Will takes a moment to imagine if Danny were to get caught with a friend’s mum. It’s a believable enough scenario, for sure. Would he be forced to leave his school, lose all his mates? The thought almost makes Will laugh. He’d have to do nothing of the sort. It would, in fact, serve only to reinforce his legend.

‘What you shaking your head at?’ April asks.

‘Nothing,’ Will mumbles, although that’s not true. He’s wondering why he had to transpose the situation – boy to girl, girl to boy – in order to make a moral judgement.

‘What an idiot, huh?’ April says.

‘Did you not tell him no?’

‘Sometimes things just happen, Will. They don’t make sense. There’s no reason for them. They just happen.’

‘How did it happen?’

‘I’d had a horrible row at home, been chucked out. Went to Lauren’s. Had nowhere else to go. Was in a state. Me and her, we had a few drinks. She had to go out. Her dad was there. We were chatting. What’s that expression, Will? And one thing led to another. Christ, what a slag.’

‘You’re sure you never told him no?’

‘Fuck’s sake, Will. Not everyone’s a victim, yeah? Stop trying to make me into a sympathy case. No, I never told him no.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Why I didn’t is another matter. Why didn’t I, Will? Why the fuck didn’t I?’

‘Don’t let this ruin things at ECS,’ Will says. ‘Please.’

April shrugs. ‘Not sure that’s my choice.’

‘Well, I’m not about to tell anyone.’

‘And Danny?’

‘I’ll deal with Danny.’ He’s impressed with how assured he sounds. How will he deal with Danny? He’ll worry about that later.

‘What the fuck was I doing out with him tonight?’ April says.

‘Was sort of wondering about that.’

‘I promised myself, as well. After he was such a prick when I was with you the other week. He’s been messaging every day – let’s do something, come over, all that. Been ignoring him. Till tonight.’

‘He’s a dick.’

‘Why do I do it to myself, Will? Fuck’s sake.’

‘Don’t worry about it.’

‘It’s what I deserve, isn’t it? Someone like him.’

‘That’s bullshit.’

‘Thanks, mate,’ she says with a smile. ‘Well, fuck him. If you see me anywhere near him, Will, promise you’ll shoot me or something, yeah?’

Will laughs. ‘You got it.’

‘Seriously, Will. Me and him, we’re finished. Fucking over and done.’

‘Understood.’

The darkness is lifting now. To their right, the sea is cool and grey where it meets the coming dawn, still black where it merges with the night to their left.

‘Anyway, you’ve heard all about my exciting love life,’ April says, jazz hands sarcastically in use. ‘So let’s hear about yours. Come on.’

‘My what?’

‘Your history.’

‘Right.’