There was literally no one I could depend on. Maybe nobody was who they seemed. Apart from the animals. Rusty was beautiful inside and out; she was caring and loyal. Colin was literally the devil in sheep’s clothing. But you knew where you were with animals – they weren’t suddenly going to surprise you and tip your world upside down. They didn’t pretend to be something they weren’t and because of that they didn’t let you down. Unlike people who did it all the time.

A few spots of rain landed on my jeans. Dark blue blotches bled across the fabric. I looked at my stuff on the ground beside me. I’d been hasty. Where the hell was I going to go and how on earth was I going to take all this with me? It was Friday night and I was running out of options.

I checked my pockets. I had enough money to get the bus into Dunchurch. I could walk home from there – it was only a couple more stops. I turned the coins over in my hand. Maggie had given me that money. She’d given me a lot. Why couldn’t she be exactly as I’d believed? I sniffed back more tears. I really did need to man up. I was getting pissed off with all the crying.

I lugged my stuff down the driveway and across the road to wait for the bus. It felt as if everything had gone from being beyond brilliant to turning to crap super fast, like someone had flicked a switch. I had no choice but to go back to Dad’s. I didn’t want to. I looked longingly up the driveway in the hope Maggie would come marching down and persuade me to come back but she didn’t. I’d probably outstayed my welcome anyway – not that she’d ever said. But she hadn’t signed up for a full-time freeloader. I knew I was costing her money she didn’t have. Maybe this was for the best for everyone. The bus came into view and I let out a sigh. My life was back to being crap again.

*

Things took another turn as I got off the bus. I was rearranging my stuff to make it easier to carry when someone whacked me in the back. I stumbled forwards, dropped the box but kept my balance. I think my core muscles are getting stronger. I twisted to see Kemp standing there laughing.

‘You living rough now, Harris? You gyppo.’ He snorted at his own joke and his minion Kyle Fletcher joined in. To be fair it was probably how I looked, carrying all my stuff about.

‘Piss off, Kemp.’

‘You gonna make me, hard man?’

I puffed out a breath. I was not in the mood for this. The crying had zapped all my energy and I felt shit. ‘Nope. I’m going home.’