Rave laughed. ‘Take the bag off your back and let’s get some of those sandwiches out. I’m starving.’

Jeremy did as he was told. Do not get another hard-on, Jeremy Bean. I am warning you. Just be cool. Super-cool. Can you be super-cool for once in your life, please?

When the fire was lit, the room warmed up quickly, even though there was a hole in a corner of one of the windows. Rave had shoved a sock into it, then taped newspaper over it on both sides.

‘I’ll get around to fixing that.’ He sat beside Jeremy on the sleeping bag. Jeremy handed him a sandwich from the backpack.

‘Any vodka with that?’ Rave asked.

‘Haven’t you had enough?’

‘Come on, man, I’m sober now.’

‘Well, we still have to scale down bleedin’ Everest to get home.’

‘I know you’re freaked, and you want to go home to mind your grammy because you’re Mr Reliable, but just one drink to celebrate.’

Jeremy relented and handed him a small half-full bottle of vodka.

‘Grab yourself a bottle. Let’s do a toast.’

Jeremy took another bottle from the bag. Rave raised his and Jeremy reciprocated.

‘To my new gaff and to us,’ Rave said, and they clinked bottles. Rave slugged; Jeremy sipped. Rave picked up half the sandwich. ‘Here, share it.’ Jeremy took a bite and Rave grinned.

Jeremy looked around at the candles flickering, the stove burning, and through the recently cleaned window he admired the full moon and the city lights. He was sitting beside his best friend with a cheese and ham sandwich in one hand, the vodka in the other. Even strait-laced, follow-the-rules, don’t-disturb-the-peace Jeremy Bean had to admit this was cool. He looked to Rave, who was even more handsome in candlelight. It’s perfect. ‘Very cool.’ He relaxed a little more and Rave punched him playfully.

‘Fuckin’ A it’s cool.’ He leaned over to his stereo and pulled a CD from the pile. ‘How do you feel about a little Unforgettable Fire?’

‘Old school. I like it.’ Old school! What did you say that for? What’s wrong with you? You sound like a head case. This is starting to feel like a date. My head is melted. Don’t relax. Do not relax. Rave sat down beside him, brushing up against him. Keep it together, Jeremy, keep it together!

They sat eating the sandwich and every now and then Rave took a slug of vodka until the bottle was empty.

‘This is just between you and me,’ Rave said.

‘Why?’

‘I tell the lads about it, soon everyone will know and it’ll be over.’

‘What about Casey?’

‘No. This is just for us, Beany.’ Jeremy’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Our secret. Yeah?’

‘Yeah,’ Jeremy agreed. His voice was so hoarse he wasn’t sure that Rave had heard him, so he nodded vigorously.