‘Hey, Cass. I mean it. You’re awesome. You deserve someone who isn’t a prick, and I don’t care if he’s going to bloody Oxbridge. Fuck’s sake. That’s not even a thing. OK?’

‘OK,’ she said, still distant. ‘Maybe you’re right, Virgin Man.’

Bloody Jake. He’d ruined it for her, the tentative feeling of excitement she’d held in her stomach all through the boring-ass dinner. They might think they were so old and smart, but she was going to have sex that night. She had a boy, a cute and successful boy, who was going to wait for her in the woods and they were going to do it. But then Jake had started with his Don’t do it, he’s forcing you, and it was nearly all ruined.

Cassie was able to sneak downstairs with no trouble. She’d heard her mother go to bed ages before, pissed probably. Benji was fast asleep and so was the annoying pregnant Jodi. The door to Benji’s room, where Bill was sleeping, was also shut. She peeked out the hall window: her dad and Karen and the rest were out in the garden still, even though it was pitch black. She saw the white flash of her dad’s T-shirt. The only light came from the tips of cigarettes that she thought probably weren’t cigarettes. They were passing it round in a circle. Dad too. She stored that one away to counter his next lecture about her drinking. She eased open the back door, which creaked from lack of use, and went out the garden gate. It was the reason her mum had bought the place, the fact it backed on to the woods. It also meant it was easy for Aaron to get out from his house a mile away, cycle through the woods and meet her.

‘Hey.’ He was there already. All in black, the hood of his raincoat pulled up even though it was the driest and most scorching night of the year.

‘Hi.’ She was whispering. The woods weren’t scary woods – the main road was only like twenty metres away – but it was different at night. Sounds were different. And there were rustlings. ‘The aged boozers are still up so we have to be careful.’

He pulled on her leg, making her sit down beside him under a tree. Then his mouth was on hers, crushing it.

‘It’s all dirty.’ Plus there might be fox poop. Aaron made a noise of annoyance and took off his coat, spreading it on the ground. It felt cold and rubbery under her bare legs. Without saying anything else, he started to take off her top.

‘I don’t know . . .’

‘For fuck’s sake. What’s the matter?’

‘Someone might come.’