Troy beckoned with one hand while he made a fist with the other, and I was sure I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Only the suicidal would’ve taken him up on that offer. He was beyond incensed now. He looked like he was ready, willing and able to hand someone their head. The crowd melted away like sugar crystals in hot coffee until it was just him and me left in the corridor. We were both going to catch hell for being late to our next lesson, but so be it. Troy bent to pick up my books. I crouched down to help.

‘Thanks,’ I said, my cheeks flaming.

‘Don’t thank me.’ Troy frowned. ‘You’re family. That lot are just arseholes.’

He handed me my books, straightened up and walked off without another word. I stood in the hall, unable to move until my tears had stopped flowing.

Smiling at the memory, I lay down and pulled the duvet up to my neck. For the first time, I was part of a family. How much did I love that F-word!

Sunday breakfast was noisy. Music played in the background as Tobey and Callie dished up all the stuff they’d made – scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, toast, beans, plantain, fishcakes, with a huge pot of coffee and a large carton of orange juice. We were all seated at the kitchen table, laughing and chatting. Thirstily, I drank it all in. Nana Meggie sat at the head of the table. Dad sat directly opposite me with Callie next to him and Troy at my side. Dad smiled while offering to fill my empty glass with orange juice. I couldn’t help my grin as I nodded. Here I was having breakfast with my dad and my new mum and I felt like a balloon filled to bursting point. Except what filled me up was … joy – unfamiliar and almost overwhelming. I had a proper family, including a dad who so obviously loved me. We spoke every day even when he was away from home. I finally belonged somewhere and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to hold on to what I now had. I turned to look at Troy. It only took him a few seconds before he realized what I was doing.

‘What?’ he said from beside me.

‘What what?’ I asked.

‘You’re staring at me,’ Troy frowned.

‘I’m just thinking how much I like having you as my brother.’

‘OK … I’m not sure where that came from, but OK,’ said Troy. ‘I’d say the same about you, but I’d be lying. Having one sister all up in my business was bad enough. Now I’ve got two nagging me and trying to tell me what to do.’