The next day, I finished off my breakfast, cleared my plate and went over to say goodbye to Mama. ‘You sure you’re all right with me going out?’ I asked.

She patted my hand. ‘Of course, darling. I’ll make something nice for lunch, and then we’ll get started this afternoon.’

I kissed her on the cheek. ‘Thanks, Mama.’

Daniel was in the queue at the cinema with his sister and Rory. I went over to join them. ‘Oi!’ someone said pointedly from behind us as I shuffled into the queue.

I turned around to see two girls I vaguely recognized from school. The one who’d spoken had long blonde hair and big green eyes which she fixed on me. ‘That’s pushing in!’ she said. The other girl pulled her dark hair over her face and blushed as I glanced at her.

‘I – I’m really sorry,’ I said to them both. ‘I’ll go to the back if you like.’

The blonde girl shrugged. ‘It’s okay,’ she said, a twinkle in her eye. ‘We just wanted to get your attention. Been trying for weeks.’ Then she nudged her friend. ‘Haven’t we, Annie?’

Annie’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red as she looked at me from under her fringe. Her eyes were dark brown, and she turned them away from me too quickly. I wanted her to look at me again. My mouth had gone dry and all the words I knew seemed to have deserted me.

‘Why don’t you ladies join us?’ Rory burst in, smiling his smooth, wide smile that I was pretty sure all the girls loved as much as his US army uniform. ‘I’ll treat you, to make up for my friend here queue-jumping. Sit with us.’

They gave each other a quick look, like they were speaking a secret language that only girls understood. Something about the movement reminded me of Elsa. The sharing of secrets, the sweetness of the smiles, the idea of being close to a girl again. I found myself holding my breath while I waited for them to reply.

Then, with another shrug and in a voice that was probably meant to sound casual but didn’t fool anyone, the blonde girl said, ‘Sure. Why not?’

As we shuffled along in the queue, I soon realized that Annie was walking along next to me. ‘I’m Leo,’ I said awkwardly.

‘I’m Annie,’ she said.

I reached out to shake her hand. ‘Hi,’ I mumbled.

She looked at my hand and, with a soft laugh, reached out and shook it.

I wanted to keep holding her hand, but the moment passed and soon we were at the front of the line and then we were inside in the darkness – and I found I could barely breathe as she sat down next to me.