"Happy birthday," Miles said, when he found me hidden in a corner. His lips were set in a thin line, and he clearly had nothing else to say to me which is why he looked about us and tried to think of something else to add. "Jade did a good job setting all this up for you."

I nodded.

"Well, I just wanted to say, you know," Miles stammered, massaging the back of his neck awkwardly. "Happy birthday. Now I've said that- twice, no less- I shall leave you alone to... do whatever it is you were doing."

Will, who had been stood at Miles' side throughout the encounter, followed his best friend, not having uttered a single word to me.

"Yeah, this birthday is definitely a happy one," I muttered to Jade, drowning the contents of my cola. "Note the sarcasm."