Andre's Showcase. Kimberly Wyatt

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СКАЧАТЬ come on, Dre – you always know,’ Billie replied.

      The others started nodding. It made him want to scream.

      ‘No. No I don’t. My playlists are played out and anyway, why do we even need to rehearse? It’s not as if we have a show coming up.’

      Billie’s face fell. ‘You don’t want to dance?’

      Tilly came over and placed her hand on Andre’s forehead. ‘Have you got a fever or something? That’s the second time in two days you’ve said you don’t want to dance.’

      ‘I’m just having a down day, don’t make such a big deal of it. I can’t carry you all the time . . .’ Andre stopped, mortified at what had just come out of his mouth. This wasn’t how he was. He had to get out of there.

      ‘Actually, you know what, maybe I am coming down with something.’ Andre picked up his bag. ‘You guys go ahead without me. I need some fresh air.’

      He made his way back outside, feeling drained and embarrassed. What the hell was wrong with him, talking to the others like that?

      He heard footsteps running up behind him and turned to see Tilly.

      ‘Oh, Dre, what’s wrong?’ she said, grabbing him in a hug.

      ‘Nothing – I . . .’ Andre leaned his head on her shoulder. It felt so nice. He was so sleepy. Maybe he should tell her everything. But he was supposed to be the strong one – the leader of Il Bello. It was bad enough that he’d just had a mini-meltdown. ‘I’ve been a bit stressed about Spotted, that’s all.’

      ‘But why?’ Tilly took a step back and stared at him. ‘Spotted is doing great.’

      ‘I wish we had more subscribers.’

      ‘We will. It takes time.’ Tilly smiled. ‘I know. Let’s go out tomorrow – spot some new looks. That’s guaranteed to make you feel better.’

      Andre nodded but inside he wasn’t so sure. In his current mood, even the thought of his favourite pastime fashion-spotting left him feeling flat.

      ‘Oh my God! This town is so dull it makes watching paint dry seem like a thriller.’ Andre looked around the shopping precinct and gave a dramatic sigh.

      ‘Chill, Dre,’ Tilly replied. ‘It’s good that it’s boring.’

      ‘Oh yeah?’ Andre stared at her. ‘Why’s that?’

      Tilly adjusted her peaked cap. ‘Because it means that when we do finally spot a great look it’ll really stand out.’

      Andre leaned over the wall of the gallery to look down to the floor below. The precinct was full of frazzled-looking parents pushing buggies, and scruffy school kids. How were they ever going to find a good look here? It was like a blazer-wearing, toddler-wrangling zombie apocalypse. They should have gone into London instead but of course he didn’t have enough time. He had yet another History assignment that was due in tomorrow.

      ‘What about that guy?’ Tilly said, pointing to a boy of about sixteen who was leaning against the wall beneath a sign for the public toilets.

      ‘Are you serious? He’s wearing a McDonald’s uniform!’

      ‘I know. But maybe we could do a post on fast-food fashion?’

      Andre cocked his head as if he was listening hard to something. ‘Wait, what’s that I hear?’

      Tilly frowned. ‘What?’

      ‘The sound of the bottom of the barrel being scraped. Fast-food fashion? What the hell? Fast food is the enemy of the animals, Tillz, and nothing can help that tragic uniform.’

      ‘It could be ironic,’ Tilly said lamely. ‘Or we could do a top tips kind of thing. Like, how to stop your work uniform looking so naff.’

      ‘Do you think Vogue would ever do a fast-food fashion feature?’

      ‘No but . . .’

      ‘But what?’

      ‘Spotted isn’t Vogue.’

      Andre’s heart sank. What was Tilly trying to say? They weren’t Vogue . . . and they never would be? He looked back at the McDonald’s guy and his stomach rumbled. He could murder a burger right now. ‘Oy vey!’ he muttered under his breath.

      Tilly hooked her arm in his. ‘What is it? What’s up, Dre?’

      ‘Nothing. I’m just hangry.’ Andre tore his eyes away from the McDonald’s guy. He was not going to give up on being vegan, no way. He wasn’t a heartless animal murderer like his dad. He was better than that.

      ‘What’s hangry?’ Tilly asked.

      ‘It’s when you’re so hungry you become angry and right now I am at boiling point, toooot !’

      ‘Why don’t we go and get something to eat then?’ Tilly said, her face brightening. ‘You never know, we might spot someone cool in the sandwich bar.’

      ‘Yeah, and bacon sandwiches might fly.’ Andre sighed. ‘OK then, let’s go cure this hanger.’

      Once they’d got their sandwiches – salmon for Tilly and humous and vegetables for Andre – Tilly took off her cap and stared at him.

      ‘What is it, Dre? You haven’t been your normal self at all lately. We’re all worried about you.’

      ‘All?’ Andre frowned.

      ‘Yes, all of Il Bello.’

      Andre felt a warm glow inside as he imagined the street crew huddled together talking about him, their faces full of concern. It’s killing me that he’s so down, he imagined Billie saying. Andre is our everything, I don’t know what we’d do without him. The warm glow faded. He didn’t want to be their everything. It was too much pressure.

      ‘What’s going on?’ Tilly continued.

      ‘Nothing. It’s just . . . I’ve been worried about Spotted . . . about losing subscribers. That harem-pant post didn’t get nearly as many likes as our previous posts. I’m worried I’m losing my touch.’

      ‘You’re not losing your touch! Oh my God, Dre, you’re the most fabulous person I’ve ever met.’

      ‘Really?’ Andre searched her face for any evidence she was lying but Tilly’s eyes were wide and deadly serious.

      ‘Of course. You’re FETCH with a capital everything, remember.’

      Andre nodded. ‘It’s true.’

      Tilly leaned forward, her face lighting up. ‘I’ve got it!’

      ‘Got СКАЧАТЬ