Adele tried to look away too but her eyes were drawn to Shazza. She had that effect. It was the way she acted; the implicit threat displayed by her body language, which put Adele on her guard. She felt a constant need to check what was happening; to steel herself for whatever Shazza was going to do next.

Shazza and Denise played on for several minutes. Then Shazza potted the black and let out a roar. ‘Fuckin’ told you I’d win!’ she shouted.

They shared a hug. Then, just as Denise was breaking away, Shazza whispered something in her ear. Denise smiled back and followed Shazza as she strode across the room, heading towards Adele and her friends. Louise quickly ran behind, trying to keep pace with the two larger women. Adele could feel her heartbeat speed up.

As soon as she was standing next to them Shazza asked Anna, ‘What’ve you got for me?’ Her tone was aggressive and she stood hand on hip and shoulders pulled back as she waited for a reply. Although her words were directed at Anna, her eyes settled on Adele, gauging her, and waiting for her reaction.

Adele could feel her dread turning to annoyance at Shazza’s brazen attitude. Then Anna put her hand inside her pocket.

‘Don’t!’ warned Adele, reaching across and blocking Anna’s arm. ‘You don’t have to, Anna!’ she said, sounding bolder than she felt.

Anna stared back at Adele, her face a mask of fear. ‘No, it’s OK,’ she said, dragging her arm away. ‘Shazza’s a mate. I owe her one.’

All eyes were now on Adele, waiting to see what she would do next. The grimace on Shazza’s face and the cocky way Denise was standing made Adele even angrier.

‘You don’t owe her anything!’ she yelled.

Shazza’s eyes switched from Adele to Anna, her eyebrows now raised inquisitively. ‘Is that right, Anna?’ she asked, her tone full of menace.

‘No, course it isn’t,’ said Anna, and she quickly wrenched her arm from Adele’s grasp.

Adele could see the cigarettes that she had pulled from her pocket.

‘Here,’ Anna said, thrusting them at Shazza.

‘That’s better,’ said Shazza, grasping the cigarettes.

Then she flicked her head back, locking eyes with Adele once more.

‘At least Anna knows what’s good for her,’ she said. ‘It’s a pity you don’t. You fuckin’ will do, though, before much longer.’

Before Adele had chance to reply, Shazza walked away. Denise sneered at Adele before she and Louise rushed to catch up with their friend.

Caroline turned to Adele. ‘Take no notice,’ she said. ‘We’ll make sure no harm comes to you. Won’t we, girls?’ she asked Anna and Cheryl, but although they nodded their agreement, their expressions said something else.