Nesta glared at her.
‘What are you staring at?’ said Josie.
‘I’m just trying to visualise you with duct tape over your mouth,’ said Nesta.
I gulped. Ow. Move over, I thought, Nesta Williams has come to town. I made for the exit. I didn’t want any trouble. I knew what Josie could be like. Once she and her scabby mates had got me in the school loos and put my books in the sink and turned on the taps. Took me ages to get the pages dry.
Michael moved away from Josie and came up to Nesta. ‘You’re new in school, aren’t you?’
Nesta nodded, not taking her eyes from Josie who was still gobsmacked at her comment and was looking more than a bit unhappy. I don’t think anyone had ever talked back to her before.
‘We could get tickets for you,’ he said.
Izzie pulled Nesta’s arm. ‘I don’t think it’s worth risking,’ she said to Michael. ‘If the ticket lady sees us going in, you’ll only get in trouble as well.’
‘Come on, Mickie, leave the children to play,’ called Josie, moving up the queue. ‘It’s almost our turn.’
Michael turned back to the queue. ‘Well I’ll see you around,’ he said and smiled again at Nesta.
‘Wow!’ said Nesta when we got outside. ‘Who is he? He’s gorgeous, easily an eight out of ten.’
‘He’s Michael Brenman, he goes to the sixth form college in Finchley,’ Izzie said.
‘And he smelt amazing, lemony and clean, could you smell it?’
Actually I could. It had almost knocked me out. Never mind splash it on. He smelled as if he’d marinaded himself in it.
‘Yes, er, lemony,’ I said diplomatically.
‘What’s he doing with that bullying creepoid? What’s her name, anyway?’ said Nesta.
‘Josie Riley,’ I said. ‘Isn’t she one of the girls who was calling you names that day at the bus stop?’
‘Yeah. I wonder if she’s his girlfriend,’ said Nesta.
‘One of the many. I wouldn’t bother if I were you,’ said Izzie. ‘Everybody fancies him.’
‘But he did smile at me and say I’ll see you around. What do you think he meant?’
‘I think he meant he’ll see you around,’ said Izzie.
‘Yeah but, see you around like I want to get to know you better? Or see you around, just see you around?’ insisted Nesta.
‘See you around, like join the list of girls I’ve already got gagging for me. He’s cute and he knows it. Best play hard to get with someone like him.’
‘You reckon?’ said Nesta, looking back at the cinema. ‘Mmm, very interesting.’
She did look stunning tonight. Her hair was loose down her back and she was dressed in a denim jacket, tight jeans and high-heeled ankle boots that made her legs look endless. It wasn’t surprising that Michael had noticed her. All the boys were staring at her. She looks so sophisticated. Izzie looked good too in a tiny white cut-off top and combat jeans and trainers. I caught our reflections in the burger bar window. They both look like grown-ups who’d let their kid sister tag along.
‘I’m really sorry,’ I said. ‘You’d have got in if it hadn’t been for me.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ said Izzie. ‘You look great tonight and I love your top. Where did you get it from?’
‘I made it,’ I said. ‘Do you really like it?’
‘It’s fantastic,’ said Nesta, feeling the material. ‘I’ve got one just like it from Morgan. But mine’s real silk.’
Izzie saw my face drop. ‘But this is lovely,’ she said quickly. ‘It does look like real silk, Lucy.’
‘So what shall we do?’ I said, trying to draw the attention away from my top. ‘No point in going home now and we’re all being picked up from here later.’
‘Let’s go and practise flirting,’ said Nesta, flicking her hair back as a group of lads walked past and looked appreciatively at her.
‘OK,’ I said, ‘but much good it’ll do me. Boys never notice me even when I’m doing my best flirtie gertie act.’
‘Rubbish,’ said Izzie. ‘You’re better with boys than anyone I know. Probably because you’ve got big brothers. Boys always find it easy to talk to you.’
I winced when she said this as I remembered last summer. Izzie and I had been to watch Lal play football and we’d met this lad and for a change, he’d really chatted me up. I didn’t really fancy him but I was flattered by the attention. Then Izzie went off to get us some hot dogs and he asked if I thought she liked him and would go on a date with him.
‘Yeah, but only so as a way to get talking to you,’ I said. ‘Or Nesta. It’s like I’m everyone’s kid sister. One of the lads. They never take me seriously.’
Suddenly I realised I sounded like a right saddo so decided I’d make them laugh with my Madonna impersonation. My party piece at Christmas. It always makes Izzie crease up. I danced along behind them singing ‘Like a Virgin’ at the top of my voice.
‘Lucy,’ said Iz, giggling despite herself. ‘People are staring at you.’
‘It’s one way to get noticed,’ I said. ‘OK. Maybe not. So what shall we do, then?’
We looked around at the various alternatives.
‘I suppose we could go bowling,’ said Nesta.
I felt my heart sink. Dad had given me my pocket money but it was only enough for the movie, popcorn and a Coke. Bowling cost lots more and, of course, there’d be drinks.
‘No point,’ said Izzie. ‘All the lanes will be booked on a Saturday night. Why don’t we go and get some chips in the café and just hang out? They play good music over there.’ She pointed in the direction of one of the restaurants.
I sighed with relief. That would be OK, I thought, I could afford that.
‘I feel rotten you didn’t get in because of me,’ I whispered to Izzie as we made our way over.
‘It’s OK, honestly,’ she insisted. ‘I didn’t really want to see the film that much anyway.’
I knew she was trying to make me feel better. She’d been talking about seeing this movie ever since it came out.
On Sunday evening, I phoned Izzie to see if she wanted to come over and watch a DVD with Steve and Lal and me. Mum and Dad were going out, so we were going to get a couple of horrors in and scare ourselves stupid.
