Author(s): Adele Minchin

Young Adult Fiction

'Those five minutes have affected the rest of my life. All I wanted was a bit of fun and I ended up with a life sentence.'

woken early one morning by her cousin Emma, 15-year-old-Leyla learns some devastating news - Emma is HIV positive. Sworn to secrecy, Leyla can't even discuss it with her best friend Sarah or her mum - let alone Darren (the stunning, talented DJ in the sixth form) - but she is determined to help Emma in any way she can.

Emma starts attending a self-help centre. There she meets other teenagers affected by HIV, who re relieved to be able to talk openly about their lives.

Leyla's a drummer and joins the centre's music group where they plan to make a CD, with Darren's help. But just as everything seems to be falling into place, rumours about Emma's status begin to get out an then - suddenly - emma becomes ill...