Mum got me the dress from Brighton. I run my hands over the full skirt. I’m fairly confident that no one else will be wearing a dress with the planets printed all over it. ‘I look like me in a dress,’ I say, turning round. ‘I look weird.’

‘Not weird,’ says Annie. ‘Cosmic.’

The doorbell rings. Pongo starts barking and Mum runs past my room. ‘Hurry up!’ she calls.

‘Oh, God,’ I say, staring at my phone. ‘He’s here!’

I can see Annie sitting on her bed wearing a bright red dress. Her white rat, Alice, is curled up on her shoulder. ‘Wow.’ Her eyes go wide. ‘This is it, mate.’

‘Wish me luck.’

‘No way. You don’t believe in that rubbish.’

‘You’re right. Wish me a logical outcome.’

‘And what would that be?’

Up on the wall, Valentina Tereshkova gives me her sternest look, reminding me that good things happen when I tell the truth. I look back at Annie and say, ‘A kiss.’

‘Then go get that kiss, space girl!’ she says, then her hand reaches forward and she disappears. Annie doesn’t do goodbyes.

‘Come on!’ Mum calls from the hallway.

I take a deep breath, check my nose one final time, then leave my room. Out in the hallway, Mum holds Elsa and Pongo back while I open the door.

And there’s Ed, standing there and smiling at me … and looking very casual. He’s wearing jeans and a sweatshirt along with his big parka. Slung over his shoulder is a sports bag.

‘Wow, Meg, you look …’ He frowns down at my dress.

‘What?’

‘Like you might get cold.’

‘I’ve got a cardi.’ I grab it off the hook by the door. Mum’s grinning at Ed and I know she’s bursting to talk to him. I need to get us out of here before she asks what his star sign is or tries to touch him to check out his energy.

‘But we’re going to be sitting outside for hours,’ says Ed. ‘The asteroid doesn’t pass by until eleven.’

‘The asteroid? But what about the school dance?’ I look at my nails. I actually let my mum paint them red to match Mars on my dress. She was in heaven. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

He grins and shrugs. ‘Romantic surprise? Plus, you told me I was never ever allowed to mention the dance to you.’

‘I think you took that a bit literally.’

‘Probably, but I’d never take you to the dance. You said you hated them.’ He pats his bag. ‘I thought we’d go on the Downs. I borrowed Raj’s fishing shelter, I’ve got food and we can make a fire.’ He hesitates. ‘Was it a stupid idea? I thought you liked it up there.’

I actually have to stop myself from hugging him. ‘I love it up there. I’ll get changed.’ I go to my room and while I’m pulling on leggings under my dress and finding my warmest hoodie, I hear Mum chatting to Ed, offering to lend him sleeping bags and cotton wool to light the fire.