Amelia gave a lazy smile. ‘Let’s go into town first. It’s boring here,’ she said, stuffing the bottle back in her bag. Then she tossed her long dark hair over one shoulder and pedalled away.

Jack and Izzie looked at each other, then followed.

A short while later they’d found their way into Falmouth and wheeled their bikes through the busy shopping area and out towards the docks. ‘This’ll do,’ said Amelia, gesturing at a bench and flopping down without waiting for any kind of consensus.

Jack, who appeared to be her new devotee, sat down beside her at once and Izzie stifled a prickle of annoyance. All of a sudden Amelia was the one calling the shots, as if the tequila bottle had gifted her the power of authority. When Izzie, as the eldest, should rightfully be the one in charge. With an audible sniff, she tried to convey her pique by sitting down at the far end of the bench, facing slightly away from the others.

‘So who wants to play Truth or Dare?’ Amelia asked, waggling an eyebrow at Jack.

Izzie, already feeling like a gooseberry, stood up again. ‘I think I’ll leave you two to it,’ she said, as Amelia uncapped the tequila. ‘I’m going for a wander.’

‘She’s scared,’ said Jack, the traitor, and made a chicken noise.

‘I am not!’ Izzie retaliated.

Amelia tilted back her head and took a swallow of the tequila, and Izzie found herself staring at the girl’s soft exposed throat as she gulped it down. Then Amelia held out the bottle towards Izzie: a challenge.

Izzie hesitated, knowing that if she refused, the other two would cackle and call her a coward. Yet if she went ahead and drank, she’d have to stay and get drawn into whatever game Amelia was playing. Who knew where that could lead? Then she imagined herself reporting back to the group chat later: Got smashed on tequila down by the docks. Party time! – and the prospect of finally scoring a few points was enough to make her snatch the bottle from Amelia’s hand.

She put it to her lips before she could change her mind. The tequila smelled absolutely disgusting, like nail-varnish remover, but the others were both goggling at her, so she raised the bottle and drank. ‘Oh my God,’ she blurted out afterwards, passing it on to Jack. Her eyes watered as the alcohol slammed into her bloodstream and her head swam. The taste, meanwhile . . . How did anyone drink that stuff for pleasure? ‘Not bad,’ she managed to say, wiping her mouth.

‘Jesus,’ croaked Jack as he too took a glug – a big one, no doubt trying to impress Amelia. ‘My head’s on fire.’

Amelia laughed. ‘You two are a right pair of lightweights,’ she said, swigging out of the bottle again. Then she gave Izzie a long, cool stare. ‘So. Izzie – Truth or Dare?’

Chapter Six