Page 90 of Reflex

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Back at the boutique hotel, only a few streets away from the theatre, Alle stripped off her couture.It wasn’t that the dress wasn’t beautiful, or that she hadn’t felt regal wearing it, but she just wanted to be herself when she explained everything to Spook.How would he react?She really wasn’t sure.She only knew that she hadn’t wanted to tell him surrounded by hundreds of people.

Her phone flared into life, trilling one of Spook’s famous guitar riffs at her.

SPOOK: Is everything okay?I was looking for you, but Dani says you’ve left.

SPOOK: Did I do something?

SPOOK: Are you upset?

ALLE: I bumped into someone.I’d rather not explain via text.It’s complicated.Slipping away seemed the best plan.

SPOOK: So I’ll see you at the hotel?

He sounded so doubtful.Saddened by the possibility that she might have fled without an explanation or saying goodbye.Maybe she ought to have taken more time to explain to Dani why she’d felt the need to leave?

Her phone bleated again, this time with a cry from the middle of one of Black Halo’s biggest anthems.

XANE: You never struck me as the sort to run away.What are you doing, girl?

ALLE: Not running.Avoiding.Bumped into someone.

Yet another tune started up.

RONNIE: RG says you skipped out on Spook.WTF happened?Thought U2 were tight.

ALLE: My brother’s in town.

RONNIE: ???Relevance?

ALLE: He’s working for the enemy.

RONNIE: You’ve lost me.What war?Also, which bruv?Wouldn’t mind catching up with Flynn.

ALLE: Not Flynn.Marshall.

RONNIE: Don’t know him.

ALLE: Wish I didn’t either.

XANE: Bumped into who?Do not jerk him around, Alle.Last thing he needs is girl troubles.

ALLE: I’m not fucking with him.

XANE: So why were you talking to Bang!?

ALLE: I wasn’t.

XANE: You were seen.They’re the reason his hand got sliced & he wound up shitfaced.

ALLE: I thought that was down to the incident at the arena.

XANE: Ava/Bang!ensured shit got shittier.Did you not see the write ups?

XANE: FFS.He’s hitting the hard stuff.Great efforts.

SPOOK: Are you done with me?