“It’s not that, Fred…” How could I not say the thing I was trying to not say. “Just people like her work in different ways to us. Challenge or not, her life will bounce back to being perfect.”

Bounce back to forgetting about all of us.

“Okaaaay, not sure I know what you mean. But…moving on…” He picked up a book and put it down. “How are the challenges you set for each other? Wasn’t there a surprise for your mums riding on it?”

“It’s a no from me.” Unless that kiss with Harry Styles did happen. Fred looked surprisingly disappointed—he really did love my mum. “I know. It sucks—I’d love something nice for Mum.” Although if Fred was insisting we talk about Elle, it did mean I could try and find out about something else. Nick’s reaction to the challenge.

Did that have anything to do with her ditching Fred? “Don’t suppose Elle said anything yesterday about Nick, did she?”

Fred just shook his head. “Nope. No. No. I don’t think so. So anyway, what about the list YOU SENT ELLE?”

Why was he so obsessed with that list? Especially when I actually needed to speak to him about something important.

I lowered my voice in case Nick came back.

“One sec, Fred. This is important.” Even though I was done with Elle, and Nick was heading that way too, now me and my friends had been dragged into it, I wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on.

“Issss itttt?” he asked like he didn’t believe me. “Did I mention I actually don’t have that long?” He looked at his wrist even though he didn’t wear a watch. “Maybe ten minutes?”

I better get to the point then. We hadn’t even started on his work.

“I’ll be quick, I promise…” Here went nothing. “You know Elle made out something’s been going on with Nick?”

“Uh…Holly, I don’t think…” Fred looked horrified—I knew he hated getting involved in other people’s stuff, but I had to carry on.

“Yes, remember? And the thing is, she’s right. He told me. Well, bits of it.” I’d promised Nick I wouldn’t share what he told me, so I wouldn’t, but I was hoping that even being vague might make Fred jump in with some ideas. But nothing. “I have no real idea what’s going on between them, but what I do know is those two really need to talk. When I showed Nick the #FestiveFifteen challenge posts, he fr-eaked out.”

Fred didn’t even let me finish. “All right, Hol! You don’t need to tell me. Probably just talk to Nick about it?”

He was properly flustered. Why wouldn’t he hear me out?