Alex could barely believe that his father had let him come, even with Jamie agreeing to pick him up from school and make sure he got back. A party. Outside school!
Without parents.
He found a place to put Louis's gift, something in a flat box tied with red ribbon. Alex was sure it was probably clothes or some 'grown-up' kind of gift, mostly from his parents, but Alex had added a handful of lollies from WWW tied into the bow. They'd turn your hair brilliant colours, some were even swirly.
It already felt weird to be away from school, though, and he picked a few things from the food table to tuck into a napkin. He wandered a bit, nibbling and looking around the flat.