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going out.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘Just out.’
    She stops and pulls away from me. ‘You’re going to look for the white dolphin aren’t you?’
    I hold my hand out. ‘Come on, Daisy,’ I say. ‘I told Aunt Bev I’d get you home.’
    It’s not entirely true, but I want to go back to the cove and I can’t take Daisy with me.
    ‘I want to come with you,’ she says. She juts her chin out and just stands there, like she’s not going anywhere. A gust of wind blows her long blonde curls across her face. Her fairy wings flutter. She clutches her wand and party bag in one hand and folds her arms across her chest.
    ‘Come on, Daisy,’ I say. I’m not in the mood to fight. ‘ Please. ’
    She shakes her head. She looks like the sugar plum fairy. Sugar-plump and squashed into a ballet dress, about to have a tantrum.
    I sit back on a low wall behind me and rest my head in my hands. I feel we could be here a while.
    ‘I’ll buy you an ice-cream at Zagni’s,’ I say. I jangle some coins in my pocket. I hope I’ve got enough to buy one. Maybe Daisy won’t feel like one after all that party food. But I know Daisy. She never turns down an ice-cream. I wait and watch.
    Daisy twirls her wand round and round. She puts her hands on her hips and looks at me. ‘It has to be mint choc chip,’ she says.
    ‘Done,’ I say. ‘Mint choc chip it is.’
    I get up from the wall, ready to go.
    ‘And a flake,’ says Daisy.
    I shake my head. ‘Haven’t got enough money for that.’
    ‘Chocolate sauce, then?’
    I nod. ‘You’ve got yourself a deal.’
    Daisy flashes her smile at me and takes my hand. Her hand is small and soft and warm, like putty. She skips along beside me, her tiara bouncing on her curls. And I can’t help smiling too, because Daisy manages to wrap everyone round her little finger.
    Zagni’s is warm inside. Too warm. Condensation clings to the windows. We stand in the ice-cream and pizza queue and wait. The queue is long and snakes around the chairs and tables by the racks of postcards, shell necklaces, and key rings. We edge forward and I see Jake and Ethan at one of the tables. I want to leave and go back outside, but Daisy has my hand held tightly in hers. I hide behind the man in front of me and keep my head down, out of sight.
    Jake and Ethan haven’t seen me. They’re watching a boy and a tall fair-haired woman arguing at one of the tables by the window. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the woman slams her hands on the table and stands up. Her chair knocks backwards to the floor and she stoops to pick it up. The boy glares at her as she storms past us and out through the door. It’s only now that I can clearly see his face.
    ‘He’s the new boy,’ I whisper to Daisy. ‘He was in my class today.’
    Felix gulps his drink and leans back in his chair. He wipes his sleeve across his face, leaving a trail of orange juice on his chin.
    Daisy tugs my arm. ‘What’s wrong with him?’
    ‘I don’t know, Daisy.’ I pull her arm. ‘Come on, it’s rude to stare.’
    I hear Jake explode with laughter and look up. But it’s not me they’re laughing at this time. It’s Felix. Ethan pulls his arm up against his chest and pulls a leery grin. Felix’s face darkens. He looks across at me as if I’m in with them too, so I turn away.
    We shuffle forwards in the queue.
    But Jake and Ethan aren’t done. I hear them laugh again.
    I look round to see Ethan let a trail of saliva dribble down his chin.
    Daisy hangs back on my hand. I try to pull her forward but she breaks free.
    ‘Stop it,’ she yells. ‘Just stop it.’ She stands in front of Jake and Ethan, hand on hip, wand raised like Tinkerbell in front of Captain Hook and Smee. She points at Felix. ‘He can’t help it,’ she says. Her wings bristle and her face glows bright red.
    Jake and Ethan snigger. But people in the café are turning in their seats to look at them. Jake stands up, sees me and scowls. ‘Come on, Ethan,’ he says. He