‘You see? I told you it would be beautiful!’ she exclaimed, her approval clamorous and too loud, as if she could lift the mood, compensate for Beth’s unspoken misgivings.

She clapped her hands, then lifted Beth’s face, swept her fingertips over Beth’s hot cheek, saying: ‘I told you, remember? Even ugly things can be made beautiful. You just have to be brave.’

She smiled into Beth’s face, and for just a moment, it blinded Beth to her doubt.

Then Bruno coughed, reminding the girls of his presence. He slouched against the door frame, said something she didn’t understand, and when Beth looked to Corinne for the translation, her friend was smiling at her strangely.

‘He needs to be paid,’ Corinne said, her face tilted to one side, idly playing with the glove in her lap.

‘But, the rum … I thought—’

‘No, no!’ Corinne laughed gently.

The bottle stood on the kitchen counter where they had left it, untouched.

‘How much do we need?’ she asked, but the jump she felt inside told her it wasn’t about money.

Bruno waited and Corinne sat still on the couch. Beth looked from one to the other, her heart hammering.

‘It will be quick,’ Corinne said. ‘And you will be happy you did it afterwards.’ She smiled at Beth, but her eyes were steely.

‘No. I can’t.’ Beth’s hands slick with sweat, heat prickling like a rash over her body.

‘Go on,’ Corinne said, nodding her encouragement.

‘Corinne, please—’

‘You want to grow up, don’t you? You don’t want to be a baby for ever?’

‘No, but—’

‘He will show you what to do. Like he showed me. You do trust me, don’t you?’

Fear bubbled up inside her, and to her shame tears sprang in her eyes.

‘Please. I don’t want to …’

‘Just think,’ Corinne said, reaching out and taking hold of Beth’s hand. ‘How close it will bring us. You said it yourself. How you want to be like me. Look!’ she said, turning quickly and pulling up the side of her vest to show the tattoo on her hip. ‘Yours is just like mine, no? We are twins, right? Sisters. My first time was with him. Now yours will be too!’ Light filling her face, but her eyes remained fixed on Beth, pinning her there for an answer, a submission. When she didn’t reply, Corinne’s grip tightened.

‘Remember the rules,’ she said softly but firmly. ‘You must do what I tell you.’

Beth felt the lump rise in her throat. ‘Please don’t make me,’ she whispered.

But Corinne was insistent.

‘You have to pay him,’ she said, her voice low, her gaze intense. ‘It isn’t fair not to pay him.’