Chloe Hadjimatheou

That's the extent of his experience with the opposite sex. Do you think at that time, having her give you that kind of level of attention, which was very kind of specific to you on the bus, you're slowly creating a friendship?

That's the extent of his experience with the opposite sex. Do you think at that time, having her give you that kind of level of attention, which was very kind of specific to you on the bus, you're slowly creating a friendship?

Right, so I'm going to need you guys to come a little bit closer. I can't remember how I thought when I was 14, at what point in my development I was. I know I felt very grown up. And although I try, it's really hard to imagine Gareth aged 14. All I see when I look at him is this large, angry man with a deep voice.

Right, so I'm going to need you guys to come a little bit closer. I can't remember how I thought when I was 14, at what point in my development I was. I know I felt very grown up. And although I try, it's really hard to imagine Gareth aged 14. All I see when I look at him is this large, angry man with a deep voice.

I have two boys, but they're much younger. So I ask a friend of mine if I can talk to her 14-year-old son and his friends.

I have two boys, but they're much younger. So I ask a friend of mine if I can talk to her 14-year-old son and his friends.

We meet in a cafe round the corner from their school. It's 3.30 and they're still in their school uniforms. And right away, I'm surprised by how young they look. I'd pictured 14-year-olds as halfway to adulthood. But actually, these guys are still baby-faced, not quite through puberty. Can I ask you something else? Are you all shaving?

We meet in a cafe round the corner from their school. It's 3.30 and they're still in their school uniforms. And right away, I'm surprised by how young they look. I'd pictured 14-year-olds as halfway to adulthood. But actually, these guys are still baby-faced, not quite through puberty. Can I ask you something else? Are you all shaving?

Are you shaving your faces?

Are you shaving your faces?

They do go to the occasional party at friends' houses and there are girls there. But like, so is there ever anybody getting together at these parties?

They do go to the occasional party at friends' houses and there are girls there. But like, so is there ever anybody getting together at these parties?

And what does getting together mean, like kissing and stuff?

And what does getting together mean, like kissing and stuff?

There have been a few kisses.

There have been a few kisses.

A really good weekend for them is usually one where they get to have a sleepover. And once I turned the recorder off, one of them admitted to me he still sometimes plays with Lego. It's probably one of the trickiest times in life when you're in such a hurry to grow up. But in reality, you have no experience of the world that qualifies you as being an adult.

A really good weekend for them is usually one where they get to have a sleepover. And once I turned the recorder off, one of them admitted to me he still sometimes plays with Lego. It's probably one of the trickiest times in life when you're in such a hurry to grow up. But in reality, you have no experience of the world that qualifies you as being an adult.

A time when a day of pretending to be grown up is so exhausting that all you really want to do is go home to your Legos.

A time when a day of pretending to be grown up is so exhausting that all you really want to do is go home to your Legos.