I push away from Tracey. “Don’t be so childish.”

“Oh, please,” El continues, her voice dangerously pitched, “I’ve seen how you can’t take your eyes off her at school, following her around like a puppy dog, practically panting after her. I can’t believe I didn’t notice sooner. You are, aren’t you? You’re a lesbian!”

I lurch to my feet. “I’m not! You’re being ridiculous. We’re just friends.”

“Yeah, friends with benefits.”

The crowd behind her is whispering and giggling, excited by the drunken drama on show.

Then I notice blood on El’s foot.

“Eloise, you’re bleeding.”

Eloise looks down, then suddenly remembers why she was here in the first place. She points a wavering finger at Tracey. “She broke a bottle and now I’ve cut myself. You would think she of all people would know how to clean up.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tracey growls.

“Eloise, stop it. I’m sure it was an accident. She was just about to come back and sort it.”

“But you lost track of time, is that it? Gazing into each other’s eyes? And now I’m bleeding all over the place.”

“It’s not that bad. There’s a first aid kit over there in the cupboard. Put a plaster on and it’ll be fine.” I’m worn out by the confrontation already.

The faces start to disperse now that some of the excitement has dissipated. I push past Eloise and head back towards the pool, grabbing a half-empty bottle of champagne from a small table as I pass. Tracey follows me and goes to clean up the glass, but it looks like the girl with the hoop earrings has done it already.

The music is loud now, the glass walls throbbing to the beat. As I walk, it feels like everyone is looking, whispering, gossiping. I can feel them judging me. I start to realise how this could get out of hand, how they’ll whisper and talk. My paranoia kicks up a gear at the thought of the rumours that will circulate, at first a low rumble, then a deafening roar as they strengthen and mutate. I have never been the subject of unkind rumours before. I’ve started them, but never had to endure it. My pulse begins to gallop. I find my bag, take two more pills and a deep breath. I look at my watch. It is only 9:30 p.m. It feels like it should be much later. I turn to find Eloise standing right behind me.

“What are those?”

I look down at the pill bottle still in my hand. “Just some of my mother’s happy pills.”

“And why haven’t you shared them?”

I think about telling her they could be dangerous, that she shouldn’t take them, that they are making me crazy, but I don’t really care anymore.