Voices.

Someone’s coming.

I shove the deertooth back in my pocket and sit very very still.

I hear the crunch of footsteps approaching through the forest, heading this way; the voices grow louder too. They’re voices I know.

‘This way, Nero!’ calls Lamont. ‘Here, Nero!’

‘Neeeeerooooo!’ yells Beaky.

My heart leaps and I’m just about to yell hello when a hospital window flashes in the sunlight and I realise I’ll have to explain about Dara and suddenly it all just seems too tricky to know what to say. So I say nothing. I squeeze my knees tighter to my chest and breathe very lightly.

‘One small step for man … one giant leap for mankind,’ declares Beaky as she ‘spacewalks’ into my line of vision. I roll my eyes, because Beaky always makes that same joke. She sits down right beneath me and Lamont plonks himself beside her. I can still hear Nero rustling about in the bushes somewhere.

‘Why is it sooooo hot?’ asks Beaky.

‘Probably something to do with that!’ says Lamont, pointing up at the sun.

‘You’re hilarious, Lamont. This weather’ll be perfect for Charlie’s birthday camping though, won’t it; clear skies, campfire, stars …’

I can see that Lamont is giving Beaky one of his looks.

‘What, Lamont? What did I say?’

‘Catch yourself on, Beaky! Charlie won’t be camping, Charlie probably won’t even be birthdaying with us at all. Charlie will probably just be sitting around at home singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and changing nappies and stuff. You know how much Charlie was wanting this baby to come along. We probably won’t see Charlie for weeks now … months … years …’

Up in my hiding spot, my stomach drops. It’s like they’re describing a different Charlie – a Charlie that should’ve been me.

Beaky picks a blade of long grass and chews on it like a yokel. ‘It’s only a baby!’ she mumbles grumpily.

‘You’re only a baby,’ says Lamont.

Beaky sticks her long grass in Lamont’s ear. He leaps up with a yell and Nero bounds protectively out of the trees, barking.

‘Save me, Nero! Beaky’s attacking me!’ Lamont laughs and so does Beaky.

‘I come in peace,’ she says, putting her hands up. Nero sees it as an invitation and clambers all over her, licking her face.

I smile and a big part of me aches to come down from this stupid tree and just muck around with my friends like normal. Or maybe they’ll even help me, know what I should do … I’m just about to reveal my hiding place by starting to drop acorns on their heads, when Lamont’s phone rings.

His eyebrows crinkle down as he looks at the screen. ‘It’s Charlie’s dad,’ he says, and my blood goes cold.

RUN

‘Yes, it’s me. Hello,’ says Lamont. ‘OK … yes … OK … Oh, right … OK …’

‘What’s going on?’ hisses Beaky. Lamont shushes her with his finger.

‘Um … that’s … um …’ Lamont’s gone all stuttery like he can’t find the words. His eyes are very serious. ‘I’m sorry to hear that … Um, how’s Charlie?’