I don't revise. My exam is in two days, but it's like I couldn't care less. I'm probably going to fail, get a three on GCSE Biology and the rest of them and make Mom cry as she wonders where she went wrong. She worked like hell with me when I was in Year Five to prep me for the eleven plus, to send me to Dugray and give me a better life than the one she had growing up.

But that's not what's on my mind as I sneak out.

It's not that hard really. Mom's having a bath, Alfie's at a sleepover and Dave is watching TV upstairs. So neither of them hear me slip down, steal a tenner from the wallet Dave's left on the kitchen island and leave the house.

Chantelle has filled me in on not one, not two but three parties all happening tonight. Two are in Sutton Coldfield which is a little far, but one is just a brisk fifteen minute walk away. It's one of Priya's older brother's. I think his name's Ben. The same guy whose party Josh broke up with me at. The same guy who throws open the door and stares at me kind of drunk already.

"Do I know you?" he slurs.

I stare back at him. "I'm Eve. I know Priya."

"The more the merrier," he drawls. "She's at our mom's. GCSEs and shit to do. Don't you have shit to do?"

I walk off without replying. The house is a mess of sixth formers and college students, nearly all drunk out of their minds. There's some girl dancing in the living room, fancy stuff that I used to do at dance shows, with a load of people filming her. There are people kissing everywhere too. I push past two guys with their tongues down each other's throats on my way to the kitchen.

Jackpot.

I take a drink and start on it quickly. It's disgusting as usual. The only drinks that I've tried and liked are the kind that old men like according to Inez. Dave's brother Zach is obsessed with whiskey and I've sampled his collection more than once. This cheap beer from the Co-Op isn't really my taste, but that doesn't really matter.

"Woah, steady," a guy says, prying the almost empty bottle from my fingers. "Do I know you?"

He's pretty, I'll admit. Dark hair, sharp jaw, dark eyes. Tall and dark and handsome. Every girl's dream right?

I twirl my hair. "Should you know me?"

He smiles. "I want to know you. Another drink?"

He hands me another bottle and takes one for himself.

"I'd love one."