Chloe Hadjimatheou

And this term, there's lots of commotion up there because the school has a new young chemistry teacher, Sally-Anne Bowen. This is her first teaching job, not long out of training. She's 27, with long blonde hair, and like loads of the boys, 13-year-old Gareth can't help staring at her.

And this term, there's lots of commotion up there because the school has a new young chemistry teacher, Sally-Anne Bowen. This is her first teaching job, not long out of training. She's 27, with long blonde hair, and like loads of the boys, 13-year-old Gareth can't help staring at her.

Gareth's birthday is in May, so he's pretty young for his year, but he's a bright kid, athletic, with wavy brown hair.

Gareth's birthday is in May, so he's pretty young for his year, but he's a bright kid, athletic, with wavy brown hair.

He's fiercely proud of his dad being a journalist. He teaches his son never to blindly accept what he's told. Question everything, he says. Of course, that doesn't always go down well with Gareth's teachers. Precocious and lippy is probably what they would have called him. But his dad's also an alcoholic and he can be violent.

He's fiercely proud of his dad being a journalist. He teaches his son never to blindly accept what he's told. Question everything, he says. Of course, that doesn't always go down well with Gareth's teachers. Precocious and lippy is probably what they would have called him. But his dad's also an alcoholic and he can be violent.

Sometimes he beats Gareth with a belt and when he's drunk, he goes after his mum too, until she can't take it anymore and leaves.

Sometimes he beats Gareth with a belt and when he's drunk, he goes after his mum too, until she can't take it anymore and leaves.

Gareth ends up living with his mum. He misses his dad, but he's busy, hanging out with his mates. They like going into the fields just north of Finchley, looking for golf balls, which they sell back to the golfers and use the money for sweets or comics.

Gareth ends up living with his mum. He misses his dad, but he's busy, hanging out with his mates. They like going into the fields just north of Finchley, looking for golf balls, which they sell back to the golfers and use the money for sweets or comics.

Gareth's not in any of Miss Bowen's chemistry classes and so his story with her doesn't really begin until about halfway through that year. There's a bus that takes pupils from one part of the school to another. Gareth's only in the third year. These days we call it year nine in the UK or eighth grade in the US.

Gareth's not in any of Miss Bowen's chemistry classes and so his story with her doesn't really begin until about halfway through that year. There's a bus that takes pupils from one part of the school to another. Gareth's only in the third year. These days we call it year nine in the UK or eighth grade in the US.

Miss MacIsaac's the other young female teacher at the school. She and Miss Bowen are really good friends.

Miss MacIsaac's the other young female teacher at the school. She and Miss Bowen are really good friends.

So, on this particular day, he's sitting on the bus when the two teachers climb up the steps and get on board.

So, on this particular day, he's sitting on the bus when the two teachers climb up the steps and get on board.

So Gareth moves up and sits in the road just behind them.

So Gareth moves up and sits in the road just behind them.

What he means is they smell good.

What he means is they smell good.