‘I think it used to belong to someone Erik reaped.’ She points at a guy standing on the other side of the living room talking to a girl in a black hijab and I turn back to stare at Esen. I must look as horrified as I feel because she frowns then shrugs. ‘What? They’re not using it any more, are they? Don’t worry.’ She waves her hand at me. ‘We’ll leave it exactly as we found it. It’s not like anyone’s gonna get wasted and puke in a pot plant, is it?’

I give her a look that tells her she’d better, but she doesn’t seem bothered. ‘Where else could we go? We can’t have another party on the beach.’

I suppose so, but it still creeps me out as I look back at Poppy and Dev who are now laughing and jumping up and down in the middle of the living room, pretending to brush their shoulders off.

‘What are you doing?’ I hear Esen ask.

I don’t look at her, though, too concerned with whether or not Poppy is talking to anyone.

Is she talking to that guy next to her?

I hope she’s not.

‘Ash.’

I don’t look at her. ‘What?’

‘What are you doing?’

‘You mean, other than judging you for using a dead person’s house for a party?’

‘I mean, apart from that, what are you doing?’

‘Huh?’ It must be obvious that I’m not listening, because she nudges me. ‘What?’

‘Why are you here, Ash?’

I blink at her, confused. ‘You told me to come.’

‘No, I mean, why are you here.’ She points to the floor. ‘In the kitchen, with me?’

What is she on about?

‘Where am I supposed to be, Esen?’

I frown at her and this time she points to where Poppy and Dev are dancing. ‘You’re missing it.’

‘Missing what?’ I ask, but before she can tell me, a Radiohead song comes on and everyone stops dancing and turns towards the kitchen, their thumbs turned down as they boo at Esen.

‘Oh all right,’ she sneers, muttering something about no one being able to appreciate decent music any more as she snatches her phone off the kitchen counter and puts a Missy Elliott song on instead. ‘There? Happy?’

They clearly are as they cheer and start dancing again, Poppy and Dev in the middle of it all.

‘Missing what?’ I ask again, when she puts the phone back on the counter.

‘It. This. Being at a party with your girl.’ She gestures at the living room again and I turn to look at Poppy who is jumping up and down on the spot, red hair everywhere. ‘You’re so worried about looking out for big holes and falling pianos that you’re missing everything. I mean, I know my outburst earlier didn’t help.’