She thought about what he’d said. Had he just said what she wanted to hear? Was he telling her he wanted more from her? The idea was both exciting and terrifying – he was almost ten years older than her. What could he possibly see in her?

‘I’m sorry about Felicity; I was trying to put you off, if I am honest. I thought maybe I could make you hate me. I didn’t sleep so well last night thinking I had hurt you. You didn’t deserve that.’ His voice was soft and low, and she knew he was lying. Whatever his motivation for kissing Felicity, he wasn’t telling her the truth.

‘Why would you try to make me hate you?’

‘Because you’re sixteen and I’m not that person. When I moved here, I didn’t expect you to be like this. I didn’t expect to like you as much as I do. I can’t be that person. I thought if I could put you off, make you think I was interested in your friend, then this thing that we have, this connection that just seems to get stronger, would go away. It didn’t work though because I can’t stop thinking about you, about being with you.’

‘OK. I understand,’ she said; she thought she did understand what he was saying. He had used Felicity to make her hate him, but it hadn’t worked, it had only made her feelings for him even stronger. The thought of him with someone else had pushed her desire to the surface. She couldn’t deny it anymore. Not even her fear of who he might be could keep her from wanting him.

‘I felt like we could be friends,’ he said. He looked so serious and his eyes were totally locked on hers. Her anger dissipated and she forgot what she was ever annoyed about. She couldn’t tell if he was playing with her or not. She was confused. As she pulled her eyes away, he did that thing where he wet his lips and Jasmine was right back where she was yesterday before Felicity came over. All was forgiven. Tim leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He smelled of soap and his lips were wetter than she expected. She was dizzy and light-headed. He pushed his tongue inside her mouth, and she could taste a hint of coffee mixed with toothpaste. Time slowed and he put his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him. She kissed him back, taking his bottom lip in her mouth before pushing up on her tip toes and pressing her tongue into his mouth. Suddenly, he pushed her away and placed both of his hands on the doorframe to steady himself, his eyes closed as he buried his face in the pit of his elbow, as if trying to calm himself down.

‘Where did you learn to kiss like that?’