‘Ssh!’ said Raj. ‘Let’s listen.’ We sat still, not moving. We heard nothing. I hiccupped miserably. ‘For God’s sake, you sound like a chicken,’ said Andy, imitating me. ‘I wonder what they’re up to?’ said Raj. He started kissing his own hand, making gross slurping noises. ‘Oh, Carl, you’re dead sexy,’ he said in a silly girly voice. ‘Shut up,’ I said. My heart was banging as if it might burst straight through my chest and spatter Mum’s black sweater scarlet. I’d never kissed Carl. I didn’t know what to do. Should I storm outside and tear Carl and Miranda apart? Andy was right. I didn’t just sound like a chicken. I was behaving like one, too scared to stop my boyfriend kissing my best friend. But no one was acting as if it was a big deal. Maybe this was a silly game played by cool kids everywhere? Lucy hadn’t tried to kiss Carl but maybe she’d have liked to? Miranda was certainly liking it. She’d made it obvious she fancied Carl from the moment she set eyes on him.
