‘That’s Liv, over there!’ Natalia points but I have no way of singling her sister out. I can’t see anyone that looks like her. Two girls push us away from the drinks table. One of them manages to give me a split-second once-over (verdict: not impressed) before lunging for more booze. We ricochet into the centre of the room.

Across the topography of heads I can see that there’s art on the walls, even hanging from the ceilings, but no one seems to be paying any attention to it. Instead they’re people-watching, checking each other out, making sure everyone knows they’re having a great time, or else playing at being mysterious and poetic. No one looks over twenty-five, but no one looks as young as us either. There are designer mullets, shaved heads, big beards, round glasses. Overalls spattered with paint, clever tattoos, ripped mesh.

Natalia’s face shines. You can almost see her feeding off the crush and the heat and the noise. Her eyes flick back and forth and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but she’s acting a little off. But maybe this is what she’s like out of school, at night, at a party. ‘What a bunch of freaks. Come on!’

She drags me over to her sister, who is in the far corner with a group of friends. ‘Chloe, this is my dear darling sister, Olivia.’

Natalia hugs her big sister. Olivia is ridiculously good-looking, of course, but also looks very different to Natalia—she’s bony and pale, with spiky black hair. ‘Liv, this is Chloe, the artist I was telling you about.’

I glare at Natalia and she pokes her tongue out.

‘I’m not a real artist,’ I say apologetically.

‘Well, neither am I.’ Olivia smiles at me. ‘I couldn’t explain any of this crap to you. How do you know my little sister?’

‘School.’

‘Ah, commiserations, my friend.’ Olivia holds up her bottle to clink against mine. If you look beyond the differences she has the same aqua eyes as Natalia, and the same level of charisma. That direct look that makes you feel like you have all of her attention. ‘I also survived that hellhole.’

She turns to Natalia. ‘Listen Tal, I have one request of you this evening. Don’t be a dork, okay, and don’t drink too much.’

‘That’s two requests.’ Natalia does her private-school princess smile but Olivia manages to stare her into submission. There’s a first. The girl next to Olivia leans forward and kisses Natalia on the cheek and they start talking.

I’m left hanging, not sure if I should look at the art or try to introduce myself to someone. I settle for a combination of looking soulfully into the distance and smiling vaguely in the direction of Olivia’s intimidating friends. I take a long swig of beer.