And he was finally over her. It had taken a year, but now he could see her when he was out and he was OK with it. Like last night in the pub. She had come over and smiled.

Hi, she said. How are you? We haven’t talked in ages. It’s a shame.

Good. You?

OK. You getting ready to go to university?

Yeah. Engineering at Warwick.

I’m going to do English at Liverpool. She touched his arm. We should meet up before we go.

Meet up? For a long time hearing those words had been the thing he wanted most in the world, and now he had heard them, and he felt nothing.

The relief made him dizzy.

I don’t know, he said. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

There was a flicker of surprise in her eyes. The last time she had heard from him he’d been begging to talk to her, and now he wasn’t interested in her offer of meeting up.

Sure, she said, her smile forced. I was only thinking of a coffee. Nothing serious. Not like a date or anything.

It’s not that, he said. It’s just – I have a girlfriend.

He didn’t, but it seemed the easiest excuse.

Louise gave a little shrug. Whatever. She glanced around until she saw a friend, Rachel. Enjoy summer. See you around.

He watched her go. Life had moved on. He had moved on.

For a long time he had thought that would never happen, and he didn’t want to put it in any jeopardy.

Pablo nudged him. ‘So what happened? You going to get back with her? She’s a looker, mate.’

James shook his head. ‘Nah. That’s all in the past. Thank God.’

2

The pub was packed. All the crowd was there. The ones who were off to university – James, Najla, Andy – those who had other plans – Toby, Heather, Mo – and others who James had known over the years.

James stood at the bar, trying to get the barman’s attention. The barman nodded at him.

‘Three pints of lager, two bitter, and two glasses of white wine, please,’ he said.

The barman put a tray on the bar. ‘You’ll need that,’ he said.

With the tray full, James made his way through the crowd, beer slopping out of the glasses as people jostled him.

When he got to the table he put the tray down and handed out the drinks. He’d had four pints and could feel the warm glow of the alcohol.

Najla took her wine. There was a girl sitting next to her who James didn’t recognize. She was wearing all black, and had a ring in her nose.

‘This is Vicki,’ Najla said. ‘She’s new in town. She just moved to Stockton Heath. She works at my place. Thought I’d invite her out to meet you lot. This is James.’