I can’t help but notice how Abir and Elle are now whispering together in front of us, while me and Izzy lag behind. What are they talking about?

They suggested we head over to the bike shed today, even though I’m the only one who actually cycles to school, but they never said why. Suddenly I’m feeling all suspicious.

‘Want one, Elle?’ Izzy asks, holding them out to her.

Elle turns and pulls a face. ‘I’m OK, thanks. Don’t want to have crumbs all over my mouth,’ she giggles.

Abir giggles too, but I don’t understand the joke.

I turn to Izzy and frown. She shrugs and stuffs a biscuit in her mouth whole.

I’ve only been friends with Izzy and Abir since the start of the school year, so I’m still not sure how to act around them without Elle’s guidance. I’m not sure Abir likes me much at all, as she always seems to be confused by the things I say or do. But Izzy’s really nice when she’s not following Abir around.

I notice Izzy’s wearing a copper bracelet with a mermaid trinket on her wrist. It reminds me a bit of the bracelet from the house in my dream.

As soon as I picked it up the two girls appeared, like I’d pressed play on a film. And it’s strange that I’ve dreamed about the house each time I’ve visited Mum. I never remember falling asleep during the visits. It just . . . sort of . . . happens.

I want to see more of the two girls. I don’t recognize the first one, I’ve never seen her before. But the second one seems familiar with her wild curly hair . . .

‘Saff?’ Izzy says, holding out another biscuit.

I grin. ‘Oh, sorry! Thanks.’ I want to tell Izzy her bracelet is pretty, and ask her why it’s a mermaid. I want to ask her what her favourite biscuits are, and what she thinks she’s going to do for our English homework, but it’s like my brain isn’t actually wired to my mouth.

Come on, Saff, say something.

Luckily Elle saves me by calling us all over to look at a funny video of a sloth on her phone. I get the prime spot next to her, like always. Sometimes I wonder why Elle picked me, awkward Saff, when she could be best mates with anyone. It makes me feel special.

But when we get to the bike shed Elle starts to act strange. She keeps glancing around like she’s expecting someone, and applies lip balm about a million times.

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask, sitting next to her on a low wall. ‘How come we’re all hanging out here?’ In the cold. Though I don’t say the last bit.