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doors to the hall burst open and two boys entered laughing. They were both dark-haired, but one was slightly taller than the other and wore a blue jumper. She stared at him. Both boys looked at her as they walked past; the taller one’s eyes meeting her own. Her cheeks turned red as she returned to her chair.
    Gail ran over and sat down. ‘Steve’s asked me what I’m doing at the weekend. I know he’s going to ask me out. I just know it.’ Her head shook excitedly.
    It was Jenny’s turn to nudge Gail. ‘Who’s that?’
    â€˜Where?’
    â€˜Over there by the pool table; the taller one, he’s just picked up the cue.’
    â€˜Oh, they were here when I first started coming, Martin someone, I think. My cousin knows him. She’s over there. I’ll go and ask her.’
    â€˜No don’t!’ she called out, but Gail was already halfway across the floor.
    â€˜Yes, that’s Martin Barretti,’ Gail said breathlessly arriving back at Jenny’s side. He lives next door to her. ‘Do you fancy him then?’ Her blue eyes demanded an answer.
    â€˜No, of course not.’
    â€˜Oh yeah – you’re all red.’
    Jenny was conscious of Martin for the remainder of the evening. As she danced with her friend she kept glancing over to the pool table. She couldn’t stop herself from looking at him. When the boys had finished their game, they stood talking and drinking, pretending not to be interested in the girls dancing in front of them. But Jenny was sure he was looking at her.

    *
    Two weeks later, Jenny stood between Gail and her cousin, keeping one eye on the doors.
There they are
, she thought,
bang on time
.
    Gail put her hand over her mouth. ‘He’s coming over, give me your drink.’ She pushed Jenny into the middle of the hall. Suddenly she was standing in front of him. She couldn’t look him in the eyes, so looked over his left shoulder.
    â€˜It’s Jenny, isn’t it? You’re new here, aren’t you?’ he said.
    â€˜Yes, this is only my third time.’
    â€˜I’d buy you a drink, but you’ve already got one.’
    Jenny nodded.
    â€˜Are you doing anything this Saturday?’
    â€˜No,’ Jenny answered, although she knew that her mother would be expecting her to go shopping.
    â€˜Would you like to come for a walk then – say Saturday afternoon?’
    â€˜OK,’ Jenny blushed.
    â€˜Where would you like to meet?’
    Knowing that he didn’t live near her, she said the only place that she was sure he knew, ‘I could meet you in Hove Park.’ She caught his eyes for a second and looked away.
    â€˜By the miniature railway?’
    â€˜Yes, that’s fine.’ She smiled.
    â€˜OK. I’ll see you there then, two o’clock on Saturday.’ He left her and walked over to where his friend was waiting by the pool table.
    Gail pulled Jenny into the toilet. ‘Come on, what did he say?’
    â€˜He asked me out on Saturday.’
    â€˜And?’ said Gail.
    â€˜And what?’
    â€˜What did you say?’ Gail emphasised, as if talking to a small child.
    â€˜I said yes of course.’
    â€˜There you are.’ Gail smiled at her cousin, who was standing behind her.
    Jenny stared at Gail, and then her cousin. ‘You didn’t tell him I wanted to go out with him did you?’
    â€˜Of course I did,’ said Gail, adjusting her hair in the mirror. ‘It’s obvious you fancy him like crazy. You can’t stop staring at him.’
    â€˜That’s so embarrassing,’ said Jenny, wishing that she hadn’t made her attraction so obvious.
    â€˜No it isn’t. He fancies you too. He’s looking over here now,’ Gail said as they opened the door and went back into the hall.

    *
    Jenny spotted his blue jumper first. He was standing at the end of the miniature railway track. Her heart leapt and she quickened her