Who am I knitting a blanket for? I want to yell. There’s no point if I can’t give it to Kandi myself.

Then at the bottom of the note Annie says that if social services agree, she’d love to see me again. And if I agree too.

I don’t at first. It’s been nearly a month since I left Annie’s place. I can’t forget the look she gave me when she was helping Blake out the door. Then I read her note again. “Sorry about everything.” She’s sorry. It’s like Annie understands. I feel that heavy sack opening wider and the world gets more bright. I’m still not sure though.

I message Skye. She calls me. Skye’s looking after her little cousin and they’ve got Postman Pat on in the background. I used to watch that with Kandi, though she preferred Octonauts. Skye reckons that maybe if I get Annie on my side, she might help me persuade the social workers to let me have contact with Kandi again. Right now, every letter has to be sent to Kandi’s dad for him to decide whether to give it to Kandi. Man needn’t bother lying. I know it’s gonna go straight in the bin.

So I say yes to Annie. I don’t tell Skye, but I liked Annie. And yeah, I kinda miss her too.

*

It takes another three weeks before Annie can come. My new social worker’s off sick and there ain’t no one around to make the decision.

It’s like me and Annie live in different worlds now. When her car pulls up, I realise I’m blushing. I don’t even blush when I meet up with some boy for the first time. Annie isn’t wearing her yoga pants, but she’s casual in jeans and a shirt. A couple of the other kids here come out to see her too. I never talk about myself, so they’re pretty damn curious.

Annie’s brought a picnic hamper. She says that after we’ve finished eating, I can use the basket for my wool. We drive half an hour through these windy country roads. It’s a bit awkward because we don’t know what to say to each other. So Annie concentrates on her driving and I play with my phone even though I’m feeling a bit sick with all the twisting and turning.