I find him in the basement and he’s just sitting in a corner with his friend Aled, so I go over to him, hoping that his weird bad mood has gone away, but as I barge through the dancers, getting closer and closer, I start to realise that his cheeks are damp and he’s been crying, and that’s when I start to feel seriously concerned. Something’s definitely wrong.

I kneel down next to him and Aled gives me this panicked look like he doesn’t know what to do. Charlie rolls his head towards me and he’s even drunker than earlier, if that’s possible. No wonder he’s sitting on the floor in the basement.

“What’s wrong?” I shout over the music.

He laughs but it looks wrong, something is really wrong. “Are you gonna start talking about university again?”

“What?”

“It’s pissing me off so much, Nick.”

I squint at him and ask, “Pissing you off?” but he just mumbles something in reply and I can’t hear him properly.

Then he pulls me roughly towards him with one arm and kisses me.

I quickly discover drunk kisses are not fun when one person is sober. Despite this, he tries to deepen the kiss. I can feel the dampness of his cheeks and he tastes of alcohol. It takes a few seconds for me to actually realise what’s happening and in that time, I blink and see Aled make a look of startled distress, stand up and walk away.

I gently push Charlie off me. “Don’t.”

“Niiiick.” Charlie tries to lean forward again but I just lean backwards. “You promised.”

“Charlie, you’re acting really weird.”

“No I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” I pull him by the arm so we’re both standing. He staggers and grabs on to my arm with both hands. “Come on, let’s go upstairs.”

He doesn’t answer, so I lead him back through the dancers and back upstairs, where it’s nearly empty now – almost everyone is dancing in the basement. I guide him to the conservatory which is, as I’d hoped, empty and quiet, apart from the rain that’s pummelling against the glass roof.

I sit him down on the armchair again and crouch down in front of him. “What’s going on?”

He doesn’t look at me, or even seem to have heard me.

“Charles.” I say this a little louder and this time he meets my eyes. “Why are you acting like this?”

“What?” he snaps, shaking his head. “What am I acting like?”

“Like one minute you’re seriously pissed off with me and the next you want to get off with me!”

He bends over and puts his head in his hands. “I feel sick.”

“For fuck’s sake.” I stand up. This is hopeless. “Why are you being such a dick?”

He doesn’t move.

“Just talk to me!” I say.