They all spluttered, while Amy mouthed to her, “It’s going really well!” The innuendoes and jeering continued, as Kim played the part perfectly, glowing and glowing, before finally squealing, “Eww, oh my God! You meant cum!” The boys high-fived whilst she acted outraged. “Eww, you guys are disgusting. I’ve not drunk any milkshake like that, yet, no.”

Hats off to Kim, for putting the “yet” in there. I wasn’t sure I always gave her enough credit.

Eric’s face was almost purple and he was laughing the loudest. He turned to Amy. “What about you, Amy? Milkshake fan?”

“Eric,” she squealed. “Stop being so disgusting.”

He reached out his arms, “What? I’m just asking an innocent question.” It was an odd descent into macho posturing. This particular gang of boys weren’t exactly known for their masculinity. Matt’s newfound looks and Sean’s keepy-uppy skills had them hovering in a slightly higher social tier than usual, but they were still all well-behaved, top-set boys. Not like Harry and Lloyd and the others from the popular gang, who couldn’t breathe without letting everyone know how many girls they’d fingered and telling the year group whose vaginas smelled the most of fish.

“Well, of course, I haven’t,” Amy said. “I’m not a total slut.”

“That’s not what your dad says.”

The boys all whooped and high-fived again, ignoring Amy as she told them to shut up. I wondered briefly, perhaps, if my lack of sexual attraction was more an appropriate response to my current stimuli, rather than clinical depression.

A cloud moved and suddenly our booth was blasted with golden sunshine. My armpits poured with sweat into my long sleeves, and Jessica shrugged her way out of her denim jacket to reveal her red top. The boys forgot Kim instantly, their eyes roving to Jessica. Sheepishly aware of her allure, Jessica gave a nervous smile as she picked up her cup to block her cleavage.

“What about you, new girl?” Eric asked.

“What about what?”

I grinned at Jessica for making him spell it out.

“Are you a fan of milkshake then?”

We all watched her—this exotic stranger, who we knew nothing about. Growing up in a small town, we all basically knew one another’s sexual progress, as the only real options for experimentation were each other. We all knew we were all virgins. But Jessica, Jessica could be anything.

If she felt the scrutiny, she didn’t show it. She just slurped her milkshake again. “Are you referring to actual milkshake, Eric, or to giving head?” she asked. “Just for clarity?”

Eric was losing his nerve. Innuendo was his limit of masculinity—he couldn’t quite handle an actual discussion about actual sex.

“I think you know,” he said, a blush appeared at his neck.

“I don’t know, though, do I? That’s why I’m asking.”