‘Nothing . . . Nothing . . .’ I say, backing away into the hall. ‘Nothing.’

I think of running out of the front door and across to Granddad to explain. But Mum says he’s too upset to see anyone, and that would especially mean me.

I run up the stairs into my bedroom.

I’ve been so stupid.

I try to get my breath back and look out of the window. Outside it’s now so dark that all I can see is the silhouette of our tree and the lights shining from the neighbours’ windows, except for Granddad’s. He’s probably sitting in his chair in the dark like Dad said.

My phone buzzes on my bedside table. I pick it up and try to read the message, but the writing is blurry. I wipe my tears on my sleeve.

Did your granddad tell them what we did?

He was taking the flowers to Grandma’s grave!

Oh . . .

Now go away!

I drop the phone and fall face down on my bed.

Tipping Point

I’m in geography sitting next to Liam because Jake’s in a different set, but I wouldn’t want to sit next to him even if he was here. He sent me another ten texts last night, asking me what was wrong, why was I taking things so seriously because he thought it was just a bit of fun. But it wasn’t fun. It was one of the worst days of my life.

‘So,’ says Mr Fields, pointing at a diagram on the board. ‘This is longshore drift; this is . . .’ My mind zones out. He says something about the sea bashing the rocks on the coastline, breaking them into pebbles and depositing them somewhere else along the coast, but the only thing being eroded is my mind. I can’t stop thinking about Granddad sitting at home on his own.

I look out of the window as the traffic passes by. I wish Granddad would drive by right now in his pink car. I’d run through the gates after him and apologize properly for what I did. Why was I so stupid to go along with Jake’s idea? How could I have ever thought Granddad was a spy? He was just taking Grandma flowers. And what makes it even worse was that I didn’t even realize it was a year ago she died. How could I forget the day I lost the most important person in my life? I rest my head on my arm.

Mr Fields says something about a good example of longshore drift is a place called Slapton Sands in Devon and behind me I hear Sarah Fox say she went there on holiday.