‘No.’ I look at the desk. I don’t want Mum and Dad down here. They are way too busy. ‘I’ll try harder,’ I say, looking at Mrs Ewens. ‘I’ll really try.’

‘Good,’ she says. ‘Because I know you can do this, Felix. We’ve just got to get you concentrating and, if you do, I think your marks will improve by themselves.’

The bell rings.

‘See ya!’ James King picks up his bag and walks out of the door.

Mrs Ewens sighs as I stand up.

‘Please try, Felix,’ she says. ‘I don’t want you in here all the time like James.’

‘I will,’ I say. ‘So can I go now?’

‘Yes.’

I pick up my bag and head for the door.

Jake’s waiting for me when I get outside.

‘What were you in there for?’ he asks.

As we walk down the corridor I tell him about my weird dream. He thinks it was really cool, especially the bit about his dad having a Lamborghini. He says I look really tired, like a walking zombie, and I think that’s exactly how I feel.

We walk past the noticeboard, the school office and then turn towards the library. All the time Jake’s in my ear talking about the things he did at the weekend. That his dad hit the golf ball so far at pitch and putt that they had to look for it on the road and afterwards they went to Laser Land, which makes me annoyed because we promised that we would wait until we could both go together.

I stop walking.

‘What’s wrong?’ says Jake. ‘I told my dad I wanted to go with you, but they had a special offer, kid and parent half price.’

‘It’s not that.’ I nod at the sign on the library door.

CHESS CLUB

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CHESS?

WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS

COME ALONG – TUESDAY AND THURSDAY LUNCHTIMES

CONTACT MR KEYTES OR RICHARD PANELL

‘Oh, this is a good idea,’ says Granddad’s voice in my head.

‘Felix.’ Jake’s standing in front of me and follows my eyes to the poster. ‘Chess club? You can’t be serious.’

I look past Jake into the library. Some boys and girls are writing at the tables in the study area. I lean against the glass and peer down past the book loan desk. Right at the end is Mr Keytes and Rebecca sitting with Chris Price and Leah Gibbs from my year. There are also two boys from Year Eleven, who I’ve only ever seen when they’ve been line monitors in the canteen. They’re all sitting around a chessboard.

I put my hand on the door handle.

‘Felix,’ Jake says urgently. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Rebecca’s in there,’ I say. ‘And Mr Keytes is okay. I was just going to take a closer look.’

‘But we agreed, chess is for swots!’