‘Yeah well. I didn’t see you yesterday,’ replied Paul, trying not to sound resentful about Brian playing football every day after school. But he couldn’t help it – Gavin might be less inclined to hassle him on the way home if Brian was with him.

‘Annnnnnnd… we snogged,’ announced Paul, not wanting to mention it was Claire who had kissed him as he hadn’t had the balls to make the first move. ‘In the cinema. In the dark. It was fucking fantastic,’ finished Paul.

‘Whoa, hang on a minute. What do you mean you snogged?’ asked Brian.

‘I mean – we kissed! Have you never seen anyone kiss before?’

‘Well—’

‘Leant right in, her mouth on mine – tongue and everything. She was loving it,’ he added, unable to stop himself boasting. ‘She would have done more I reckon if Charlotte and her mates weren’t behind us screaming their heads off.’

‘Charlotte was there?’ asked Brian, his eyes suddenly narrowing.

‘Yeah, with her witches.’

‘Really? You know…’ Brian tailed off as if he was about to say something but then changed his mind. Instead he said, ‘Good for you, mate.’

But Paul barely noticed. ‘So, what do you think? Shall I call her?’ He felt his bravado slipping away. He knew somehow he had to see her again and soon. But how?

‘Nah…’ replied Brian. ‘You’ll see her in school on Monday, won’t you?’

‘Yeah but then everyone will be around,’ said Paul.

‘Trust me, mate,’ assured Brian. ‘You don’t want to call her. You don’t want to seem too keen, you know?’

‘I suppose so,’ said Paul although he was disappointed. He’d looked forward to discussing the details of the phone call with Brian.

‘How do you know, anyway?’ asked Paul doubting his friend’s advice.

‘Duh! Simon,’ shot back Brian.

Paul conceded immediately. Simon was Brian’s older brother, in his last year at sixth form. He’d been with sexy Nicole for the last six months.

‘Okay, Monday then. But then what? Do I go up to her, do you think?’

‘No,’ said Brian quickly.

‘Really? Then what?’

‘Where did you first meet her? I mean, where did she ask you out?’

‘In the library,’ replied Paul.

‘Then go to the library and wait. See if she comes again,’ said Brian decidedly.

‘You reckon? It seems a bit, you know, hit and miss. How will she I know I’m there?’

‘Really?’ Brian looked at his friend. ‘You’re always in the library, you moron.’ He punched his friend lightly on the arm.

Paul laughed. ‘I suppose so. Okay, I’ll give it a week. But if she doesn’t come then we need another plan. In the meantime, ask Simon.’

Brian nodded, the matter closed.

*

Paul let himself in through the back door quietly, wanting nothing more than to go up to his bedroom, lie on his bed and think about Claire.

‘Paul – is that you?’

For fuck’s sake.