Chapter 23

Max | After 

I've known Mr Gilbert and Tristan Fell for years.

I first met Tristan when we were seven, when his father came to visit mine. I showed him the pet cemetery Grace and I had started with odd pride, probably traumatising the guy. Then Grace arrived. And I still remember what Tristan whispered in my ear. She's so pretty. And I remember when Grace casually asked me years later what I thought of Tristan now. I remember her reply to my claim of him being fine. She said that she thought he was cute.

My meeting with Mr Gilbert was very different. The Year Sixes are always met at the station by their teacher for the year. Mr Gilbert had been leaning against the wall, a bottle of water in one hand and a folder in another. Grace, Carlos and I had been the first kids off the train, dragging our rucksacks behind us.

"Is that our teacher?" Carlos had whispered, eyes wide.

"I s