Before heading to the cold pizza I made my way to Mum’s room. She wasn’t there. I checked in the lounge room and, sure enough, Mum was asleep on the couch.

Her lips were encrusted with red wine and the bottle was empty.

So much for just finishing that glass before bed.

I took a piece of cold pizza from the table and switched on a music channel.

Mum opened one eye, closed it, rolled over and snuggled into the cushions.

‘What time is it?’ she asked.

‘After nine.’

‘Good, I needed a sleep-in.’

An old Red Hot Chili Peppers song came on the TV. It reminded me of Dad.

‘I need some water,’ Mum said, dragging herself off of the couch. ‘What time do you want me to drop you at Katie’s?’

‘As soon as possible, Mum. I’m dying to see Katie and Jane.’

I was glad that Mum remembered she was my ride, although I wasn’t sure if she was just being nice or wanted me out of her hair so that she could sleep through the day. She had a shower, though, which I guess meant she was half serious about doing something.

But when we got into the car, there was sweat beading on her forehead. She looked a bit grey until the air con kicked in.

When we pulled into Katie’s driveway, Mum said, ‘Want me to say hi to Katie’s parents?’

My stomach tightened, remembering the conversation between Dad and Katie’s father.

‘No need. I’ll message you when I’m ready to be picked up,’ I told her.

I walked along the side of Katie’s house, knowing Katie and Jane would be in the pool. ‘Hey Pheebs,’ they called out when they saw me, before Jane clambered over Katie’s shoulders and dunked her beneath the water.

I stepped beneath the patio that covered the pool, pulled my dress over my head to reveal my bathers underneath, then sat on the edge of the pool dangling my legs into the cool water.

‘How’s things in The Village?’ Katie asked.

‘Awesome,’ I said, hoping that it would stop her and Jane from prying into my personal life.

‘Have you sussed out any hot guys yet?’ Jane jumped in.

I thought about some of the older guys at my school and said, ‘There’s a few,’ so they wouldn’t learn that I was feeling completely out of place at my new school.

‘Oh yeah? So who do you like?’ Jane said. I plunged beneath the water to avoid answering.

But when I came up for air, Jane asked again, ‘Come on, tell me who it is? There’s got to be one or two hotties at your school.’

‘Seriously Jane, not everyone is checking out boys every second of the day.’

‘Really?’ she asked straight-faced, and then laughed cheekily.

Katie and I both answered simultaneously, ‘Yes! Really!’