‘I got an email from Mrs Scott at Queensbridge,’ Kirsten said, shaking her tablet furiously. ‘What the hell, Harry?’

Harry tried to play it cool, not sure if she’d found out about the detention, the D in math or both. ‘What?’ he asked dopily.

Kirsten’s eyes bulged. ‘I asked about your grades yesterday. Now Mrs Scott’s saying that you’re getting Ds in maths, and Cs in four other subjects. They want us to go in for an urgent academic review, and she’s sent me a list of tutors.’

‘The teacher’s a dick,’ Harry said. ‘I’m usually good at maths, or above average at least. But this term …’

Kirsten riled up. ‘If he’s so bad, is every other kid in the class getting Ds?’

‘Not exactly.’ Harry squirmed. ‘But …’

‘Everyone has ups and downs at school,’ Kirsten said, placing hands on hips. ‘It’s the lying that ticks me off.’

‘What lying?’

‘I asked yesterday morning, and you said your grades were fine.’

‘I was in a rush to meet Ellie,’ Harry said. ‘I didn’t have time to open this whole can of worms.’

‘You’re always in a rush,’ Kirsten said. ‘Charlie gets priority. Vegas Local gets priority. Hanging with Matt gets priority. But according to Mrs Scott your schoolwork is down the shitter.’

‘Was that her exact phrasing?’ Harry smirked, zipping his jeans and pushing his feet into sneakers.

‘Don’t get cute,’ Kirsten warned. ‘And don’t think you’re rushing off across the city to see Charlie before we talk about this.’

Harry grabbed his bag, and the carrier with his uniform balled inside.

‘Did you buy her more gifts?’ Kirsten asked.

‘I’m not going to Charlie till later. And the gifts were a one-off, because she’s one of my best friends and she’d just got out of the joint.’

Kirsten backed up, blocking the door. ‘You’re not leaving until we’ve talked this through.’

‘I have to,’ Harry said firmly.

‘No you don’t,’ Kirsten said.

Harry cast a downward glance. ‘I have Saturday detention,’ he admitted. ‘Starts at eight thirty, so I need to leave now.’

Harry stepped back as a vein pulsed in Kirsten’s temple. ‘What for?’

‘I was late for class,’ Harry said, deciding not to lie outright, but be economical with the truth. ‘I was in a side room doing stuff for the school newspaper and somehow I missed the bell.’

‘Mrs Scott will confirm that when we have your academic review?’

‘Don’t you believe anything I say?’ Harry moaned. ‘I’ve been at Queensbridge two years and this is my first Saturday detention. It’s not a huge deal.’

‘All right,’ Kirsten sighed. ‘Go to your detention, then come back here.’

‘That’s when I’m driving to Charlie’s.’