‘Katie, right?’ the girl said. ‘I’m Freya.’

Katie grinned with relief, grateful to Freya for reminding her of her name, and they walked together towards a coffee shop that Freya knew. After ordering their drinks and finding a table, they sat down opposite each other and began the usual pattern of small talk; where they were from, what they were studying, whether they knew anyone else in Oxford.

As they talked, Katie suddenly got the feeling that she was being watched. She turned her head slightly and saw a boy, about her age, sitting a few tables away. He was studying her intently. She looked away and tried to switch her attention back to Freya, who was still chatting, oblivious to the interruption.

‘So Mum was trying to persuade me to go to Exeter for ages so that I could live at home. I was like, “Erm, no thanks, Mum.” I couldn’t wait to get here.’

Katie smiled and nodded but she was distracted. She glanced quickly back over at the boy and saw that he was still looking at her. He was exceptionally good-looking, with olive skin, dark hair and an intense stare that was currently fixed directly on her.

‘Do you know that boy?’ Freya asked, following her gaze.

‘I don’t know,’ Katie replied, confused. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘He’s really looking at you,’ Freya confirmed. ‘He’s fit. Hang on, he’s coming over!’

She felt a presence by her side and glanced up to find him standing over the table looking down at her. He was tall and quite broad. He looked like someone who did a lot of sport. A captain of the football team type. The type of boy who didn’t normally talk to her.

‘Do we know each other?’ he asked.

‘I’m not sure,’ she replied. Now that she was looking at him properly, she felt a jolt of recognition, but she still couldn’t place him. He definitely hadn’t gone to her school. Was he from her hometown? Maybe a friend of a friend or someone she had seen out and about?

‘Where are you from?’ he asked.

‘Cambridge,’ she replied.

‘That’s not it,’ he said, rubbing his face as he tried to work it out.

‘Perhaps she just looks like someone you know?’ Freya suggested.

‘Maybe,’ he agreed and then shrugged. ‘Anyway, nice to meet you, I’m Freddy.’

‘Katie,’ she said, firmly shaking the hand that he had held out to her.

‘Katie Brennan!’ he suddenly exclaimed. ‘That’s it, you’re Katie Brennan!’

Katie was perplexed. ‘Have we met?’ she asked.

‘We used to be neighbours, in Pemberton Road,’ he declared triumphantly. ‘I never forget a name. You were in the same year as me at school. We played together all the time.’

‘Oh my God!’ Katie exclaimed, putting her hand to her mouth as the penny finally dropped. ‘I remember! You’ve got a sister, haven’t you? Emma?’

‘Ellie,’ Freddy said, pulling out a chair and sitting down without waiting for an invite.

‘That’s it, Ellie! Bloody hell, how are you? Do your parents still live in Pemberton Road?’