Heather had never thought she needed anyone other than Flora. Then, when she’d made friends with Jess, she’d discovered what fun it was to have a best friend, someone in the same class who had your back. She was worried about losing them both: Flora to Dylan and Jess to Gina.

‘I know you care about Flora,’ Jess said softly, ‘but she’s sensible. She’ll be okay. She won’t let Dylan drag her into anything dangerous. And by the end of the summer he’ll be gone.’ She shrugged. ‘But if it makes you feel better we could go to the fair anyway. Keep an eye out for her?’

Heather wanted to hug Jess in that moment. She’d known she would understand, despite not having siblings of her own. Jess was still on her wavelength. Nothing had changed.

She felt more light-hearted as she linked arms with her best friend and headed towards the fair.

It took hours to find Flora. It was as though she had vanished off the face of the earth. Heather and Jess looked everywhere, and asked around after Dylan, but nobody seemed to have an idea where they had gone. ‘His shift starts at six and it’s now five thirty, so he’s bound to be here soon,’ one of the guys on the Waltzers informed them. He was older than Dylan and had kind eyes. ‘I’m sure your sister will be all right with him, don’t worry.’

Heather tried to distract herself by using the last of her pocket money to go on the dodgems with Jess, and although she screamed when someone slammed into the back of them, and giggled when Jess took over the driving and couldn’t reverse out of the corner, in the back of her mind was the uneasy feeling that wouldn’t leave her. Jess was right: Flora was sixteen – old enough to take care of herself. It was just that Heather didn’t trust Dylan. She knew he didn’t have her sister’s best interests at heart. She was counting down the days until the fair left and Dylan with it.

And then, just before six, she saw him strutting towards where they stood by the Waltzers. It took her brain a moment or two to realize that Flora wasn’t with him.

‘Where’s my sister?’ she demanded, as soon as Dylan reached them.

‘Hey, it’s little Heather Powell.’ He draped an arm around her shoulders. ‘What’s the matter now?’

‘Where’s Flora?’

He threw his head back and laughed. ‘Take a chill pill. Your sister’s gone home. I’ve got to work tonight.’ He moved away from her to leap onto the platform. He seemed full of energy.

‘See?’ Jess said, tugging on her arm. ‘Flora’s fine. Shall we go back now?’