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One day, towards the end of November, I was sat in the library working on an essay. There was a deadline at the end of term. I was in the middle of trying to think of a convincing argument – actually, any argument – when I heard Marina speaking.

‘Eva.’

I ignored her.

‘Eva,’ she repeated, tapping on the desk. ‘I need your help with something.’

I looked up at her warily. There was that familiar expression: half mischievous; half angry.

‘What is it?’ I said. The words came out dull and flat, ruder than I’d intended.

‘Well,’ she said. ‘I’ll just cut to it, because I’m not sure if we have much time.’

She told me, with exactly the level of bluntness that had been promised, that she wanted to break into the professor’s office. He was out meeting Henry at a coffee shop, and she knew that he’d left it unlocked. Wouldn’t it be funny to just go in there for a bit? Wouldn’t it be funny to steal his copy of Doctor Faustus?

I was unconvinced by the idea that it would be funny at all. I couldn’t even understand where the plan had come from. And I couldn’t understand why – after the whole debacle with her course had been resolved – Marina was still intent on upsetting Montgomery. I opened my mouth and was about to say exactly this, when I caught sight of Marina’s expression. She looked very sad, needy – almost like she was trying to tell me something. I closed my mouth.

‘On second thoughts,’ she said, ‘it actually doesn’t matter if you want to come or not. I’m going on my own whatever happens.’

‘Er … OK.’

She made a series of short, frustrated hand gestures to indicate she disapproved of this reaction.

‘It’s just such an effort trying to get you to have fun,’ she fumed. ‘This is what first year should be about, Eva – taking risks. That is what you’ll remember in years to come. Not slaving away on an essay which doesn’t have a conclusion. It won’t even contribute to your final grade.’

There was nothing much I could say to defend myself there.

‘Well sure,’ I conceded. ‘It’s not like we’re going to get jobs when we graduate.’