Stephen glances away. ‘Yeah. Billy didn’t take it too well. First the begging and the crying, then his dad snogging his teacher. He put a brick through Mark’s car window.’

‘Billy did that? Mark said it was some random vandal.’

‘Mark didn’t know who did it. He didn’t see him, did he? Billy said when he got back home afterwards he was so angry he wanted to smash up more of Mark’s stuff but you were in bed so he destroyed a photo album or something.’

‘He blacked out all the photos of Mark. I’ve seen it.’

‘Oh, right. Well, there’s something else you should know too.’

I grit my teeth. ‘What?’

‘The real reason Mark didn’t get into the police.’

‘When he was nineteen? Why the hell are you bringing that up now?’

‘Because you need to know the truth.’

‘I know the truth. He didn’t get in because a couple of his uncles had criminal contacts. Mark told me.’

Stephen raises his eyebrows. ‘He lied. You thought I was a twat for saying you should be careful about Mark and Kira living in the same house. You thought I was shit-stirring but I’m not the one with a record for having sex with an underage girl.’ He shifts in his seat as I gasp and cover my mouth with my hands. ‘Hmm … I thought it would feel good to get all that off my chest but I feel like shit.’ He slumps forwards, head in his hands, and lets out a low moan. ‘No wonder Caroline has left me. I’m a total cunt.’

I don’t say a word. There isn’t a shred of sympathy in my heart for the man sitting in the chair opposite me. How can there be when he’s just ripped it apart?

Friday 2nd January 2015

Jackdaw44: I saw you arguing last night.

ICE9: Where?

Jackdaw44: Outside the Southside pub.

ICE9: Are you stalking me?

Jackdaw44: I was going to meet Archie. I saw you from across the street.

ICE9: We need to stop this. I love being with you but I can’t bear the deceit. I’m lying all the time and I can’t do it any more. I feel like I’m being pulled in two directions. It’s tearing me apart.

Jackdaw44: Make a choice then.

ICE9: I have.

Jackdaw44: So?

ICE9: I’m sorry.

Jackdaw44: You’re dumping me?

ICE9: Don’t put it like that. What we had was a bit of fun. It wasn’t real.

Jackdaw44: Felt fucking real to me.

ICE9: I’m really sorry. I don’t want to hurt you.

Jackdaw44: Well, I’m hurt. OK?

ICE9: You said we could end this at any time. You said I could stop it if I wasn’t happy.

Jackdaw44: That was before you said it was just a bit of fun. I thought you had feelings for me.