He’d heard stories from Bonnie and Stella over the years so he knew what to expect and that he might end up hating it. He’d have to make an effort talking to people if he wanted to fit in, and he also knew he’d probably find it all too much and would end up sitting on his own.

But yet his skin was tingling at the prospect and now there was no way he was backing out. He patted his bag, with the drawing pad tucked in at the back, as he gave one last glance around his room. How bad could it be?

Bonnie lingered by the back door, half listening to her mum’s conversation with Bob Taylor, half keeping an ear out for Iona. She was annoyed because she didn’t want to go to the bloody sleep-out on the beach. Nothing exciting ever happened there. And to top it off, this year her brother was going, which meant he was bound to do something embarrassing. She eyed him cautiously as he scuttled past her, calling out to their mum that he was off.

For some reason Iona thought it sounded fun and had promised they would keep an eye on Danny, which had made Bonnie’s mum practically leap up and hug them.

When Iona came out of the toilet Bonnie asked again, ‘Are you totally sure you want to go? We could do something on our own instead?’

‘You don’t have to come,’ Iona said, smiling, her eyes raised as she waited for an answer.

Bonnie fiddled with the strap of her bag, suddenly feeling even more annoyed. ‘No, I’ll come,’ she snapped and then, worrying it might have sounded bad, she rearranged her face into a smile to hopefully show she wasn’t that bothered. Iona looked at her curiously but she had no idea how much Bonnie was wrestling inside.

‘Bonnie, seriously, don’t come if you don’t want to.’ Iona’s eyes were screwed up, her head cocked to one side.

‘Why can’t we do something on our own?’ she blurted. There, she’d said it now, but she immediately wished she hadn’t. She didn’t want Iona to think she was being clingy. ‘I just find these nights so babyish,’ she added and gave a laugh that even to her sounded strained.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’

‘I’m fine,’ Bonnie said. ‘Totally fine.’ But she wasn’t. Inside she was screaming, wanting to kick out with her foot and throw down her bag, slamming her fists on the counter.

Iona linked her arm through Bonnie’s. ‘Come on, we’re in this together,’ she said and already the bubbles that were fizzing in Bonnie’s stomach began to subside.