“I’m not,” she says, looking at her feet. “I know you’re joking.”

“You’re so sensitive, bloody hell! Can’t take a joke anymore.” I tighten my ponytail, feeling awful in my stomach at insulting Steph, but pleased to have successfully steered us away from Tracey.

“So you were saying?” El says pointedly to me and my heart sinks.

Maybe El will be kind if she hears about Tracey’s brother.

“Her brother has… special needs, ok? He’s got Down’s Syndrome and she looks after him a lot. It’s been a difficult week. He’s been lashing out and stuff.”

The bell rings then and we all get to our feet. “Please don’t tell her I told you though,” I say to all of them.

“Why would we?” El replies, but there is a glint in her eye and I know she has filed the information, ready to be tossed like a grenade when necessary.

After school, we pile out of the doors into the throng of kids milling around, waiting. El grabs me and says, “Look, over there.”

Tracey and Tina are hugging and smiling.

“Right little lesbians, aren’t they?”

I frown. “They’re just hugging.”

“Oh, come on, I think there’s more to it than that. Look at them. I think they’re into each other.”

Brian and Jason come up behind us. “Who is?”

Eloise nods at them. “I think they’re lezzas,” she says in her I’m talking to boys, high-pitched voice.

“No, they’re not, El. Leave them alone.”

“Seriously, Helen? After what they said earlier? No, I’m not leaving it alone.”

She stalks off, making a beeline straight for them, with the rest of the group following, mob mentality kicking in at the thought of a bit of drama.

“Hey, you two. Are you lesbians?” Eloise shouts loudly as she gets closer to them.

Tracey and Tina spin around and I see Tina pale as the mob moves in. I stay at the back, keeping a distance, torn between stepping in between them and not wanting to stand out, draw attention to myself.

“What are you on about, Eloise?” Tracey says, but her voice is uncertain. The mob creates a semi-circle around them.

“Well, that was quite a hug there. I don’t know if we should be condoning that kind of thing here at Seahaven. What do you think, guys?”

There are rumbles of laughter and agreement. I say nothing.

“This is quite tiresome, Eloise. Go home.” Tracey says and turns her back on them. She starts to walk away, just as Tina says, “Yes, you brainless slag. Go home.”