HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks

Can you please get a photo of Harry Greene in a skirt? It’s urgent.”

I think we all need to see that, to be honest.”

by the time I was seventeen

Harry Greene, a fairly short guy with very tall hair, is probably the most notorious individual in the entire school, partly due to how many parties he throws and partly due to the fact that he never, ever shuts up

I have been going out with Nick Nelson since I was fourteen. He likes rugby and Formula 1, animals (especially dogs), the Marvel universe, the sound felt-tips make on paper, rain, drawing on shoes, Disneyland and minimalism. He also likes me.

Six entire years of being at the same school, being in the same place every weekday, are over.

Normally we talk about this stuff – stuff that we get sad about or annoyed about or angry about – but Nick’s really excited about uni so I don’t want to start complaining or make him feel bad.

Nowadays the weird looks only make me want to hold his hand even more

Still, there are loads of good things about leaving school – God, I’m ready for university, for doing my own thing whenever I want, for actually learning stuff I’m interested in. Finally getting out of this dingy town, having my own place, buying my own food, choosing how to spend my time. It’s gonna be ace

I always make sure to ask though. I think he might say yes one day, if I just keep asking