‘OK, maybe there are some exceptions to the rule. But you’ve got to admit that the way they get together in movies is always ridiculous, as well as the fact that it takes them so long to realise they’re in love.’

‘Do you think that it’s always instant?’

‘I think you know at first when you meet someone. You either fancy them or you don’t. They always say that when you know, you know. And that’s what it’s like.’

‘You say it like you’re in love with someone,’ I said, catching his gaze. ‘Is there someone that you’re not telling me about?’

He turned his head away and started to fidget.

‘There is, you like someone. Who is it?’ Joel had done his fair share of flirting with girls early on in the summer but lately I hadn’t noticed him with anyone.

‘It’s no one.’

I didn’t believe him, but even in the dim lighting I could tell he’d gone red. I guessed it was someone on the campsite. Janie who was in the housekeeping staff maybe, I often saw them talking. Or perhaps Mags from the entertainment staff. She was taking windsurfing lessons with him.

‘What about you?’ said Joel. ‘Was it instant with you and Scott? Are you in love with him?’

I turned the cup in my hand. It was a question I’d asked myself many a time, especially with his visit to the holiday park looming.

‘I think we’re proof that it can take a long time.’

Joel did a thing with his eyebrows where one went up and one went down and he opened his mouth to say something, but he closed it again, like he’d thought better of it.

‘What?’

‘Nothing.’

‘You were going to say something.’

‘No, I wasn’t. Hey, do you fancy going for a walk? We haven’t made a round for a while.’

‘You’re trying to change the subject.’

‘Maybe,’ he said, standing up and holding his hand out.

I took it and he pulled me up, only he did it with just a little too much force and we almost crashed into each other.

‘Sorry, you’re lighter than you look,’ he said, with a small laugh.

‘Oi, watch it.’ I hit him lightly on the arm. We hadn’t moved any further apart and I noticed my breathing had become shallower.

‘Let’s go,’ he said. He still had hold of my hand, and I didn’t do anything about it.