Oh Holy Mother of God.

He went up close to Charlie.

“I dun’t lie abaht lasses, I dun’t need to, but I tell thee, she does want to do wi’ me, otherwise why would she snog me . . . ? And it were a proper snog and I should know. If you don’t believe me, ask the lady herself.” Oh Angel Gabriel and the Heavenly Backup Team, please help me.

Charlie looked at me and said, “He’s lying, isn’t he, Lullah, and he’s going to be sorry for lying.”

Cain said, “Am I lying, Tallulah? Have we snogged?”

Oh no.

“Well. Erm, well, erm . . . it’s mostly lying because I was surprised and it was on the moors, it . . . well, only . . . you know, accidentally and . . .”

Charlie looked angry. He said, “So he’s telling the truth?”

I put my head down and everyone near us gasped, like I’d been found out as a witch. Charlie said, “I see, well, I didn’t know that.”

Cain said, “There’s a lot you dun’t know, posh boy.”

Charlie said, “Yeah—it seems so. I made a mistake.”

And he gave me a horrible look. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what.

Charlie walked over, grabbed his jacket, and said to the other Woolfe boys, “See you. Don’t forget the curfew.”

And he looked me right in the eyes, just for a moment, like he hated me.

Maybe I should dash after him? But I didn’t know what to say. Now he knew that I had snogged Cain. And so did the rest of Heckmondwhite.

Vaisey came and gave my hand a little squeeze.

Flossie was out of breath after tussling. She leaned against me, panting, and said to Seth, “You big lug.”

Seth said, “You know I like dirty talk. If you get tired of floppy boy, I’ll see thee outside when we’ve packed up.”

And he and Ruben went off backstage.

Cain looked into my eyes and said, “Well, well, what a to-do. Garyboy didn’t seem reight pleased, did he? See thee.” And he went off backstage as well.

People were filing out of the hall into the moonlight. I had to get out into the fresh air. I felt faint. Some of the other Dother Hall girls crowded round me.

“What was all that about?”

“Is it true about you and Cain?”

“He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”

“I’d snog him.”

“Or that Charlie.”

Vaisey slipped her arm through mine as we walked away from the church hall.

Flossie said, “Lullah, don’t take any notice. I think if you like Cain even though he’s bad, you should—”

I said, “I don’t. I don’t like him. I like Charlie and he hates me now.”

Vaisey said, “No, he doesn’t. He was just trying to look after you.”

As they left for Dother Hall, Vaisey said to Flossie, “Aren’t you going to wait for Seth, Flossie? He said he’d see you outside.”

Flossie said, “Hell, no . . . that boy needs to learn some manners. Night, y’all.”