‘Are you all right, Laura? The press going after you like that outside – that’s a horrible thing to have to deal with. I will make a complaint as you’re underage and they shouldn’t be harassing you. They know that. It’s me they’re waiting for really. Or Jesse.’ I’m surprised she doesn’t say anything about Jesse’s outburst. I guess if she’s ignoring his behaviour, I probably should too.

‘Don’t worry, I’m fine,’ I say. I pause. ‘Should I go and see if Jesse’s OK?’

‘I’d leave it an hour or so. Give him time to calm down. It’s usually better that way.’ Ah. So she has seen that kind of temper from him before.

A little later I knock on Jesse’s door. ‘Who is it?’ he calls grumpily.

‘Laura,’ I say. ‘But I can come back later if it’s, um, not a good time.’

The door opens. His eyes look red as if he’s been crying. ‘Don’t be silly,’ he says. ‘I’m glad you’re here. Come in.’

It’s the first time I’ve been in Jesse’s room. I think it’s the nicest one in the house. It has polished floorboards covered with a huge cowskin rug. There is a desk covered in paper and an iPad on the double bed playing a film, which he picks up and switches off before launching himself onto the bed and arranging a big pile of pillows against the wall.

He turns to face me, his back against the wall, and stretches out his hand towards me. ‘Come and sit with me,’ he says.

I sit next to him on the bed.

‘Are you OK?’ I ask. ‘I’ve never seen you snap at your mum like that before. And …’ I touch his hand. His knuckles are grazed. ‘Is your hand all right?’ I ask.

He squeezes my shoulder. ‘Yeah. I’m fine. I shouldn’t have snapped at her. And hitting the wall – that was stupid. I’m sorry I behaved like that. But there have been times when … God she gets on my nerves. Makes me see red. It’s hard to describe.’ He pauses. ‘It’s not something I’m proud of, but sometimes I’ve come frighteningly close to hitting her. When I feel like that, I just need to get out of her way.’

I nod as if I understand, but I don’t. I didn’t like seeing him angry, and I feel as if it’s my fault.

‘I’ll apologize to her later, it’ll be fine,’ he adds. ‘No harm done. She’s forgiven me before, she’ll forgive me again.’

‘If it wasn’t for me, none of this would be happening,’ I say, tears rising. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if …’

I tail off. Jesse shifts so that he is facing me.

‘If what?’

‘Nothing,’ I say, blushing.