Olivia wasn’t sure if her friend Lisa would be there or not. Apparently she’d been grounded for the weekend. Lisa told her that she’d been caught screwing her boyfriend in the garden shed. She had laughed as she said it, and even Olivia could see the funny side, but she knew she’d miss her tonight. Maybe she had managed to talk her parents round, but she hadn’t seen her yet. So she sat on the log and waited. And waited. And waited, until finally Wren appeared, sitting down on the log next to her. He was here and all was right with the world again. They had a brief conversation, Olivia barely remembering what they talked about. She was lost in his dark eyes. She pushed back a stray piece of hair and he drew her forward for a kiss.

Suddenly she was pulled backward pressing into something hard, a body. Bands of steel wrapped her waist.

‘Justin, put her down, you’re scaring her.’

‘You’re not scared, are you, Olivia?’ Justin said loudly in her ear. She nodded her head, too scared to talk. Yes, she was scared.

Justin stood up, depositing Olivia on her feet. She immediately smoothed down her skirt and went to Wren’s side, reaching out to hold his hand.

‘This party blows,’ Justin announced. ‘Let’s go somewhere and talk.’ He exchanged a glance with Wade as he looked from Wren to Olivia and back to Wren. ‘C’mon, Wren, we can get to know Olivia properly. Wade even brought her a beer.’

He offered the drink to her, but she refused to take it. ‘I’m driving, but thanks anyway.’

‘Wow, your girl is uptight, probably frigid too. Tell me, Wren, you been there yet?’

‘Justin…’

‘I know, I know. Olivia can’t take a joke. Let’s go.’

Despite having a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach, Olivia followed Wren who gripped her hand hard. Maybe he was nervous too, who knew? Or maybe he was just angry at Justin for being such a dick.

They followed Justin further into the field, decorated with tufts of weeds. The music started to fade, the bass no longer thumping in her chest. She was beginning to feel anxious, but she was with Wren; he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her.

‘Look at the stars out here, Olivia. Bet you don’t get that in the city – too much light pollution,’ Wren said. She looked up.