We’ve been back in school a month. Big Ben doesn’t like me being nice to another boy but has promised not to hit him so hard he dives into the air like the Fosbury Flop. Every time I see Pete LMS, I remember him humiliating me in front of the whole class. But he doesn’t bully me now. He WAS excluded for a week after the SOS L episode and he DID say sorry. I’ve stopped calling him Pete LMS behind his back. I have to take a deep breath after I say Pete, to stop myself saying LMS. When I’m nice to him, like picking up his pencil when it drops on the floor in double maths, he raises his eyebrows so high, his forehead wrinkles like he’s turned into Le Temps and I’m scared. But I’m a Level 1 Infinite and supposed to be brave. No one knows I’m a Level 1 Infinite except everyone at the ceremony and you. It has to be secret so we can stop eco-crimes. You mustn’t tell anyone.

Today, Big Ben’s at Anger Management in Action, where you’re allowed to shout and break real chairs under supervision. I notice Pete looking at me in double English, and when I look at him he looks away. Why’s he constantly staring at me? MC2 sends a text:

THE FUTURE JUST GOT BETTER

Does the future only get better if the present gets worse? I get a headache imagining the future happening at the same time as the present.

Now, it’s lunchtime. I’m sitting on the bench by the track eating grilled halloumi in white flatbread when Pete comes over and clears his throat.

‘How fast can you run the 100 metres?’ he says.

I do what-big-eyes. ‘13.12 seconds, which gives me an 87.64% age grade, now I’m 12.’

I turn away from him but he doesn’t go away.

‘Elle.’ He pauses a long time. ‘I know you and Big Ben . . . but, I wondered if . . .’

I turn to face him. ‘What?’

‘Would you go running with me?’

‘No. I won’t two-time Big Ben!’

His face goes bright red and his voice goes a bit squeaky. ‘Thought so. He’s A List. I’m a non-scorer.’

He means in competitions. As are the fastest, Bs slower but still score, non-scorers can take part but don’t get points for the team. It must be hard if you’re good but two people are always better than you. I feel sad when I think that.

‘I could teach you the long jump.’

Pete stares at me like I just disappeared and appeared on the spot. I’m surprised myself. It was my mouth speaking before my brain had time to stop it.

‘OK,’ he says and walks away.