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‘Just ignore her. A couple of the lads slagged me off about being new and the scholarship and all that stuff in the first week, but I just let it slide. There were some arseholes in our old schools too. If you walk around looking like you hate everyone, you won’t make new mates.’

‘I have great friends already. I don’t need new ones,’Kelly muttered.

‘Poor Kelly. Come on, give us a smile.’ Dylan lay on top of her and forced his sister’s mouth into a smile. Kelly squealed and tried to push him off, but he had her pinned down. ‘One smile and I’ll let you go. Come on, I want to get to the party before some other fella hops on Taylor.’

Kelly gave him a half-smile.

‘That’ll do. Wish me luck.’ Dylan straightened his shirt.

‘Youdon’t need luck. You’re Dylan the amazing striker,’ Kelly said.

‘Well, now that you mention it, I guess I am.’ He grinned.

Dylan walked up the long driveway, following the sound of thumping music. When he turned the corner and saw the house, he stopped in his tracks. It was huge. Like, footballer’s-crib massive. A black Ferrari and an Alfa Romeo were parked outside. Taylor’s parents must beseriously minted.

Suddenly Dylan felt nervous. If she came from all this, would she really go for him? She could have any guy she wanted. He knew at least five on the football team who fancied her. He was pretty sure they all lived in mansions too.

You’re brilliant, Dylan. Any girl would be lucky to have you.He heard his mother’s voice in his head. Feck it, what did he have to lose? Dylan puthis shoulders back and headed to the front door.

The party was in full swing. Kids he recognized from school and lots he’d never seen before were drinking, kissing and dancing all over the house. Four people were doing lines of cocaine on the hall table. One of them was the step-sister – what was her name? Melissa. That was it.

He tapped her on the shoulder. ‘Melissa, right?’

‘Yes.’ Her eyeswere drug-induced bright.

‘I’m Dylan.’

‘I know who you are, Dylan. Everyone’s talking about you.’

He smiled. ‘Right, so you’re Taylor’s step-sister.’

‘Yeah. My mum and her dad married last year.’

‘Cool. Nice house.’

‘It’s okay. You should see my mum’s house in St Tropez, though. It’s, like, twice the size.’

‘Right.’

She batted her fake eyelashes at him. One had come unstuck. She lookedridiculous.

‘So, do you want some?’ She offered him cocaine.

‘No, thanks.’

‘Are you sure?’ She put her hand on his chest. ‘We could have some fun together.’

Dylan laughed. ‘I don’t think so. You’re not my type.’

‘Oh, yeah? What is your type, then?’

‘Good-looking.’

Melissa took a step back from him. ‘Prick.’

‘Do me a favour, Shorty, lay off my sister.’

‘Screw you,’ Melissa shouted at hisback, as he walked away.