His hands having spent the best part of the last few moments flailing in the air Alfie was actually slightly surprised when he felt the sleeve of her dress against his fingertips. So much so that he jumped back as though he had only just realised what he was doing and stared at Gemma, guppy-like and shocked at his own actions. What on earth had come over him?!

Nothing, he thought. Or at least nothing he hadn’t been thinking about in some way for a little while now but he had never admitted as much to himself. Miss Simpson was special, that much he had always known, but he was only not beginning to think about how she might become special to him. And like a fool he had ruined it entirely.

“I’m…I…” He garbled, taking another desperate step back now that he was able to and wildly looking over his shoulder to make sure he was not about to fall over. It might lighten the moment but it wouldn’t make it any easier. “I’m so sorry Gemma,” he managed, convinced he had ruined their friendship forever because what on earth could she ever see in him?

Nothing. He would only make a fool of himself. “We should go back inside.”