I don’t listen to Ellie’s answer. The bus stops so a passenger can get off and I lean back against the seat. I understand they’re just trying to get to know each other, and these are all details I already know, but it still makes me feel left out. I stare out the window. When I see the familiar signs of my neighbourhood, I start collecting my bags, getting ready for my stop.

‘Are you guys coming?’

‘I can’t …’ says Bridge.

‘Ellie?’

‘Sorry. Dad’s organised for my aunty to come for dinner. Groan. It’s part of his plan to have lots of women around who I can talk to …’

‘Should we all meet up again before school starts?’ says Bridge, looking between Ellie and me. I’m surprised because I thought she was just hanging out with Ellie for my sake.

‘Yeah, that’d be great,’ says Ellie.

I jab the button for my stop.

‘Bye, Clem,’ says Bridge as the bus pulls in. She jumps up to give me a rushed hug.

‘Yep.’

Ellie leans across and tries to hug me, too, but it’s awkward because she’s not quite sitting and not quite standing. I slide past them both, the bags’ plastic handles cutting into my hand.

Behind me they’re quiet as I wait for the driver to open the doors and let me out into the oven-like air. I take a second to breathe before I turn around and see my friends huddled in the back seat, already deep in conversation again. They don’t even notice I’m waiting for them to wave me away.

I sling the bags over my shoulder and slink out of the sun, chasing the shadows from the line of trees along the footpath. I wonder if there’s still time to tell Dad that it’s too hot for comfort food. But he’s probably done the shopping and found a new online recipe, tweaking an old favourite to show off his honed cooking skills. The sad thing is, Mum probably won’t even notice.

Chapter 5

As I reach the block of flats, I consider going upstairs to Maggie’s for a chat. But now Matt’s living there Maggie’s just not the same. I really should go for a run down at the track – athletics training starts next month and my coach will want to see my times. But sprinting in this heat is never fun. Instead, I head straight to our flat, hoping that, for once, when I turn on the air conditioner it will actually work and not blow lukewarm air into the room. As I put my key into the lock, I hear laughter on the other side of the door. I freeze. Mum. She’s already here. Dad must have finished work early.