I sat at the back, observing the others as they filed in and found desks. I counted twenty-one heads in all, with a fairly even gender ratio. My stomach dropped as I recognised a particularly unpleasant boy who had attended my primary school. I tried to keep my head down, and prayed that he wouldn’t notice me.

‘Fuck me! It’s Stinka.’

I felt my cheeks burning, as all eyes in the room seemed to have swivelled and settled on me. Ryan Corbett, the boy in question, leaned back, rocking in his seat. He was tall now, and had filled out into his once-spindly frame. But his wiry red hair and freckles were instantly recognisable.

‘Well, well.’ Gleefully, he looked me up and down. ‘You haven’t changed much. I see the years haven’t done much to improve your dress sense.’

I was about to reply when a tall, startlingly attractive mixed-race girl breezed in. There seemed to be an intake of breath from every male in the room.

‘Sorry I’m late.’

Ryan’s mouth fell open. ‘Well, hello, gorgeous. There’s a chair here if you want to park your lovely bum.’

Her lip curled with distaste. ‘Uh, no thanks.’

I was surprised when she turned to me.

‘Were you saving that seat for anyone?’

I shook my head mutely.

‘D’you mind if I …?’

‘No, it’s fine.’

‘I’m Reggie, by the way.’ She smiled, extending a slender, manicured hand. I shook it shyly.

‘Hi. I’m Stina.’

Ryan spluttered. ‘Hope you haven’t got a strong sense of smell, sweetheart.’

Reggie sat down next to me. She looked at him with contempt. ‘I’m sorry?’

‘It’ll be overpowering by the end of the afternoon.’

‘What’s your problem, mate? I thought I’d signed up for the sixth form, not the Reception class. They should put up a sign: Immature Twats Needn’t Apply.’

The group erupted into laughter. Ryan blushed crimson to the tips of his ears. He opened his mouth, but could find no suitably witty response and sat gaping like a goldfish.

The tutor, thus far oblivious to the interaction, looked up suddenly and clapped his hands.

‘Right. If I could have everyone’s attention …’

They all turned back towards him and the hum of conversation lulled.

‘I can’t stand arseholes like that,’ Reggie said to me in a low voice, her Midlands accent even more pronounced than my own. ‘Let’s hope he drops out. I don’t know anyone here. How about you? Apart from the ginger prick, of course.’

I shook my head.

‘What other subjects are you taking?’

‘French and History.’

‘Well, that’s settled it! Same as me. We must have a lot in common. Shall we sit together in the other lessons too, and then we’ll both know someone, won’t we?’