Ned looked at me for a moment and his lips quirked. I felt my breath catch in my chest, as I wondered what he was going to say, but needn’t have worried.

‘Lager, please,’ he smiled. ‘Just a half though,’ he hastily added. ‘I want a clear head for tomorrow.’

‘I hardly think one pint will knock you off your feet,’ I pointed out, but he’d already moved too far away to hear.

In spite of what he’d said, I ordered him a pint for fear of not being able to get to the bar again and had just finished paying when I heard an unwelcome voice behind me.

‘Elf,’ said Chelsea, making my stomach twist. ‘No hat and pointy shoes tonight? If you’re running errands for Santa, you should have bells on, surely?’

There didn’t seem to be quite the old sting in her words but she laughed loud enough to catch the attention of everyone close by. I was relieved that no one reacted to her joke, even though I knew they’d heard what she’d said.

‘Forgive me for stating the obvious, Chelsea,’ I said, buoyed up by her lack of support, ‘but we’re not at school anymore. Why don’t you move on?’ I suggested. ‘Like everyone else has.’

There was a ripple of amusement for my retort and she looked thoroughly taken aback. Inside, I felt every bit as shocked by my response as she looked.

‘I was only kidding,’ she muttered. ‘It was just a joke.’

‘An old one,’ I snapped, before picking up the tray of drinks, ‘and not a good one,’ I added as I weaved my way over to the table.

In spite of my shaking hands, I’d barely spilt a drop. I felt rather chuffed by my little victory but couldn’t share what I’d done because that would lead to me having to explain the humiliation I’d suffered in school, and I had no desire to revisit either past hurts or the stupid nickname that came with them.

‘I said a half,’ Ned frowned, when I handed him the pint, but his brow cleared when I explained why I’d upped his order.

‘I don’t think we’ll be getting served again,’ I said, looking back towards the bar. ‘So, I thought I’d make the most of the landlord’s attention while I had it.’

‘Don’t worry about that,’ Theo laughed, but nonetheless he gratefully accepted the pint I’d got for him along with another for Wren. ‘I’ve got Hope on speed dial. She’ll keep us topped up.’

I wasn’t sure if he was joking or not, but when he whipped out his phone and his cousin appeared with four more drinks just as everyone was settling down to listen to the evening’s entertainment, I guessed not.