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compassion when her pupils are late with homework. You could show her video
evidence of your dog
literally
eating your French verbs and she would still look stony-faced and give you a detention slip.
    I had a quick glance over my shoulder to the bench behind me, where Ben and Jack were sitting, to see if I could get any clues about what to do. And that’s when it happened. Ben smiled at me! It was only a little smile and he looked away straight afterwards, but it was still a smile – just for me!
    That smile made today the best science lesson
ever
. Even when Mr Jackson stormed over to our bench and started yelling at us and asking why we hadn’t actually done anything purposeful all lesson. Even when I could see Moronic Louise nudging her equally stupid friend and sniggering at me. Even when Alice was a bit fed up with me for not attempting to keep us out of trouble and under the radar with Mr Jackson. All I could do was look kindly at my fellow classmates and hug the memory of that smile to myself.
    Alice instantly forgave me when we got out of science and I told her why I’d been acting so strangely. She understood completely that I could not be expected to focus on the mundanities of the science national curriculum while forces of
nature were aligning the stars that would bring Ben and me together. Or something like that.
    I float home after school and drift into the kitchen. And of course Mum can tell that something is up.
    ‘Had a good day, Liv?’ she asks, peering at me over the top of her reading glasses.
    ‘S’all right, I s’pose,’ I mumble back, trying to play it cool and pretending to be absorbed in the back of the newspaper that she’s reading.
    ‘OK – spill!’ she says, folding up the paper and putting it on the table. ‘We both know you want to tell me something.’
    I think for a moment. Should I tell her? I’m pretty sure she’ll get why I’m excited – but all of a sudden I feel a bit embarrassed about actually saying the words. My camera is lying on the kitchen table where I left it this morning and I pick it up, glad to have something to do with my hands while I think about what to say.
    ‘I know something’s going on, Olivia Ellis.’ Mum leans forward and rests on her elbows, looking me in the eye.
    ‘Maybe,’ I say, grinning inside. I actually do want to tell her but it’s kind of fun, making her wait like this.
    ‘You know you’re going to tell me anyway, so get on with it!’ Mum has utterly no patience and she won’t take no for an answer. Which is actually pretty cool most of the time – I hardly ever want to keep things from her and she often has good advice (sometimes she has some terrible advice too, so I just ignore her on those occasions). I aim the camera at her face and push the button. Great – that’s ‘impatient’ sorted for my Isaac project.
    Then I plonk myself down in the chair opposite her and make sure I have her full attention.
    ‘Ben smiled at me in science!’ I lean back, smug in the knowledge that she will understand what an eventful day this is. She does not disappoint.
    ‘OK – I can see why you’re looking so excited! I presume we are talking about
the
Ben. Mr Gorgeous, Mr Sporty, Mr Clever?’
    ‘Err – yes, Mum. How many Bens do you think I like?’
    ‘Just checking,’ she says. ‘So, it’s been a good day then?’
    ‘The best!’ I tell her. ‘I really thought he didn’t like me, but maybe I was wrong.’
    ‘Earth to Liv – you were definitely wrong! Why on earth wouldn’t he like you? I happen to know that you are extremely likeable. In fact, there
would have to be something wrong with the poor boy if he
didn’t
like you.’
    ‘It was just a smile, Mum,’ I say. ‘He hasn’t asked me out or anything.’
    ‘Do you want him to?’ asks Mum, smiling at me across the table.
    I can feel a red blush spreading across my face as I think about all the reasons why I like Ben. I’m glad that Dad and Isaac aren’t home yet –