accordion Man.’
    â€˜The pleasure was all mine.’ He takes a step back and appraises me. ‘You look better, you know. Yes, there’s some colour in those chubby little cheeks.’
    â€˜Oh shut up, I’ve been on the verge-of-death diet,’ I protest, finding the book for Issy. ‘My gut can barely absorb nutrients! I’m not chubby, I am just very short. It’s different.’
    â€˜You aren’t chubby, anyway. You are as slender as a willow wand,’ Ben says. There is a beat filled with awkward silence.
    â€˜Weird,’ I say.
    â€˜Let’s go out for a pint.’ He dips his chin and looks up through his lashes. It’s his killer move – I’ve seen it stop a girl dead in her tracks a thousand times over. ‘Let’s go and sample the night air.’
    â€˜Don’t be stupid,’ I say. ‘Didn’t you hear all the verge-of-death stuff? I can barely walk to the end of the corridor without feeling like the inside of my chest is on fire.’
    â€˜I know, but the aim is for you to get out of here, right?’ He grins. ‘There’s a pub literally across the road, and it’s a nice one. And it’s pretty mild out, and dry for once, and a bit of fresh air and a walk would do you good, build you up a bit. And I checked with the intense-looking nurse and she said OK, as long as you are back by ten. So, a quick one? Doctor’s actual orders? Or nurse’s, anyway.’
    â€˜I’ve got pyjamas on,’ I say.
    â€˜So change!’
    â€˜And I’ve got to