And Will sees it. Just for a fraction of a second. The sharpened edge catches the light. Benji – he of the homemade cheese scones and the cherry chocolate brownies – is armed. He has a knife.

In the scuffle, Danny and Tracksuit Boy fall to the ground. Beige Mac goes to work, kicking Danny in the torso and the head. Danny scoots along the ground and reaches his car. He’s able to grab the front wing and pull himself back to his feet. There’s a moment of truce, the three of them breathless. Danny’s face is a mess. But he’s not about to back down now.

Benji joins the other two, a semicircle round Danny.

Will looks once more at April. She’s curled herself into a ball in the front seat.

‘What the fuck?’ Danny says, drawing his arm across his face, smearing blood and snot over his cheek.

Will is walking through the gap between Benji and Tracksuit Boy, staring only at his own feet till he’s centimetres from Danny.

‘Please can we go now. I think we should go. Please?’

‘Get out of my face, Will.’ He says it with no aggression, just confusion, almost as if it’s a question. ‘Seriously. What the fuck are you doing here?’ He shoots a mouthful of purple spit to the ground. ‘What the actual fuck?’

‘You’re going to get hurt if we don’t go.’ Will’s voice sounds like that of a frail old lady: wobbly, high-pitched, petrified. The three guys are close behind him. He knows one of them has a point to prove, respect to be won. A desire for a starring role. A performance that’ll be talked about, remembered. And he has a knife in his hand.

‘Listen to the wise man,’ a voice says – Tracksuit Boy. ‘Know when you’re beaten, pussy.’

‘Shut up, prick,’ Danny retorts.

‘Tell him you don’t mean it,’ Will says to Danny. ‘Tell him that you’re sorry. Please say you’re sorry.’ He vibrates with fear as he speaks, tears juddering down his face.

Beige Mac and Tracksuit Boy don’t try to hide their glee.

‘Don’t be a fucking gay boy all your life, Will,’ Danny snarls.

‘Please, Danny. Let’s just go.’ He nods as he says it. A Magician’s Nod.

‘You don’t walk away from shit like this,’ he snaps, something whiny in his tone.