‘Like you,’ says Rose.

The class is totally still. A second passes, then another.

‘Yes,’ says Mr Bradman.

He speaks like he’s answering any other question, and his face is rigidly normal. A few of them surreptitiously glance at each other. Dillon looks at Rose. She flushes.

‘Moving on,’ says Mr Bradman. ‘Let’s see what Butler actually says.’

After the lesson, they all try to take it in their stride. After all, it’s no big deal. The only surprise is that he didn’t seem very gay.

‘My brother’s gay,’ says Georgia. ‘He came out when he was twelve.’

Dani is a bit more vocal. She loves gossip. Her and her mother between them know everything that goes on in the school, and she seems affronted that this is news to her. She questions Rose. Dillon listens.

‘How did you know?!’

Rose has those red spots of embarrassment or pleasure on her cheeks. She can’t stop her eyes flicking towards Dillon.

‘I met his ex at a party.’

‘A London party? With models?’

‘No. At the timber yard.’

‘At the timber yard?’ says Dillon, now giving Rose his full attention.

‘What was he doing there?’ says Dani.

‘He was in Callum Watson’s year.’ Rose wants to say more, to keep Dillon focused on her. ‘He used to be in Mr Bradman’s class in school.’

Dani’s eyes widen.

It takes two days for the rumours to settle on someone who reports them to Paula.

‘He had a sexual relationship with a pupil?’

George gives a grim look.

‘Jesus,’ she says. Things are crumbling around her. She can see, in her mind’s eye, Will and Dillon, in his classroom, embracing.

‘Jesus,’ she says.

Next lesson Mr Bradman isn’t in. They have a cover teacher for Media Studies. The class sit in a feverish silence. Rose isn’t in either.

At break, the cover teacher says Dillon needs to go and see the head. There’s a bench outside her office for students to wait nervously on. He waits nervously on it.

‘Dillon?’

She’s opened the door. Smiling at him. That’s worse.

‘Come in.’

In the room is someone he’s never met.

‘This is Mrs Halliday.’

She has blonde highlights and a sharp, lined face. Her expressions are small, bright, mobile, warm. She has a laptop open in front of her.

‘Hi Dillon.’

Mrs Jackson is doing her best to look cheerful, but she has a deep crease of worry across her forehead.

‘Dillon, we need to ask you a few things. It’s important you be honest.’

She presses one finger to her cheek.

‘Can I ask you about Mr Bradman?’

Dillon keeps his mouth closed.

‘He teaches you Media Studies, doesn’t he?’

Dillon nods very slowly.

‘How long has he been teaching you?’

Dillon tries to think of a way of not replying, but he has no defence against their two professional smiles.

‘He’s a really good teacher.’

Mrs Halliday says, ‘Of course.’ And, ‘How long has he been teaching you?’