"Ah, so Visser Three is the ShamWow guy. Except he gives you the decaptitations for free anyway, even if you don't sign up," Marco said, shifting again. They were all saying the right words, doing what they usually did and covering up all the awkward with jokes and humour. And yet the air was still a little tense.

His mother had suddenly because a whole lot scarier, and he still didn't know how to deal with that.

"Mom, wild parties aren't probably wild if you know about it beforehand. You're meant to learn when you come home afterwards and find the place totally trashed."