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‘I wish.’ Shannon took control. ‘Sure we don’t know any decent boys. It’s just me and Kelly. Right then, see youlater.’

They scurried from the house and ran up the street. Kelly let out a deep breath. ‘Thanks, you were great. I froze when Granddad mentioned boys.’

Shannon giggled. ‘I couldn’t believe he said it! Your mum went all squinty eyed and glary and I knew we had to get out of there before she sniffed out the lies.’

Kelly laughed.

Shannon linked her arm. ‘Come on, I’ll walk you down to the busstop in case she’s watching out the window.’

‘Knowing my mum, she probably is.’

At the corner Shannon hugged her friend. ‘Jesus, you’re shaking.’

‘I’m ridiculously nervous. I really like him.’

‘And he likes you, remember that. He asked you out.’

‘It’s the only nice thing to happen in weeks. I really want it to go well.’

‘It will, but you need to relax, Kelly. Seriously. If you arrive shakinglike that, he’ll think you have Parkinson’s!’

Kelly giggled.

‘Now go on, I’m going to hide in Mandy’s house until you call me. I’ll meet you back here and we can walk to your house together. Enjoy yourself and I can’t wait for all the gory details.’

When Kelly got off the bus her stomach was fluttering. She saw him straight away, leaning against the wall, smoking. He looked so gorgeous. Hecaught her eye and a sexy smile lit his face. Kelly swallowed her nerves and walked over to him. Her legs were shaking.

‘Hey,’ he said, throwing his cigarette down and putting it out with his boot.

‘Hi.’ Kelly couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Sean moved over to stand in front of her. ‘You look great,’ he said.

‘Thanks, so do you.’

He grinned. ‘I got us two seats at the back so I coulddo lots of this.’ He leant in, put his hand on the back of her neck and kissed her.

Kelly felt herself melt. She leant against him and kissed him back.

‘I’ve wanted to do that for a long time,’ he murmured into her ear.

‘Me too,’ she whispered back.

He smiled at her. ‘Come on, or it’ll start without us.’

He led her into the cinema foyer and over to the machine, where he collected their tickets.They were the only people in the back row. All through the film they were kissing and groping each other. Kelly couldn’t get enough of him. She wanted to kiss him all night. She felt as if she was floating on air.

When the film was over they stood outside, wrapped in each other’s arms.

‘Will we go for a drink?’ Sean said.

Kelly winced. ‘I can’t. I have to be home by eleven. My mum’s reallystrict. To be honest, I kind of lied about meeting you. She wants me to focus on studying, impress my new teachers and come top of the class. No distractions allowed.’

‘Are you?’

‘What?’

‘Top of the class.’