‘Just leave me alone.’ She went to walk away and he grabbed her arm. His fingers dug into her flesh and she knew there was no way she could shake herself free. Her anxiety increased as she imagined him dragging her onto the beach or into the toilets, both of which were close enough that he could take her there with ease, without anyone noticing.

‘I thought we had something, I thought you wanted me to kiss you.’

‘Well, I didn’t,’ she snapped. She felt his grip tighten and worried that she had made things worse. ‘You were my teacher, you are engaged to be married, I didn’t think of you like that at all. I’m sorry you thought I did.’

He pulled her towards him. Panicked, Jasmine looked towards the fair and saw someone walking through the path between the hedges from the swimming pool car park.

‘Help!’ she shouted, but Morrell’s hand covered her mouth before she could shout again.

‘I’m not going to hurt you. I just want you to admit that you wanted me to kiss you. You ruined my life and it wasn’t just in my mind, you wanted me, Jazz, admit it!’ His eyes were brimming with desperation and she knew she had to calm things down. She hoped Felicity would come to look for her soon, although she doubted that she would as she was talking to Taylor.

‘Jasmine. Are you all right?’ she heard from behind her. She couldn’t see him but she knew it was Tim; she recognised his voice. Morrell relaxed his grip and confusion swept across his face, whatever emotion he was in the grips of seemingly vanishing as soon as someone else was around.

‘Who are you?’ Mr Morrell’s gaze snapped away from Jasmine to look directly behind her. He let go and Jasmine staggered backwards until her arm thumped against Tim. She hadn’t even noticed that she was crying until she was a few feet away from Mr Morrell.

‘I’m a friend of Jasmine’s. Who are you?’ She felt Tim’s hand on her shoulder. It steadied her. She was shaking.

Mr Morrell didn’t respond.

Jasmine could see Mr Morrell trying to work out her connection to Tim, his gaze locked on the hand that rested on her shoulder. She saw a flash of jealousy and then anger. She felt safe with Tim next to her. Before now she hadn’t been sure of Tim but the threat of being alone with Mr Morrell put those childish feelings in perspective. The men stared at each other and Jasmine stepped to the side so she could watch them both. Tim had his eyes fixed on Mr Morrell, a slight smile on his face. There was something menacing about it and yet she still felt safe, glad she was on the right side of his expression.