The shouting rises above the sound of his Xbox game. Connor crosses to his window. Mum is running down the street, yelling, ‘Get out and face me, you coward,’ literally shaking her fist at the white car speeding away. Dad calling her name. Kieron sitting stiffly in the back of the car.

He pounds down the stairs.

‘Come on, Kieron.’ Connor grabs his brother’s bag. ‘Let’s get you inside.’

‘I don’t understand what’s happening?’ Kieron is pale. Scared.

‘Mum’s just…’ Connor shrugs. ‘I dunno. She’s okay now. She’s coming back, look.’

Dad’s guiding Mum back to the house, his arm around her shoulders.

‘Who was she shouting at in that car?’ Kieron asks.

‘Probably the person who parked across our drive the other day and blocked her in,’ Connor lies.

‘But—’

‘What’s the goss from the hospital then?’

‘Fergus came to visit.’

‘Really?’ Connor’s hurt that Fergus hasn’t been in contact with him but then he reminds himself that he hasn’t been in touch with Ryan either and he feels bereft on behalf of his friend along with a desire to protect him.

‘Let’s not tell Ryan.’

‘Why?’

‘Because… Just because.’ He leaves it at that. ‘Ryan said he might pop over later.’ Unless Mel wants him to stay with her. She’s not coping well.

‘And Tyler?’

‘Nah. He’s… he’s got a job now.’

‘Wondered where he was getting his money from. He’s going to buy me Forza for my Xbox.’

‘I know. You’re lucky.’

‘And Fergus bought me a book.’ As soon as they are in Kieron’s bedroom he pulls it from his bag and hands it to Connor. ‘Look, she’s a vampire and her boobs are massive.’

They sprawl on the bed and Connor begins to read aloud to his brother.

His parents trudge slowly up the stairs, Mum rambling about the washing and there being too many pegs on the line. Dad trying to reassure her. Mum keeps mentioning the car. Connor wonders whether to tell her that since Tyler had disappeared he has seen it too and is scared the driver is after him.

‘You haven’t slept properly in days,’ Dad says. ‘And Mr Peters… You’ve had a huge shock. Let’s get you back in your own bed, you can get some proper rest.’ It’s as though she suddenly is the child and this is worrying.

‘I don’t understand what’s happening,’ she keeps saying over and over, almost in tears.

Connor doesn’t understand either but he reads another chapter of the book, louder this time, but not loud enough to mask his parents.

‘Are you sure Mum’s okay?’ Kieron whispers. He’s afraid. Hell, Connor is afraid.