‘Nothing we should know about?’

I know.

Connor’s eyes flicker to Mr Marshall. He is dragged back into a memory of the first evening of their residential trip.

‘I’m knackered.’ Ryan had speared a piece of sausage onto his fork. ‘I thought it would be relaxing here, a holiday.’

It had been cold for Easter. When the letters had first circulated last year telling parents the school intended to run its first ever sixth-form trip, the expectation of the pupils had been lazing around in the sun, sneaking cans of dark fruits into the dorms. Ryan wasn’t keen that his dad was coming along to supervise but it hadn’t put Connor off at all. He couldn’t wait to spend quality time with Hailey but his heart had sank when he scanned the jam-packed itinerary and realized they had activities scheduled every day.

‘After dinner,’ Mr Marshall had announced, ‘Miss Webb thinks that as young adults you should be treated as such and be able to choose what you do in the evenings. Go out and have some fun.’

Excitement rustled through the dining hall.

‘I, on the other hand.’ He cast a slow glance around the room. ‘Think that’s a very bad idea. How you behave is a direct reflection on the school, which is?’ He cupped his hand to his ear.

‘A direct reflection on you, sir,’ was begrudgingly muttered.

‘Absolutely. But I’m not a complete killjoy. You can choose to go in the games room where you’ll find a pool table, air hockey and ping-pong; upstairs there’s a TV room; the room at the end of this corridor is a quiet space for those who want to read; or you can, of course, return to your dorms and get an early night because tomorrow we’ll be up at 5.30 for the sunrise hike.’

Groans rippled around the room as kids stood up and began to disperse.

‘One last thing!’ Mr Marshall stared directly at Connor and Hailey, the only couple. ‘No boys in the girls’ rooms and vice versa.’

Connor nodded. Uncomfortable under his steely stare.

Fergus ambled over, hands in pockets, a smile on his face.

‘Don’t worry,’ he said, ‘I’m not going to ruin your street cred by hanging out with you.’

‘Ryan doesn’t have any street cred,’ Tyler laughed.

‘What are you going to do?’ Fergus asked.

‘Dunno. Probably the games room. Game of pool?’ He looked at Connor.

‘Then I shall go to the quiet room and have a game of scrabble with Miss Webb.’

‘Scrabble?’ Tyler raised his eyebrows. ‘Is that what you call it now?’

Ryan elbowed him in the ribs.

‘Ow. I was only kidding.’

As soon as Fergus left the room, Tyler appraised them all in turn. ‘Let’s make this trip interesting. Dares.’

‘Dares? What are we, like twelve?’ Connor shook his head and began to lead Hailey away.