‘Don’t cry, Nancy. I’m not good at stuff like this. You’re a lovely girl and you’re right we did have a buzz when we were in Blackpool, but like I said, I’m not doing it anymore. I need to get my life back on track and sort my family out. My mam said she’s not having my dad back here, so the guy’s going to be homeless. I’ve had pure shit with my mam going on, we’re arguing all the time and it just feels like my head is going to explode with all the shit I’ve got resting on my shoulders. I can’t breathe, honest, I need a bit of time on my own.’

Nancy used her knuckles to wipe the tears away. ‘I can help. You even said when you’re with me that I chill you out. We can roll a zoot up, get stoned. You’re just having a bad day. I have them too. I do some horrible things when I’m not thinking straight. Go on, skin up and let’s relax for a bit.’

Ged sighed, Frankie would go sick if he didn’t follow orders and he didn’t want him on his back, no way. He had to man up and put this to bed. He had to show he was a man, not a soft arse kid.

‘Nancy, you can say what you want but it won’t change my mind. We’re done. I mean, fucking hell, we only slept together a few times it’s not like we’re married. I don’t want to be in a relationship. I’m staying single.’

His words stabbed her deep in her heart and the tears stopped. She looked hard suddenly. ‘You’re a daft prick, Ged. I helped you out in Blackpool when I could have left your sorry arse to crash and burn. You’re full of shit you are. I thought you were different, Ged, but you’re not. You’re a sly, shady dickhead.’

Ged screwed his face up. He wasn’t listening to any more of this, not in his own house anyway. She was getting flung. ‘Come on, you can fuck off. I tried to be nice but you’re being a knob. Get your shoes on and do one.’

Nancy reached down and started to put her shoes on. ‘You’re a user, cheeky bastard you are. I wouldn’t piss on you if you was on fire anymore. You do what you’ve got to do but don’t come crying to me when it all goes tits-up. I thought we were friends, Ged, but obviously not.’

Ged could feel his rage building. No girl should talk to a lad like that, no matter what had happened. ‘Do one,’ he snarled.

Nancy stood up. She could see how angry he was and there was no point. Ged watched her leave and shuddered as she slammed the front door shut. He paced around the room for a bit; his temper had got the better of him and he was finding it hard to cope. He walked over to the table and rolled a joint. His hands were shaking and he was ready to snap. He punched the wall a few times and kicked the door. ‘Fucking hell!’ he screamed, but there was no one to hear him.