Mitch took another slug of the vodka, then handed it to a subdued Dave. ‘If I head now my da will be snoozing in the chair. Ma can’t smell booze but Da can from the bleedin’ path.’ He got up and grabbed his bike. ‘See yis.’

Two down, one still to go.

He pedalled off with his arms in the air. ‘Goodnight, Dublin, I love you,’ he shouted.

‘Rock on, Mitch,’ Dave shouted, then looked at Jeremy and Rave. ‘What now?’

‘You’re goin’ home,’ Rave said.

‘Yeah, we’ve got something to do, Dave.’ Jeremy was desperate to get out of the park, find out what Rave wanted to show him, then go home. If they were quick, he’d make it before his ma got back.

‘Oh, yeah, Beany! Ya big knob-jockey, do you want some quality time with Rave? He’s never gonna go for it, you know,’ Dave said. Jeremy’s heart threatened to fall into his stomach. He couldn’t speak or move or do anything, and then he heard Rave’s anger.

‘What did you say?’ Rave got to his feet a little unsteadily, but once he was up, he was in Dave’s face.

‘Nothing.’

‘Come on, what are you trying to say?’

‘I was only messin’,’ Dave said nervously.

‘Rave, it’s fine.’ Jeremy took his arm and tried to pull him back.

‘It’s not fuckin’ fine.’ Rave shrugged him off and gave Dave’s shoulder a shove. ‘You can do what you want with everyone else, Dave, but you don’t ever fuckin’ call him names. All right?’

‘Right, sorry, Rave. Sorry.’

Jeremy put himself between them. ‘Just go, Dave. It’s fine.’

Dave picked up his bike and cycled off. Rave watched him go.

Jeremy sat down again and waited for Rave to relax. It took a few minutes before Rave would look at him. Eventually he flopped beside his best friend.

‘Sorry, man. I was out of line there, I know I was.’

‘He was only messin’.’

‘Yeah, well he sounded like he meant it and shite sticks, Jeremy.’ Rave took another drink.

‘You scared him,’ Jeremy said.

‘I’d never have hit him. You know that, don’t ya?’

‘Yeah.’

‘OK, then. It’s time to show you …’ Rave was picking up the last of the bottles lying around the tree and placing them in Jeremy’s backpack.

‘Show me what?’ Jeremy got to his feet and brushed himself down.

‘It’s a place.’

‘Where?’

‘Past the reservoir into the mountains.’

‘Jesus, Rave, it’s the middle of the night.’

‘Please,’ Rave said. ‘Your ma won’t be home for ages.’

Jeremy thought about it. Grammy and Valerie were probably still alone. His ma would go mad if she found out.

‘Come on, please.’

‘I dunno.’

‘I need you to see it.’

Shite. ‘Right, screw it, I’ll go. But get a shift on before it starts pissing down again.’