Tina tried to dismiss the flutter of panic in her gut. She put her arm round Amelia’s shoulders. ‘Bloody hell, you’re in a bit of a state, aren’t you? You’re the one didn’t want your parents to find out you were pregnant. Imagine if someone sees you outside, then all of this will have been for nothing. We made a deal with each other and you need to stick to your part of the bargain.’

Amelia shrugged Tina’s arm away. ‘It’s not you who has to sit here every day, is it? I can’t do it. I’ve not even got a phone to speak to my friends.’

Tina snapped. No more nicey-nicey. ‘You can’t bleeding talk to your friends, you idiot. Not unless you want your parents to know that you have been pulling your knickers down for every Tom, Dick and Harry. I’ve put a lot of work into this plan and there is no way you’re going to mess it up. You stay in here like we discussed. I’m having this baby no matter what and I’m not going to let you mess it up for me just because you’re bored.’

Amelia had never seen this side of her teacher before. She gave as good as she got. ‘Well, fuck it, I’m not arsed!’ she yelled back. ‘I’ll go home and tell my parents that I’m having a baby. And I bet it won’t be as bad as you make out. You’ve brainwashed me, you have. I should have just got rid of the kid like I wanted and I’d have been back to normal by now, nobody would have known anything about the baby and I could have got on with my life. But there’s no going back now. I’m over three months’ gone thanks to believing your bullshit.’ She shook her head in frustration. ‘It’s you who’s messed this up, just because you want a fucking baby. Have your own baby and leave mine the fuck alone. I’m getting out of here, you’re a fucking nutter.’

The colour drained from Tina’s face. Her hands were shaking. This couldn’t be happening; her perfect plan was falling apart. She had to make Amelia see sense, stop her from leaving. She took her arm. ‘You’re just having a bad day. It’s your hormones playing up. Sit down and I’ll make you something to eat.’ She tried to get Amelia to sit back down on the sofa, but the girl struggled and broke free.