Chapter 12
ED
Now
I have to say that I think my appearance on Wake Up and Smell the Coffee with Rachel and Ethan went extremely well.
I managed to flirt a little with Rachel, but not too much as to upset Ethan, and I managed to plug the band’s reunion tour.
I hope I seemed considerate regarding Evie’s feelings, but our teenage relationship, although brief, still seems to make headlines, so I’m going to milk it for as long as I can.
The studio provides a car to take me home.
I’m keen to get away, so I’m still covered in makeup, the colour on my face resembling a young David Dickinson I think to myself.
I sit in the taxi and get ready to watch the much hyped and anticipated Loose Women interview with Amira Malik, the influencer and one of the most popular current TikTok sleuths as they were doing a feature about how the hashtag #thegirlinthesong has gained popularity over social media on the back of my appearance on Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.
Perhaps Amira has had more luck in finding Evie than I have.
I put my earphones in and get ready to see what Amira has to say as I watch the titles for Loose Women appear on the screen of my phone.
The show anchor, Kaye Adams starts by introducing Amira Malik and she explains exactly who she is, as the studio and home audiences are not quite the right demographic for TikTok but they are certainly aware of all #thegirlinthesong furore.
Amira’s poker straight and glossy black hair is tied back in a neat ponytail, her makeup immaculate with her dark eyes accentuated by black kohl and mascara, her full lips covered in a dark red shiny lip gloss.
She smiles in all the right places as Kaye Adams starts to put Amira through her paces.
‘Welcome Amira. It’s so good to finally have you on the show and we are privileged to have you on to talk about the ever trending #thegirlinthesong hashtag, the rockstar Ed Nash from the indie rock band The Mountaineers and his relentless pursuit of trying to find his ex-girlfriend Evie Del Rio. ’ Kaye begins.
‘Thank you for having me, Kaye. Ladies.’ Amira replies, remembering to thank everyone, smiling at the rest of the panel.
‘It’s a fascinating story. A lost love, a load of conspiracy theories, an epic indie love anthem and a rock star who refuses to give up his search for his ex-girlfriend.
Back in the eighties it was much easier to disappear as there were no mobile phones or social media, but the thing I’m most surprised about is that Evie Del Rio hasn’t come forward herself.
’ Amira explains straight towards the camera.
The rest of the panel start to join the conversation.
‘If a rock god like Ed Nash wrote a love song for me, I wouldn’t be hiding away. I’d be right out there!’ Colleen Nolan says with her trademark cheeky grin and the audience erupts with laughter.
‘Now, I remember interviewing Ed Nash back in the early nineties when The Mountaineers had just changed their band name from The Propellers. They had just released their debut album, and I always found him to be a pleasure to interview. The band hadn’t really had much commercial success back then, but he told me all the songs he’d written were about his ex-girlfriend Evie.
’ Janet Street Porter says, sharing her memories about me.
‘I’ve met him a couple of times at a few award ceremonies.
’ Brenda Edwards interjects. ‘And I agree with Janet, he’s one of the good guys who’s just curious as to why his ex-girlfriend left without saying goodbye.
Obviously, if he hadn’t written all those songs about her, then we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation. And it’s such a great album.’
Amira smiles and nods as the panel talk about their experiences of meeting me and then Kaye takes control of the interview once again.
‘So, Amira, you said there were loads of conspiracy theories about just what did happen to Evie Del Rio?’
‘Yes, there have been. Some people say that she must have left the UK and there have even been sightings of her as far away as Australia and Thailand, but I think that’s just people wanting to have their fifteen minutes of fame.
I have it on good authority that Evie Del Rio is still in this country but living under another name.
’ Amira reveals as both the audience, and the panel make a collective gasp.
‘Wow! That’s one bold statement.’ Kaye says, echoing everyone’s response. ‘Can you tell us anymore? Where do you get all your information from?’ she further probes.
‘Much as I’d like to tell you Kaye, I never reveal my sources unless they want me to and on this occasion my source has decided to stay anonymous.’ Amira confidently answers Kaye’s question with her well-rehearsed off pat answer.
‘So, we’re not going to get another exclusive this lunchtime, then.’ Kaye says with a twinkle in her eye.
‘I’m afraid not, although I will be shortly making a couple of exclusive TikTok videos revealing some new information that has come to light.’ Amira replies, somewhat smugly.
‘It’s quite incredible how the #thegirlinthesong hashtag continues to trend, isn’t it? Kaye asks Amira.
‘I know, as hashtags go, it has a catchy ring to it and until Ed Nash finds #thegirlinthesong, I don’t think this story is going away in a hurry….’ Amira replies mysteriously.
Loose Women cut to the much played “Used to Be” video and the audience clap along in time to the music as the camera pans back to Amira.
‘I’d like to give a very big thank you to Amira for joining us today and here’s a little message to Evie Del Rio #thegirlinthesong herself – You’re welcome any time on our show, that’s if Amira doesn’t find you first!
’ Kaye says straight at the camera with a big smile, as the audience claps again, and the show goes straight to a break.
I’m almost home so I take out my earphones and put my phone in my pocket.
I didn’t come off too bad on Loose Women, but the most interesting thing is the fact that Evie is still in the UK but using a different name which is probably why it’s been so difficult to find her.
I tried to speak to Evie’s parents after she first left to find out where she was, but no one ever answered the door and then their house was sold pretty quickly after that.
Not that Evie’s mum would have given me the time of day. She was never my greatest fan.
Once home, I make myself a coffee and take a seat on my balcony, taking advantage of another beautiful sunny day, and begin to scroll through my social media feeds.
Perhaps now is the time to hire my own private detective to try and track Evie down myself.
Virginia has privately messaged me on Instagram again, congratulating me on my appearance.
She’s keen to catch up and probing me to give a definitive date to do so.
Virginia was always a nice enough girl, but not a patch on Evie.
We did have a bit of a thing way back, not long after Evie left.
I just remember it not feeling right at the time.
It was too soon after Evie and we both regretted it as soon as it happened.
I left the area where we all used to live not long after.
I send her back a quick message confirming that I can meet her at her house one evening this week.
It will be more discreet this way, and I also don’t really want her to know exactly where I live just now.
The consensus generally was positive on social media after my TV appearance, which I’m happy with. Mission accomplished.
I look out over the balcony and admire the pleasing view of the carefully manicured gardens below. I could never have afforded to live somewhere like this if the TV series and then the documentary hadn’t picked up on my song. Life is good but something is missing.
I glance at my DMs again to see if Virginia has replied yet.
Nothing. It would be interesting to catch up after all these years.
I’ve lost touch with most of the old gang except for my fellow band members.
When we were growing up, it wasn’t as easy as it is nowadays to keep in touch.
If you moved without a forwarding address or a new telephone number, then you could just disappear.
Which is exactly what happened with Evie and then again with me.
After Evie left, I just wanted to get away, to try and reinvent myself and not be reminded of her every single day.
I spent a whole month after she went just answering questions as to her whereabouts.
No one around me understood what it felt like to be me having your girlfriend just up sticks and leave without saying a word.
It destroyed my self-confidence. When Paul offered me a way out, I took it.
My mother was heartbroken when I left with him.
My father, however, would have loved to have had the guts to come with us, but he knew it would break my mother’s heart to lose both her only son and her husband.
They’re still together to this day. My relationship with them is somewhat strained, but we’ve been in touch since #thegirlinthesong media storm.
My mother will never forgive Paul for taking me away, but at the time it seemed like my only choice: to get away and start over.