Fuck it. It’s now or never. And it’s a good decision. For once. Katherine takes a deep breath and slips her hand into the side pocket of her bag. Her trembling fingers find the folded piece of paper and she starts to slide it out.

But suddenly the hard plastic of a football bag pushes against her back. She lurches forward.

‘Jeez, move down the aisle, you fat cow,’ a surly voice drills into the back of her head. Anger explodes in Katherine’s gut, but it’s quickly eclipsed by horror as she realises that she’s going to slip over. Fall flat on her face in front of Becca. Just in time, her fingers find the cheap velour of a seat headrest and she steadies herself. Then she twists her neck and glowers at the spotty teenager pushing from behind. Not only has he insulted her and almost floored her, he’s also ruined her opportunity. There’s no way she can stay invisible to Becca after the kerfuffle he’s caused. She watches with resignation as the older girl turns her head towards the noise.

‘Oh hi, Katherine.’ Becca pulls off her headphones and looks up from her seat. ‘Are you okay?’ But she doesn’t wait for an answer before turning to the boy still wedged up against Katherine’s back. She gives him a hard stare. ‘Stop pushing her, or I’ll get you done for assault.’ She pauses. ‘And using abusive language.’

‘That’s not even a crime,’ the boy blusters, but with shrinking confidence.

‘Oh yeah? Want to test it?’

Katherine’s heart swells as she listens to this exchange, and when Becca winks at her, she thinks it might actually burst out of her chest. Yes, she’s missed her chance to do the deed that she’s been planning all weekend, but there’ll be other moments. And witnessing Becca stick up for her in front of that dickhead more than makes up for any delay. ‘Thanks, Becca,’ she whispers. ‘I better go and sit down.’ She wafts her hand deeper into the bus.

‘Sit with me,’ Becca says, moving her satchel and patting the now empty seat. Katherine struggles not to yelp with glee; this is definitely a sign, she thinks. Proof that the voice in her head is right, that she’s doing the right thing. A warmth spreads through her body as she throws the boy one last filthy look and sinks down next to Becca.

‘God, boys can be such jerks, can’t they?’ Becca continues. She goes quiet for a while, as though a memory has disturbed her train of thought, and she turns her head towards the window. ‘Do you have a brother, Katherine?’ she asks without moving.

‘No, only sisters,’ Katherine answers quickly, desperate for Becca to look at her again. ‘I mean, half-sisters,’ she corrects.