“I know we haven’t always agreed on stuff, Max. But you know what it’s like. With no adults around to tell you what to do all the time, you’d think we’d all just want to stay up late and drink and smoke and take drugs and make out. And I know a lot of kids did do that at first. But when you’re scared, struggling just to stay alive, those thoughts go right out the window. Sometimes, though, you get feelings.”

“What are you trying to say, Blue?”

“I like you, Max. Always did. That’s why I act the way I do. I know you liked Arran. I didn’t think I had a chance at first. I’m Fat Boy, remember. Bookface, the computer nerd. Girls never used to go for me. Well, not in that way.”

Maxie looked over at Blue. He was staring fixedly at the ceiling. Might even have been blushing.

“Are you saying you like-like me, Blue?”

Now Blue looked embarrassed.

“No. Yes. No. Not like that.”

“Like what, then?”

“I don’t know like what. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s all right. I’m confused right now, Blue. I don’t know what to think. About Arran, about you, about me. Until we can get out of this mess and I can get my head together and think about things, then I can’t think about anything. Does that sound dumb?”

“No more than anything I said.” Blue sat up. Smiled. “You didn’t yell at me. Does that mean that if we get out of here I might have a chance?”

Maxie laughed. “Let’s get out of here and we’ll see.”

“But say we did get out, yeah? Where would we go?”

“We’ve got the whole of London to choose from.”

“But we don’t know it around here, we don’t know where’s safe.”

“There must be other kids,” said Maxie. “This can’t be it.”

“Nowhere else is going to be as well set up as this,” said Blue. “Nowhere else is gonna be as safe. David’s the only one around here who’s organized.”

They both jumped as a voice came from across the room.

“David’s a liar.”

They had forgotten all about the girl with the bandaged face in the other bed. The one they’d rescued at Green Park.

They both sat up and looked over at her. Her eyes were glinting in the half-light.

“What did you say?” Blue asked, even though he had heard her quite clearly.

“David’s a liar,” she repeated. “He’s been lying to you all along. Why do you think he’s been keeping me out of the way up here?”

“Because of your injuries?” said Blue. Wasn’t it obvious?