The small school hall was full of parents, smartphones held aloft to video their darlings in their acting debuts. Dominique was no different. She always looked forward to the school’s show, and every time her daughter came on stage she leaned forward in her seat, pride shining, trying to get a better shot for the video.

Not that Mouse was on stage often. Amber did not like to be the centre of attention, hence her nickname. But she stood patiently with the rest of the children, at one point dressed as a cloud, though Dominique wasn’t entirely sure why.

The storyline seemed to be something to do with a talent show. From what Dominique could glean, the judging panel comprised King Herod, a wise king, and Darcey Bussell. It was slightly confusing, but definitely entertaining and everyone got their lines right. One of the younger ones, who must have been only five, believed in shouting the words rather than singing, which made everyone giggle. Guilty parents hid their smiles behind hands and fake coughs.

Finally, it was Mouse’s big moment. She stepped forward with her schoolmates and started to line dance, jigging around in perfect timing. Dominique was impressed; it was certainly a whole lot slicker than when she had been practising in the kitchen over and over again.

Finally, another child wearing a cloud costume floated into the middle of the stage.

‘The end,’ he announced, in an incredibly loud voice.

The place erupted. Everyone stood, clapping wildly. The children mainly beamed, a couple looked bewildered and blinked rapidly, and one of the little ones burst into tears and had to be swept off stage by her father because she had wet herself. On the whole, it was a resounding success.

Mouse ran over to her mum and launched herself into her arms. They hugged each other tight.

‘You were brilliant,’ whispered Dom. ‘The best one there by far.’

‘Really?’ Mouse’s eyes were wide with amazement. ‘I’m just glad it’s over.’

‘Well, I could watch you all over again,’ Dom decided. Then laughed at the look of horror on her daughter’s face.

It was true, though. The fact was, Mouse was growing up fast, and all too soon she would be in big school. Dom knew she must cherish these moments, before they disappeared for ever.

‘Hi, Dom. I haven’t missed it, have I?’ called a voice.

‘Aunty Fiona,’ cried Mouse, throwing herself at the lawyer.

‘This is a surprise,’ smiled Dominique.

‘Surprise? You asked me if I wanted to come, remember?’ replied Fiona.

Dominique didn’t, but forced a laugh. ‘Of course I do. But I must have got the time muddled up, sorry.’

As the three of them walked home, Dominique wondered if she was losing her mind.

---

Benjamin reached for his phone the second it beeped with a message.

Yes!

Right, he’d better let Dominique know she would be catering for guests in two days’ time.

---

Ruby and Harry sat in the crowded fast food joint once again. Even though it was well past lunch, a constant storm of people flurried past them and piled up in a drift at the counter.

Ruby nudged her boyfriend. ‘I’m sorry you’re having such a crappy day.’

He shrugged. ‘Thinking about you helped. And last night.’

Ruby hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it either. It had been the most loving and intimate thing to ever happen in her life. She knew some other girls were desperate to take things further with their boyfriends, to get physical, but Ruby didn’t understand why when what she and Harry had transcended everything.

‘Reckon they’ll miss us at school?’ Harry asked, changing the subject.

‘Reckon they’ll be relieved we aren’t there,’ she laughed.

‘They’ll all feel safer knowing they can slag us off in peace and not have to worry about the consequences. Anyway, tomorrow’s the last day at school before we break up, so it’s not worth going in.’

‘If I never have to see that place and all the stupid idiots inside it again, it will be too soon,’ said Ruby, through a mouthful of burger.

‘Someone should Columbine them,’ quipped Harry.

Ruby swallowed. Looked at Harry and shook her head to convey she was clueless.

‘Come on, you’ve heard about the Columbine killings, right?’

‘Er, no.’

‘Ah, man, I can’t believe it. You’ve got to have heard of them. These two boys, right, they took out all their enemies at school. All the people who had bullied them and made their lives a misery for years. Revenge is sweet, man. If things had gone according to plan, the death count would have been massive. I mean… massive.’ He held his hands as far apart as he could, as if to demonstrate. ‘They had bombs and all kinds of stuff. And why did they do it? Cos the people at school were asking for it, I’m telling you. You should take out some of those bitches who are ragging on you.’

She laughed. ‘Yeah, it would be great to see the looks on their faces.’

‘And be free of them once and for all.’ He wiped his hands against each other as though getting rid of enemies was as easy as shedding crumbs on his palm.

Ruby shivered at the thought of it. The idea made her feel scared and feverish and hot with excitement; everything that was at odds with the cheery music playing softly around them.

‘Wouldn’t it be great, though,’ she breathed. ‘Imagine, if everyone who made our lives a misery were dead. If it were just you and me, and we didn’t have to worry about anyone else ever again.’

‘We could be together for ever. Get a little place to live. Yeah… One day, man.’

A pop song from before either of them were born gave a tinkle of jingle bells and a chorus of angelic oohing.

‘I don’t know if I can wait,’ she said.

She took his hand and stared into a distant future where every night could be like last night. Where she could sleep peacefully, without fear, and be wrapped up in love. Surely it was too far away to ever reach. Surely her enemies would have won by then.