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‘Anyway,’ Norah said, breaking the silence this time. ‘How does it feel now that people know you were a pop star?’

Poppy scoffed. ‘Mostly like being a coffee shop manager.’

‘Do you ever miss it?’ Norah asked, curious.

‘I miss knowing what happened next,’ Poppy said plainly. ‘And that’s about it.’

That surprised Norah. ‘Really? Nothing about that time was fun?’

‘I was miserable,’ Poppy told her.

‘Then why did you do it?’ Norah asked.

Poppy sighed thoughtfully. ‘Because everyone kept telling me I was lucky to be offered the opportunity.’

‘It wasn’t luck. Anyone could see you were going to be a success one way or another.’

‘I don’t think that’s true,’ Poppy said with a frown.

Norah looked at her like she was bonkers. ‘You had star quality, Poppy.’

Poppy looked abruptly self-conscious. ‘It never felt that way.’

‘Well, you did.Do, actually,’ Norah found herself saying.

‘Oh, stop,’ Poppy said, waving her hand dismissively, the confident clown making a reappearance. ‘You’re just saying that because you have to look at my face for an hour.’

‘No, I mean it,’ Norah insisted. ‘It’s what made you a great performer.’

‘You saw me perform?’ Poppy asked, her eyes widening.

Norah felt like they’d strayed into tough territory. What was she going to tell Poppy that she’d taped Velvet Smack onTop of the Popsand watched it over and over in her darkest moments, her feelings bouncing between anger, grief, and occasionally, horniness?

‘You were on TV a lot at one time,’ Norah said in the most bored tone she could summon. ‘You couldn’t miss it.’

Poppy was staring at Norah in utter astonishment.

Norah felt a bead of sweat trickle down her spine. ‘Can you go back to your original expression?’ Norah asked abruptly. ‘I need to add detail on your... philtrum.’

‘My what?’

‘The place between your nose and your mouth.’

Poppy made her face neutral again, and they continued the session. But there was a new tension in the room. Norah could do nothing but ignore it and focus on her work. She’d forgottenhow good it felt to be able to do that. She was in it, and she could stay in it if she chose.

Finally, Norah stepped back, surveying her work. ‘Alright, I think I’m done.’

Poppy stood and stretched, eager to see the result. ‘Let’s have a look, then.’

Norah turned the easel around, revealing the portrait.

Poppy’s easy smile was replaced by shock. ‘Oh my god. I mean... Oh mygod.’

‘I can’t tell if that’s a positive response,’ Norah said truthfully.

‘You made me look... beautiful,’ Poppy said.

Norah looked back at the picture, and she saw it as Poppy did. It was like a funhouse mirror of Norah’s feelings, and it bounced back something she hadn’t wanted to see, something staring her in the face for a while now.