The next day Claire waved Anne off and then walked in the direction of the school library. She and Anne had lunch together most days but today Anne had a dentist appointment and her mother had come to pick her up to take her. Claire was planning to do the homework they’d been set that morning, so she wouldn’t need to do it at home.

Well, that’s what she told herself. It was Thursday. Five days since her date with Paul and two days since she’d got into the Queen Bees. Unexpectedly, Paul had played on her mind and she was hoping to see him. As she entered the library, she appreciated the sense of quiet, the bedlam of the corridors a whole world away. She walked into the room and saw him. And then he looked up. And Claire knew then that she liked him.

Crap.

21

Paul was feeling very pleased with himself. Not only had he managed to convince his mum to take him into town for a new wheel for his bike, but Claire had also come to the library a grand total of four times.

‘She must really like you,’ said Brian when they’d met up one Saturday to ride their bikes through the woods. Brian, his bike abandoned at his feet after several rounds of the assault course, was throwing a small ball in the air and catching it over and over again while he was talking. But Paul could see the envy in his friend’s eyes. It was nice to be envied. Usually, it was the other way around with Paul envying Brian’s life. Brian wasn’t the best-looking or the most intelligent – he was in the middle set for every subject – but he was easy-going and funny and everyone just liked him: boys, girls, teachers. He had a quick wit and a quick smile and Paul was beginning to learn it was a powerful combination to help you sail through life.

Paul had once tried it for a day and had failed miserably. He wasn’t quick enough with the funny remarks. Besides, Paul thought he looked like a baboon when he smiled and when one teacher asked him if he was okay after he’d grinned like a fool for most of the lesson, he realised he was wasting his time. But Brian also had another weapon to navigate through school – sport. He was on the rugby and football teams and most afternoons were spent practising. Brian was tall for his age anyway, but he was also strong, and his physique had prevented many a beating.