The middle ground isn’t hard. It’s just being there. Being helpful, if help is needed. Being understanding even if they don’t understand everything.

‘Thanks,’ I say and kiss Marlon gently.

Marlon’s good at the middle ground. My parents aren’t, really but I know they’re trying and occasionally they succeed. And they’re better at it than Justin, that’s for sure.

Bella’s good at middle ground too. Maybe I was a bit harsh on her earlier.

Marlon and I look at each other for a moment in the shade of the alcove.

‘Today’s been shit,’ I say eventually, letting out a small laugh.

Marlon smiles sadly. ‘Yeah, I got that impression.’ He squeezes my hands. ‘Wanna talk about it?’

I pause to think. ‘Maybe a bit later?’

He squeezes my hand again. ‘Yeah. Of course.’

‘Can we cuddle Henry? I feel like I’m missing out on valuable puppy appreciation time.’

Marlon grins. ‘An excellent idea.’

*

When Marlon said it was chaos in his house, he meant it. After some dog playtime with Henry and Nelly, we find proper disco going on in the living room and a rather enthusiastic game of toy-car racing happening in the hallway with people’s shoes an obstacles. After I beat Marlon five times at that, we somehow get dragged into a game of monopoly, which is promptly ruined when Henry gallops over the board, followed by a Mario Kart tournament with Marlon’s older Cousins, which I also win. Apparently I’m good at driving games.

Then we go back to Marlon’s room to exchange presents. I got him a bunch of things he likes – a grid paper notebook and fountain pen, a fish-eye lens that attaches to his phone, and a giant Oreo Dairy Milky bar. Marlon got me some fancy headphones – way fancier than my current ones that are broken in one ear. And we also got each other the most stupidly romantic cards ever – his has picture of us all over it and I drew all over mine.

I kiss him after I read his card and he kiss me back and basically we end up making out for like half an hour.

And suddenly it’s seven o’clock and we’re sitting on a living room sofa with Dr Who on in the background, my legs resting over his and his head on my shoulder. Some kids are sitting on the carpet building a Lego pirate ship and Marlon’s mum and various aunts and uncles are busy organising the buffet tea on the dining table.