She and Belle had almost killed themselves to make a few rooms habitable, and now it was September and she was back at work.

Ten minutes until morning briefing. Just enough time to make a quick coffee: nectar of the teaching profession. Rory took just a splash of milk from each of the two cartons which looked fullest. Raiding the fridge at work was like sneaking into your parents’ drinks cabinet as a teenager: you had to make it look as if nothing had been touched.

‘Morning, comrade!’ Susie strode into the kitchen area of the staffroom. Blonde curls, big boobs and a beaming grin made her the exact opposite of the computer geek stereotype; no wonder so many boys opted to take Information Technology. ‘Milk snaffling again?’

Rory held up her hands. ‘My need is great this morning. How was your weekend?’

Susie slumped back against the counter with a dramatic groan. ‘Don’t ask. I had a date from hell. I’ll tell you later when I can bear to talk about it. You seriously must start coming out with me; I need help to stop attracting all these weirdos.’

‘I’ll let you know when I’m free to perform weirdo-repelling duties. I’ve mastered the art. Have you seen the new deputy headteacher yet?’

Susie stood up straight and leaned in, lowering her voice. ‘He’s definitely no weirdo from what I’ve seen. I saw him go into the head’s office this morning, all sharp suit and expensive aftershave. Looks about thirty-five, no wedding ring. He’s going to cause a bit of a flutter, I think.’

Rory wasn’t about to get excited. If you were male, below forty-five and had a pulse, Susie would give you a chance. Rory was a little choosier. Too choosy, her mother would say. ‘As long as he doesn’t flutter near me. I could do without it, quite frankly.’

Susie raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. ‘Apart from me, you’re the one person I know who is most in need of a flutter or two. How’s the house going?’

‘It’s not. Apparently, the whole place has to be rewired so that Belle and I don’t electrocute ourselves by turning on a light switch. I’m beginning to think that buying an old wreck wasn’t such a great idea.’

‘Really? You think?’ Susie had told Rory she was crazy to buy the house, although her main objection had been that it would give Rory less money to go out with her. ‘Come on. Let’s find somewhere to park; the delegation has arrived.’

First day back, everyone had turned up for briefing and the staffroom was packed. Rory and Susie looked for a spare seat amongst the threadbare collection around the coffee table, which was strewn with newspapers, magazines and old textbooks. There was also the odd confiscated item which hadn’t made it down to the school office. They’d just managed to squeeze on a seat together – one cheek each – when everyone hushed for the first morning briefing of the new term.

The head gave his usual ‘welcome back’ speech and updated the staff on such scintillating information as the new floor in the Sports Hall.