The rich colour of his blue eyes seemed to pierce her soul and the moment became thick and heavy. The butterflies dancing low in her stomach filled her with excitement and apprehension. Something was definitely happening here between them but what exactly was it and what could it be? Were either of them ready?

‘Shall we get started then?’ said Nick. ‘This dough needs to prove for an hour before we can make the pizzas. I should have got us some nibbles. Olives or something.’

‘I’m more than happy with a packet of crisps if you’ve got some of those.’

‘Those we’ve definitely got. Freddie, can you grab out some crisps, please?’

Freddie leapt over the sofa and yanked open a cupboard, pulling out a large multipack of crisps. ‘What flavour do you like, Bella?’

‘Are you all going to moan if I say prawn cocktail?’

‘Urgh,’ Nick and Freddie said in unison.

Bella rolled her eyes. ‘I always get that. I can’t help it.’

Nick held up a hand while Freddie made fake vomiting noises. ‘Sorry, Bella, but they are the worst flavour crisps in the whole world. No one in their right mind likes prawn cocktail.’

Right now, she didn’t think she was in her right mind for a whole host of reasons. ‘Well, I do. And it never hurts to be different, does it?’

‘Right,’ said Nick, placing the chef’s hat on Freddie’s head. ‘Shall we get started then?’

‘Wait!’ Bella cried, grabbing her phone. ‘We need Christmas music.’

‘Will it make any difference if I say no?’

‘None whatsoever.’

‘Do you have an advent calendar in class, Bella?’ Freddie asked. ‘We do. Look, I’ve got mine already.’ He ran to the furthest worktop in the kitchen and showed Bella a chocolate one the village shop had been stocking since the start of November.

‘We definitely do, Freddie. It wouldn’t be Christmas without an advent calendar.’

The memory of making the pizzas that Saturday night was one that would stay with Bella forever – she was sure of it. It rivalled her own memories of cooking with her family at Christmas time because all she could remember was laughter. Freddie’s high-pitched giggle, which only came out when he was exquisitely happy, danced around the kitchen. Seeing Nick forget the worry that Mr Cole had forced upon him had also lifted her spirits. He didn’t deserve it. If only there was something she could do.

Her mind ran through different possibilities until it hit on an idea. There was something she could do, but would it get her into trouble at school? Possibly. At the moment, being with Nick and Freddie made it worth the risk.