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heard one of them mutter the word “outrageous.”
    Daniel wasn’t fazed. “I’m fine here,” he said.
    â€œFind a seat, girls,” Miss Singh called down the aisle.
    Callie Johnson leaned closer into Daniel. “Move,” she growled, “or I’ll sit next to you and pinch your arm till it falls off.”
    Daniel turned to look out the window.
    â€œGirls, find a seat,” said Miss Singh, coming towards them.
    â€œMove!” Callie growled under her breath.
    He didn’t. Callie couldn’t do anything else until Miss Singh reached them. Her last chance would be to protest the unjustness of Daniel’s attitude and try to make the teacher move him—which she might.
    However, as Callie turned towards the advancing Miss Singh, someone pushed past her and slid into the seat beside Daniel.
    â€œThis seat free? Mind if I take it? Thanks.”
    â€œFreya?” said Callie, appalled. “What the—? I was going to sit there!”
    â€œIf you were going to, you would have already,” Freya replied curtly.
    Miss Singh had reached them. “Okay, girls, find a seat. Now.”
    With no hope of being able to shift two people from their seats, the group of four was forced to disperse with groans of annoyance.
    â€œThanks,” said Daniel to Freya, once the coach had started and they were on their way.
    â€œNo problem,” said Freya. “Callie and her posse are acting like real cows these days. I can’t stand them. Besides,” she said, giving him a wide smile, “I know a secret.”
    â€œI know you do,” said Daniel.
    â€œIt’s your birthday,” Freya said in a low voice.
    â€œI know.”
    â€œDo you know how I know?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBecause it’s my birthday too,” Freya said, her smile widening even further.
    â€œHappy birthday,” Daniel said miserably.
    â€œRemember when we were in First Year together and they threw us both a party?”
    â€œBarely.”
    â€œWell, I remember it.” She smiled. “Did you get anything nice?”
    â€œSure, lots of stuff.”
    â€œDid you bring anything with you?”
    â€œNo, of course not.”
    â€œI did. Look . . .” Freya pulled a silver necklace with a teardrop-shaped pendant out from beneath her school jumper.
    â€œIt’s nice,” Daniel said.
    â€œThanks. It’s from Mum and Dad. What did you get?”
    â€œWhat is this all of a sudden? You haven’t talked to me in a year, and now we’re best friends?”
    â€œIf you don’t want me here, I’ll switch seats with Callie . . .”
    â€œNo, it’s fine. I’m just saying . . .”
    â€œSo what did you get?”
    â€œI told you, lots of stuff. Look.” Daniel pulled out the red envelope from his jacket pocket.
    â€œWho’s it from?”
    â€œDon’t know,” said Daniel. “Haven’t opened it.”
    â€œWell, go on then. What are you waiting for?”
    Daniel shrugged. “You do it,” he said, chucking the card into her lap.
    â€œOkay,” she said, sliding her finger underneath the envelope’s flap and ripping it open.
    Daniel watched as she pulled out a shiny card that had a brightly coloured picture of a dancing clown on it. It was a kid’s card, not a card for someone who’d just turned thirteen.
    â€œDo you want to read it or shall I?” Freya held the card up, and Daniel watched a crinkled slip of heavy, rectangular paper slide out the bottom of it and onto her lap. She picked it up and passed it to Daniel. It was a ten-pound note.
    â€œYou read it,” he said, folding the money and sliding it into his shirt pocket. Freya opened the card.
    â€œâ€˜To Daniel,’ ” she read. “ ‘Happy birthday, from your dad.’”
    â€œThat’s it?” Daniel said, leaning towards her.
    Freya handed the card to him. “Doesn’t say