Caroline tiptoed carefully across the bedroom floor, pulled aside the curtain and, very slowly, began to open the window. And unexpectedly cool rush of night air swirled into the room and she shivered involuntarily. She pushed the window a little further and peered outside. The stars crowded the night sky while the yellow glow of the streetlight illuminated the yard behind the house. In the distance she could hear the muted drone of traffic.

‘What are you doing?’

Caroline spun around and hit her temple against the edge of the open window. She cursed under her breath as tears swam into her eyes.

‘What are you doing?’ asked Tessa again.

‘What does it look like I’m doing?’ Caroline glanced across he darkened room at the outline of her sister in the bed against the wall. ‘I’m going out.’

‘Out?’

‘Keep your voice down for God’s sake or you’ll have Dad in here.’ Caroline managed to make her own whisper sound like a shout.

‘All right, all right.’ Tessa pulled herself upright in the bed. ‘Where are you going? And why on earth are you sneaking out the bedroom window? You could use the front door, you know.’

‘I don’t want to use the front door,’ said Caroline tartly. ‘The front door means Dad asking me where I’m going and what I’m up to and staying awake until I get home. I really don’t feel like answering a litany of questions and I want to stay out late without feeling guilty.’

‘He doesn’t mean to ask so many questions. He’s just anxious.’ Tessa flung back the bedclothes and padded over to her sister ‘So where are you off to?’

‘God, but you’re inquisitive,’ sighed Caroline. ‘I’m meeting someone.’

‘Caroline!’ Tessa peered short-sightedly at her. ‘Someone? A man? Again?’

‘What d’you mean ‘again’?’ Caroline looked indignant.

‘You’ve just come home from meeting Jimmy. Who the hell are you meeting now?’
Caroline shrugged. ‘Damien.’

‘Oh, Caroline!’

‘Don’t “oh, Caroline” me,’ said Tessa’s sister. ‘I’m perfectly entitled to out with Damien if I want.’

‘But the same night as you’ve been out with Jimmy?’ Tessa pushed her unruly hair out of her eyes. ‘It’s not exactly fair, is it, Caro?’

‘All’s fair in love and war.’ Caroline grinned at her and Tessa sighed.

She just couldn’t understand how her sister could spend an entire evening with one guy and now decide she could go and meet someone else.’

‘It’s a bit unfair, Caroline.’

‘I know.’ Caroline grimaced. ‘And, honestly, Tessa, I didn’t mean to go out with both of them in one night. I wouldn’t normally be that nasty. It’s just that Damien really wanted to see me tonight but I’d already promised Jimmy - ‘ She broke off. ‘You know how it is.’

‘Not really,’ said Tessa blankly. She didn’t know how it was. How could she? She didn’t have the same life as her older sister. She didn’t have the kind of looks that made men turn around in the street and cause women to grit their teeth. Tessa knew that she wasn’t beautiful in the way that Caroline was. She was, she supposed, presentable enough when she put her mind to it, but she didn’t have natural blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders; or clear, cornflower blue eyes; or a smooth, flawless complexion. Nor did she possess Caroline’s easy charm and uncomplicated style and she knew that, no matter how hard she tried, she never would. And, she thought ruefully, she’d never be in the situation of coming home from a date with one bloke simply to go out again with someone else.

‘So where are you going?’ she asked Caroline.

‘I don’t know. It’s a surprise. Dinner maybe.’

‘Dinner! At this hour?’ Tessa squinted at the fuzzy red numbers on the radio alarm-clock. ‘It’s nearly midnight.’

‘Oh, why not? You don’t have to have dinner at seven o’clock every night.’
‘You’ll get indigestion,’ said Tessa.

‘And you’re about as romantic as a dishcloth,’ snapped Caroline. ‘I’m meeting Damien and that’s that. And don’t you dare say a word to Dad.’

‘I won’t,’ said Tessa. ‘What d’you take me for? But I think you’re out of your mind.’

‘Just wait until you have a boyfriend of your own,’ said Caroline with the superiority of one who was nearly twenty and who’d had her fair share. ‘That’s what you need, Tessa. Someone to take your head out of your books and make you realise that there’s more to life than ten honours in your Leaving.’ She stepped carefully onto the annexe roof. ‘And don’t close that window too tightly or I won’t be able to get back in.’

‘Oh, stop fussing.’

Caroline, years of practice behind her, walked steadily along the roof, jumped lightly onto the dividing wall and then lowered herself onto the pavement below. She looked up briefly at the bedroom window and waved happily at her sister before turning down the street to Fairview.

The night breeze plucked at her through her thin jacket and she wished that she’d worn something warmer. But Caroline had never sacrificed style for warmth before and she wasn’t going to start tonight. Besides, she always wore her most sophisticated outfits when she went out with Damien and he liked the black Airwave jacket which fitted so snugly around her perfect figure.

Damien. Although she would never have told Tessa, Caroline was besotted with Damien. He was older than anyone she’d gone out with before, more mature and much more desirable.