‘There’s no need,’ she protested, ‘I’ll be fine.’

‘I insist, it’s getting late.’

‘Okay thanks.’

Just a walk home. Then I’ll never see him again. He was a nice enough boy but no good could come of having anything to do with Freddy Taylor. Too many lives, and hearts, were at stake. Right there, as they made their way out of the pub and onto the pavement outside, she made a promise to herself that she would forget all about him and get on with her life.

Hi love, just me, how’s it going? Did you get that paper finished in time? Mum xxx

Katie looked at the message and then put her phone down. She’d reply later. Her mum was still texting her all the time, even more so if that was possible. She was worried about her, Katie knew, but there was no need. She was absolutely fine. More than fine.

She had just completed her first university assignment and was feeling great about it. She’d worked all hours researching, writing and polishing the paper until she knew that it couldn’t get any better. She’d almost felt a bit emotional when she submitted it earlier that afternoon.

The past few weeks had been a whirlwind. She had immersed herself in learning and had loved every second of it. This was what she was here to do, to study and to challenge herself. Nothing else mattered. She spent most of her time in lecture halls, the library or working in her room. But tonight she was going out with Freya and some of the other students from her college to celebrate handing in her paper and she was looking forward to letting her hair down.

She grabbed her things and made her way downstairs to the quad, where they were all gathering to go out. She spotted Freya and made a beeline for her. The two girls had become good friends, saving each other a seat at breakfast, meeting for coffee between lectures and generally looking out for each other. It felt lovely to have someone to talk to. She had even told her about the whole affair thing and Freya had listened to it all, wide-eyed with disbelief.

‘So let me get this straight. The hot boy who we saw in the café is the son of the woman who had an affair with your dad?’

‘Yes.’

‘And you didn’t know about any of this.’

‘No.’

‘Christ, Katie. And what about hot boy? Have you heard from him again?’

She had. Freddy Taylor had texted her twice asking if she wanted to meet up and she had ignored both messages. No good could come of seeing him. It would distract her from her studies, cause unnecessary distress to her parents and probably end in heartbreak when she fell madly in love with him and he just wanted to be friends. It was altogether just a bit icky.

But late at night, when she was alone in her new room, trying to get used to the unfamiliar surroundings, smells and sounds, she thought about him. She couldn’t stop thinking about him.