Julia can’t breathe. She thinks like a howl: That’s not fair it’s not fair it’s not fair, whatever I do I’m going to get— I didn’t get off with Finn. I barely fucking touched him. I didn’t do anything I should have to pay for. The silence that meets her teaches her: this is not McKenna’s office. You don’t get to play with nitpicks, dodge whining around the edges of But-Miss-I-never-exactly-actually, not here. Unfair means nothing. She has been weighed up and the decision has been made. She has these few days before Selena takes Chris back, one last gift, in which to choose.

Julia thinks about throwing the phone at the wall and lining the pieces up neatly on Selena’s bed. She thinks about going to Matron and telling her she needs to swap to a different room, today. She thinks about getting under the covers and crying. In the end she just sits there on Selena’s bed, watching the sunlight slide across her lap and her arm and the phone in her hand, waiting for ringing bells and brisk feet to make her move.

‘So?’ Holly wants to know, tossing her bag on the bed. ‘What were you doing?’

‘What did it look like? Puking my guts up.’

‘That was for real? We thought you were faking.’

Julia glances at Selena before she can stop herself, but Lenie doesn’t look suspicious; she’s flopped down on her bed, still in her uniform, and is curled up staring at the wall. Julia is obviously the last thing on her mind.

‘What for? So I could be bored off my tits all day? I have a virus.’

Becca is pulling clothes out of the wardrobe and singing to herself. She breaks off to say, ‘Want us to stay here with you? We were going to the Court, but that was ’cause we thought you’d come too.’

‘Go. I’d be shit company anyway.’

‘I’ll stay,’ Selena says, to the wall. ‘I don’t want to go anywhere.’

Holly makes a face at Julia, tilts her head: What’s with her? Julia shrugs: How would I know?

‘Oh, yeah, I meant to ask—’ Becca’s head pops out of her uniform jumper, flyaway hair everywhere. ‘Tonight?’

‘Hello?’ Julia says. ‘I feel like crap. Remember? I just want to sleep.’

Please can we meet tonite, Chris texted Selena. Same time same place I’ll be there.

‘OK,’ Becca says, not bothered by the edge on Julia’s voice. A year ago she would have flinched like she’d been hit. At least that, Julia thinks. At least one good thing. ‘Maybe tomorrow?’

‘I’m on,’ Holly says, throwing her blazer at the wardrobe. Julia says, ‘Depends how I feel.’ Selena is still staring at the wall.