It began to rain as the coach pulled into Eastville and she had to walk for fifteen minutes across town to the bus station. The rain continued to lash down and she only had her little velvet jacket to protect her from the onslaught. By the time she arrived she was drenched and shivering in her summer blouse and floaty skirt. The only sensible thing she had on were her trusted DMs. She sat on the bench trying to keep warm as she waited for the Tilby bus. Despite herself, she looked around for Dylan. Then she spotted him. He had bought himself a hot drink and was standing at the other end of the concourse, watching her. She caught his eye and he smiled, looking relieved to see her, but she didn’t return his smile. He’d left her in London. She’d never forgive him. She turned away, hardening her heart against him. It didn’t matter how sexy he was, or how he made her feel, she knew, deep in her gut, that he was bad news, and if she stayed with him he’d drag her further into his murky circle. She was sixteen, with the whole world at her feet. She’d meet someone else. Someone better. She didn’t need him.

Heather hid in the bushes, sheltering from the rain, waiting for the bus to come in. She’d been there for more than an hour and she was cold to the bone, despite her waxed jacket. Because of the sudden change in the weather, the sky had darkened even though it wasn’t yet nine. Did that mean they would miss their curfew of ‘before dark’? This used to be nine thirty but the nights were already drawing in very slightly, and the bad weather made the sky darker than usual. Either way, Heather was past caring. She needed to see Flora, to make things right between them. She was still smarting that her sister had chosen to confide in Jess over her.

The clock tower was empty. The rain was too heavy for the usual youths to hang out there tonight. The streets were wet, with only the occasional car driving past, the whoosh of water under tyres making her think of her best friend. They loved to huddle in the barn, listening to the rain and sketching.

Then she saw the bus rattling towards her, screeching to a halt next to the bus stop. She was surprised to see Dylan get off first, alone. He had no jacket on, just his thin T-shirt, and his shoulders were hunched against the rain as he walked along the street, then turned off towards the fields that led to the fair. Heather’s heart fell. Where was her sister? Why was she not with Dylan? Another couple got off the bus, holding hands and occasionally smooching, not caring about the weather as they wandered in the opposite direction towards the beach.