‘But if you don’t hurry up, I’ll start on yours next,’ I say as I eat my last piece and wipe my hand across my face to remove all the crusty bits. As much as I tease Bridge, I love that we have different ways of approaching doughnut-eating. She’s delicate and slow, and I’m messy and quick.

‘Had any more thoughts about netball?’ She looks across at me and gives me a questioning look, with both eyebrows raised as high as they go. We’ve talked about this so many times and I keep saying no, but she wants me to play and, if I’m honest, I do too. But things are different after the fire. I’m not sure I still belong with the old team.

‘I don’t know.’

‘Come on. We still need a Centre. We’re getting thrashed through the middle without you.’

I stop outside a jewellery shop and pretend to consider, but I’m actually just looking at the earrings.

‘Please, Clem.’

I see Bridge’s face in the window’s reflection. She looks so keen to have me back that, for a second, I forget everything I’m scared of.

‘Share your doughnut with me and I’ll play.’

‘No way. I don’t bow to bribery.’

I turn around and face her. ‘Okay, here’s how it’ll go. I’ll agree to come back and you’ll be so happy you’ll share your doughnut with me anyway.’

She nudges me with her elbow, not knowing if I’m serious or not. ‘Really? You’ll play?’

Suddenly, I want to do something that makes me happy, not Dad or Maggie or anyone else. I might be scared of going back, but I still love the game.

‘Yeah. I’ll play.’ My knee twitches as I say it, like it’s remembering the feeling of stopping and starting during a game. Delighted, Bridge squashes me with a hug, forgetting she has her doughnut in her hand. It sticks to my t-shirt, and when she peels it off half the bright raspberry-pink icing stays where it is. She laughs as I pretend to lick it.

‘I knew there was a reason I didn’t wear anything clean today!’ I laugh.

‘Here, just have it, will you?’ she says, handing me the rest.

‘You know Alyssa won’t be happy if I start playing again,’ I say.

‘Alyssa’s never happy. Leave her to me. We started that netball team and you belong there. Okay?’

‘Okay,’ I say, concentrating on eating so I can stop the tears that are already prickling. Sometimes the fact that I have Bridge in my corner totally overwhelms me. I’m not sure how I could survive without her. And right now it’s nice to think that I belong somewhere.