She talks me through some deep, calming breaths. I have no idea how long we stand on the corner like that. My shoulders drop and my heart slows. When I feel like I’m not going to vomit, I nod. As Rhi pulls away, the only thing I can think about is how grateful I am there aren’t any streetlights down this side of town.

‘Whenever you’re ready,’ she whispers.

‘Grow some patience.’

‘Can’t grow somethin outta nuthin.’

We look at each other and laugh softly. If our chuckles are a bit high-pitched neither of us says anything. We talked about this bit before we left. I am on my own from here, but Rhi will stay close in case I get into trouble.

Turning towards the house I walk off, keeping my head up, making myself walk calmly, calling up all the times I wished for my twin’s confidence, and fake the hell out of it. I know exactly where I am going – Laney told me how she’d climb up onto the chair that Troy had put under his window. After I faked a dry retch I asked if the chair was there before or after they started seeing each other. Then I ran from the mad cow.

Forcing my breath to calm I step into their yard and drop the confidence. Sneaking to the back of the house I almost fall over the chair as I round the corner. Taking a second to test it for strength and any sound, I step up. All the windows are wide open and these ones are sliders so there’s no window pane to duck or manoeuvre around. The moon has gone dark and only the light of the Milky Way guides me. I can see a plain bedroom with a dresser and a bed. Nothing else but the shape lying in it and the fan going full force, pointing at the bed.

One leg goes over before I have time to think. I reach for a firm grip with my slippery hands. I nearly yelp when my foot finds carpet. Pulling myself up and into the room I stand for a long moment, not breathing. When no one screams I release my breath. Turning, I walk as lightly as I can to the bed and stand over it. Staring down.

The idea is to be creepy and scare the crap out of him, but first he has to wake up. I’m contemplating how I am going to do that without actually touching the prick when he jerks awake and stares up at me. His wide open eyes glow in the starlight and I wait.

‘La … Laney?’

I tilt my head to the side so he can see the outline of my face and he gasps.

‘You … you’re okay?’