She went upstairs to get changed. Jasmine pulled out some black cropped jeans and a V-neck T-shirt. She didn’t want Felicity to think she was dressing to impress, so she kept it low key. Felicity burst into her room a few moments later and stripped off. She wasn’t as shy as Jasmine. If Jasmine didn’t know better, she would say she was deliberately doing it in front of the window. She didn’t want to have to compete with Felicity when it came to Tim’s attention. She was a bit taller than her, and Jasmine felt like she had the edge when it came to anything boy-related.

Felicity put on a baggy maroon sweatshirt dress. She had cut the ribbing from the neck so that it hung off one shoulder and even though it wasn’t fitted it was definitely sexy, and the contrast with her black hair and rosy cheeks made it even more so. Jasmine tried to put that out of her mind. She didn’t know how Felicity could wear that sweater in this summer heat; her own thin T-shirt was already clinging to her damp skin.

They went downstairs and Felicity put some music on the stereo in the kitchen. She opened the French doors and then started to dance and jump around to the music. Jasmine had known her a long time and she had never done this before. She knew it was all for Tim’s benefit. She didn’t even know if Tim was in the guest house or not; his curtains were always closed, no matter what time of day it was. Felicity pulled a bottle of vodka out of her school bag.

‘I took it from home, my mum won’t give a shit. I’ll just stick it back filled with water. Get me a Coke or something, would you?’

‘What are you doing?’ Jasmine asked, smiling, looking over to the guest house and hoping that Tim wouldn’t come out. Jasmine got a bottle of Coke from the fridge and poured out two glasses, then Felicity filled them to the top with vodka. Felicity went out onto the deck and sat at the table. Jasmine brought the vodkas out and sat with her. Jasmine took a sip; the vodka was so strong she couldn’t help but wince a little. It wasn’t refreshing. Jasmine couldn’t relax because she had a bad feeling about Felicity being there. Something bad was going to happen tonight, she could tell. Jasmine was so angry at herself for inviting her round now. Her parents had said they didn’t want her to be alone all weekend, but she couldn’t have gone to Felicity’s. The atmosphere there was always so tense and the place reeked of cigarettes and booze. Not that Jasmine was precious or anything, but it was more comfortable here.