Bridge has texted already, wanting to know what time I’ll be at school. Last night I dreamt Bridge and Ellie looked straight through me when I walked past them in the hall, and they didn’t hear me when I said hello. No prizes for guessing the meaning of that dream.

My hair looked perfect last night, but this morning it’s out-of-control frizzy. I pull it into the neatest ponytail I can manage and then study my face in the mirror. My freckles have multiplied overnight; if they keep going at this rate my skin will look tanned.

‘Knock, knock. Is someone starting high school this morning?’ Dad pokes his head around the door. He raises an eyebrow as he takes in the bombsite that is my room. ‘Clothing crisis?’

‘Yep.’

‘It’s not what you wear, honey …’

‘It’s who you are, yep, thanks, Dad.’

He laughs and walks into my room. ‘I see I need some new clichés to trot out in times of stress.’

‘Well, the old ones are getting a bit predictable.’

He sits down on my bed and tries to find a patch of floor that isn’t covered in clothes where he can put his feet. I’m not ready to forgive him yet, but I’m not sure I’m up for Mum giving me clothing advice, so he’ll have to do.

I turn towards him, tugging at the t-shirt to make it a bit longer. ‘Do I look okay?’

‘Is that a loaded question?’

‘Dad! Help.’

‘You look hungry. Your mum has made a feast.’

I know he’s trying to sound casual, but it’s not working this morning. He’s just making me feel frustrated. I don’t have any more outfit combinations, so this one is going to have to do. At least it’s soft and comfortable – another bonus of Bridge’s hand-me-downs is that they always come to me after they’re well and truly worn in.

‘Got everything?’

I nod and reach down to pick up my backpack. I manage to drag it along the ground, but I can barely lift it. Seriously, it must weigh more than I do. I yank as hard as I can, pull it up onto my shoulders, and stagger backwards, crashing into the wall. Dad laughs. ‘It’s like watching a beetle that’s turned itself over and can’t flip back!’

‘Thanks. You’re really outdoing yourself this morning in terms of helpful comments.’

‘Have you got everything in there?’

‘Yep.’

‘All your books?’

I nod, still leaning against the wall. Dad stands up and lifts the backpack off my shoulders, making a noise I can only assume is a sympathetic grunt.

‘You can’t carry that.’

‘I have to,’ I say, my voice sounding much higher than normal. I swallow and my throat feels too tight. ‘I don’t know which classes I have so I need everything.’