That was how fifteen minutes later I found myself wearing a fake leather trouser suit that barely reached my ankles and stretched an inch too tight around my torso.

I took a look in the mirror and tried not to cry again.

‘I spent my whole childhood dreaming about dressing in outfits like this. Actually feeling cool for once, rather than the strange girl with the terrible clothes.’

‘Some of your clothes were so strange they cycled all the way around to cool again. Only a highly cool, confident person could have got away with that dress you wore to the prom.’

‘If you genuinely believe that, it only shows that you were even less cool than me. But thank you for trying to make me feel better about it.’

He shrugged. ‘I liked your clothes.’

‘That’s not a compliment. I hated them.’

‘You like this more?’ He nodded at my interview suit. ‘Because the fact that you never wear things like this suggests that the uncool, quirky Bea might be the real you. Your work outfits are hardly conventional weather-presenting garb.’

I tugged at the leather jacket, trying to get it to sit right across my chest.

‘You should wear your own clothes for the interview.’

‘What?’ I shook my head in disgust. How on earth had I ended up listening to fashion advice from a man who tucked his trousers into his socks when it was raining? ‘One of the reasons I want this job is so I can start again, be a new me. One who is, as I said—’

‘Cool.’ I could see him studying me in the reflection of the mirror. This must be how the supermassive black holes felt.

‘I think the coolest thing you can do is be yourself.’ He paused, coughed, shrugged. ‘I always admired that about you.’

I was so stressed out I forgot to be shocked that Henry said he admired me.

‘I’ve spent years trying to not be that person.’

‘And how’s that working out?’

‘Well, I guess I’ll find out on Monday.’

While Henry had gone to pack, I’d conceded defeat with regards to the leather suit. I could barely breathe with the trousers done up, let alone sit down. However, the red dress was another matter. The only red or gold item I’d brought was novelty red underwear covered in snowmen, so I didn’t have a lot of choice.