Chloe Hadjimatheou

It's all happening at the cafe very near the upper school building. Were there other people around?

It's all happening at the cafe very near the upper school building. Were there other people around?

The cafe would have been busy and Miss Bowen apparently often sat with her back to the counter and so this wouldn't have been easy for the cafe staff to see. Sanjay says he can't be sure how many times they meet like this with Miss Bowen, but he thinks it's several times over a period of a few weeks, by which point they've clearly crossed a line.

The cafe would have been busy and Miss Bowen apparently often sat with her back to the counter and so this wouldn't have been easy for the cafe staff to see. Sanjay says he can't be sure how many times they meet like this with Miss Bowen, but he thinks it's several times over a period of a few weeks, by which point they've clearly crossed a line.

Just like Gareth, Sanjay feels drawn in by her, by the fact that he says she's allowing him to touch her and kiss her. But the really big difference is that Sanjay isn't alone with her. It's a shared experience between a group of boys. What he does have that feels more special is what happens after school.

Just like Gareth, Sanjay feels drawn in by her, by the fact that he says she's allowing him to touch her and kiss her. But the really big difference is that Sanjay isn't alone with her. It's a shared experience between a group of boys. What he does have that feels more special is what happens after school.

Miss Bowen lets Sanjay walk her home and when they get to her place, he says she lets him kiss her goodbye. Then, one afternoon, she tells him she's having a fireworks party in a couple of days. Would he like to come round? He thinks it might just be him she's inviting.

Miss Bowen lets Sanjay walk her home and when they get to her place, he says she lets him kiss her goodbye. Then, one afternoon, she tells him she's having a fireworks party in a couple of days. Would he like to come round? He thinks it might just be him she's inviting.

When the evening comes, he changes his mind and he stands her up.

When the evening comes, he changes his mind and he stands her up.

For ages afterwards, he feels he's chickened out of something that could have been important for him. And then, years later, when he hears on the grapevine that Gareth's been badly damaged by his experience, he looks back and wonders whether this was a sliding doors moment. That if he'd gone to her house that night, he could have ended up somewhere like Gareth.

For ages afterwards, he feels he's chickened out of something that could have been important for him. And then, years later, when he hears on the grapevine that Gareth's been badly damaged by his experience, he looks back and wonders whether this was a sliding doors moment. That if he'd gone to her house that night, he could have ended up somewhere like Gareth.

After that missed fireworks party, he stops walking her home. And the meetings in the cafe, they stop soon after that too.

After that missed fireworks party, he stops walking her home. And the meetings in the cafe, they stop soon after that too.

What was the rumour?

What was the rumour?

OK, have you got your recorder?

OK, have you got your recorder?

Gareth's been waiting with bated breath to hear what Sanjay's story is. What he's hoping is that Sanjay can corroborate the fact that he went into Miss Bowen's house. But Sanjay doesn't remember Gareth being with them when he walked her home. None of it matches in the way Gareth's hoping, and he's really upset about it.

Gareth's been waiting with bated breath to hear what Sanjay's story is. What he's hoping is that Sanjay can corroborate the fact that he went into Miss Bowen's house. But Sanjay doesn't remember Gareth being with them when he walked her home. None of it matches in the way Gareth's hoping, and he's really upset about it.