‘But you did, Mike. You did do that to me.’ I pulled off my jacket and showed him my scarred arm. ‘I have to see this every day, and remember how scared I was that you were just going to leave me there, without food or a phone.’

He blinked, looking down at my arm. He reached out a hand, and for a moment I thought he was going to try and touch my scar, but then he pulled his hand away again.

Nodding, he turned away. ‘I’m sorry, Paige.’ Without saying anything else, he walked back to the group.

Anna had made her purchase, but hung back during this conversation, to her credit. She could probably tell from my body language that I didn’t need any back-up, but she’d waited just far enough away that she could dash in to support me if necessary.

Should I ask? she signed as I rejoined her.

Same old shit, I replied.

She nodded, happy with this assessment. Here, I got snacks. She waved a huge bag of pick and mix. You’re queueing for popcorn, though. I need the loo.

Keeping an eye on where Mike was, I joined the other queue and five minutes later brought her the tub of salty popcorn she’d requested.

I didn’t think you were actually going to buy it, she said, looking at me askance. What’s going on? We always get half and half.

I know. I shrugged. But I figured you didn’t get to choose the film, so at least you could choose the popcorn.

She laughed, and we went in to find our seats. The screen was only a third full and we sat near the back. The group from Lincoln School for the Deaf were further forward, and we needed to pass them to get to our seats. I studiously ignored Mike, but I could feel Sasha’s curious gaze on me as I climbed the steps.

About an hour in, I needed the loo, so I got up and went to the ladies’. While I was standing at the sink, washing my hands and wondering if I could ask Max to grow a beard like Bradley Cooper’s, I heard a flush from a cubicle and Courtney came out. I moved over to dry my hands, watching her out of the corner of my eye. She hadn’t realised it was me, and before she washed her hands she pulled her phone out of her pocket to send a message. Then she put it away and took out a second phone. The first had been in a sparkly silver case, but the second was all black. I blinked, and the second phone went away again. Why did a teenager need two phones?