The last update Hailey posted was during the second day of the residential. She’s bundled up in a yellow quilted jacket, her cheeks pink with cold, a harness around her waist and a safety helmet capping her head as she gives the thumbs-up in front of the steep hill they had just abseiled down. That was the day of Ryan’s dare.

‘No fucking way,’ Ryan had said as Tyler pointed up at the disused railway bridge. ‘I’m not abseiling down that!’

‘You’re mental,’ Connor had said.

‘Chill!’ Tyler raised his hands. ‘You don’t have to but I’ve “borrowed” all the safety gear, the helmet, the harness. It will be exactly the same as what we did earlier.’

‘Yeah, but without anyone having a clue about what they’re doing.’

‘I know!’ Tyler said. ‘You’ll be safe. It’ll be a buzz.’

‘My dad will have a fit if he realizes we’re missing and finds me doing… that.’ Ryan said.

‘Your dad didn’t notice we’d snuck out last time, did he?’ Tyler pointed out. ‘He’ll be hanging out with Miss Webb again. He won’t even know we’ve gone.’

‘What do you reckon, Connor?’ Ryan asked.

Connor looked up at the arches and shrugged. ‘I dunno. Shall we get up there and see how high it is.’

‘Too bloody high,’ said Ryan, but still they climbed onto the bridge. The sky stretched out before them, a sheet of indigo, twinkling with stars. They weren’t too far from their town but it was a different world. The air smelled fresher. The moon popped brighter.

‘I’ll do it!’ Hailey’s breath billowed from her mouth. ‘I loved abseiling earlier.’

‘No,’ Connor said.

‘Oh right, so basically I can risk my neck but not your girlfriend – cheers, mate!’ Ryan said.

‘And I can make up my own mind!’ Hailey said indignantly.

‘Yeah, but if you go abseiling who’s gonna keep me warm?’ Connor had wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. ‘Don’t be so selfish!’ He grinned as he rubbed the tip of his cold nose against hers.

She pressed her lips against his. ‘You’re forgiven.’

‘Let’s go back to the dorm,’ Connor said. ‘Ryan, you never took the piss when I wouldn’t take part in the hot chilli challenge at Amber’s Christmas party.’

‘He was the only one who didn’t take the piss,’ Tyler said.

‘Yeah.’ It was only now Connor could laugh about it. ‘You’ve nothing to prove.’

‘No but…’ Ryan huffed out air. ‘Harness me up.’

When he completed the abseil Ryan was euphoric, they all were. Two dares. They really should have stopped there because it was Connor’s turn next and that…

There’s a tap on his door. Dad says, ‘I’ve left you a bacon sandwich out here if you change your mind about eating.’