Just then she heard Paul thunder down the stairs to come and meet her, his face lit up in anticipation until he saw his mum had beaten him to it.

‘There you are. I was just about to offer Claire some birthday cake. Would you like some?’

Paul was clearly embarrassed. ‘No thanks, Mum, we’ve got lots of homework to do,’ responded Paul. Claire watched as his mother tried to hide her disappointment.

‘Paul, I’m sure we can spare a few minutes,’ interjected Claire, gently leading him by the arm. ‘Besides, I love cake.’

*

Claire quickly buttoned up her shirt, trying to bring her breathing back to normal. It had been a mistake to come to Paul’s room. There was a part of her that was desperate to be alone with him but a part of her that was also very much aware that her relationship with Paul was racing ahead and leaving parts of her behind. So far, she’d managed to keep it a secret from the Queen Bees but for how long would she be able to manage that? She could tell even Paul was starting to doubt her story about her parents not liking her having a boyfriend.

The truth was Claire really, really liked him. Could she work it out with the girls and still stay in the club? She didn’t think so. She thought about what would happen if the Queen Bees found out – how she would be publicly ousted. No one would want to be her friend after that – Charlotte’s influence stretched far and wide. She wondered what Anne would do. She had a horrible feeling Anne would choose the club over their years of friendship. And in a way, she could understand because if she chose Paul over the Queen Bees, she knew she would have a very lonely existence.

‘I’m just going to the bathroom,’ she said to Paul, before hurrying out of his bedroom. Everything felt like it was getting too intense and she needed a few minutes alone. Locking the bathroom door behind her, she splashed her face with cold water. Taking a few deep breaths, she felt better. She would sort it all out once she got home and was alone; it was just when she was with Paul, she found she couldn’t think straight – her body seemed to take over. But then her eye caught the beautiful bangle on her arm. It was a thick gold and cream bangle with ornate butterflies etched on to it. Paul had given it to her as soon as they’d got into his bedroom.

‘Happy birthday!’ he’d whispered, handing over the gift in its small black box with silver foiling.

She’d opened it slowly savouring the moment and when she’d seen it, she’d gasped. It was way more than she’d expected.