‘Oh Izzie’s not here,’ said Mrs Foster when I called. ‘She’s gone to see that film. You know, the one with Ewan McGregor.’
‘Who’s she gone with?’ I asked, as though I couldn’t guess.
‘Nesta. She called for her half an hour ago. Er … are you not going with them?’
No. I wasn’t going with them. And I knew exactly why I hadn’t been asked.
Chapter 4
Love at
First Sight
School was a awful. I was avoiding Izzie and Nesta. I’d been really hurt last night. But I’d got the message. Izzie’d moved on and didn’t want me around any more.
I ignored them both in English though I could see Izzie was trying to catch my eye. I kept my head down and pretended I was fascinated by Shakespeare’s sonnets.
Mr Johnson was taking the class and I usually like his lessons. He’s big and jolly with a red beard like a Viking. He chalked a load of stuff up on the board then said, ‘Now, watch the blackboard while I go through it.’
Everyone cracked up and when he realised what he’d said, he started laughing as well. But not me. Me and Hamlet. We got things to think about. ‘To be friends with Iz and Nesta or not to be? That is the question.’
After English, we had a special lesson with Mrs Allen all about third world countries and their need for help. Mrs Allen is our headmistress so everyone was on their best behaviour and really quiet. But it wasn’t just because she was taking the class. It was depressing hearing about the hunger and wars in some areas.
We had to get into groups to discuss the lesson so I made sure I was in Mo Harrison and Candice Carter’s group so I didn’t have to speak to Izzie or Nesta.
‘I don’t understand why people
fight,’ I said, feeling guilty that I was having my own conflict with Izzie, ‘and over something stupid like land. I reckon it’s like, if you look at the sky there aren’t any fences or boundaries. It should be the same on the ground.’
‘Yeah,’ said Mo.’Why can’t we all just share everything?’
‘Same sun, same air, same earth,’ I said. ‘It hardly makes sense that there’s famine in the world when you see all the shops with food spilling out the doors. And people over here on diets all the time when on the other side of the world, other people haven’t even got enough to eat.’
The lesson made me feel very sad. I mean, Mum’s been going on about poor people and the starving for years. Like when one of us wouldn’t eat dinner or something. But I never took much notice. Watching the slides Mrs Allen showed and seeing the real people was different. I could see it made us all think. I’d got all freaked out about not having a best friend any more but in some places, some people have just lost their parents or their kids.
I don’t know what to do about Izzie and Nesta. It seems so petty to fall out, especially after today’s lesson. I feel really confused now and don’t know what to think.
Maybe I could go and be a volunteer in the third world when I grow up. But then what could I volunteer to do? My only special talent is making cheese omelettes so it’s probably best I learn a skill first. But what?
At lunch-time, I was out of class before Nesta and Izzie could catch up and made my way to the library. I needed time to think and decided I’d go and look through books about courses and careers and stuff and see if there was anything I fancied or might be good at.
It all seemed a bit daunting as I leafed through the pages; there’s so much to choose from.
‘Hey Luce,’ said Izzie, coming up behind where I was sitting at a desk. ‘What’re you doing in here? Me and Nesta have been looking everywhere for you.’
I pointed at the books. ‘Trying to decide on my brilliant career.’
I carried on reading as if she wasn’t there but the silence felt uncomfortable and the words were swimming on the page in front of me.
‘You’ve been very quiet lately, Luce. Is everything OK?’
I felt as if I’d swallowed a wad of chewing gum and it had got stuck in my throat.
‘Luce?’
‘How was the film?’ I finally said.
Izzie looked embarrassed. ‘I know. Mum said you called.’ She slid into the chair next to mine. ‘Nesta’s got drama tonight so why don’t you come back to mine? Just us. We’ll have a laugh. Tell you what, I’ll do your birth chart. I’ve found this fab site on the Net and we’ll see what the future holds.’
It did sound tempting but I didn’t say anything. I still felt confused and pushed out.
‘Oh pleeease, Lucy. We could do the Tarot cards as well. It might help you get some more ideas about what you want to do.’
‘I promised I’d help Dad do his shopping at the wholesaler’s,’ I lied.
‘You could come after. It won’t take long with your dad. Look. I’m sorry about last night. I suppose I didn’t think. Nesta was on her own and the wicked stepsisters were visiting round at ours. I had to get out. I knew you’d be OK. At least you’ve got a normal family.’
I had to laugh at that. ‘Normal? Us? What planet are you on?’
I have to say I know what she means though. Her setup is pretty complicated.
1
Her mum and dad got divorced about seven years ago, when Izzie was little, then her mum remarried.
2
Her stepdad’s a lot older than Izzie’s mum and he has two grown-up daughters from his first marriage, both accountants like their father. Izzie calls them the wicked stepsisters.
3
Oh. And her dad remarried as well. He married someone a lot younger. Anna. At least Izzie likes her. She had a little boy, Tom, who’s two now and Izzie completely dotes on him.
So, see what I mean? Stepsisters, a stepdad and a step-mum and a stepbrother as well as her real mum and dad.
Pretty complicated.
Izzie wasn’t giving up on me. ‘Oh, please come over, we haven’t had time on our own for ages.’
Understatement, I thought, but I couldn’t stay mad at her. We’ve been friends for too long and I don’t want to lose her.
‘OK,’ I said, realising that now I was going to have to help Dad. ‘After I’ve finished with Dad, I’ll get him to drop me off at yours.’
It was on the way to Izzie’s that I saw Him. We were driving through Highgate past St Michael’s school, and he was coming out of the gates with another boy. We were stuck in traffic coming up to the roundabout and as the car slowed down, he darted across in front of us. A ten out of ten, a face like Leonardo DiCaprio’s but he was taller with olive skin and dark hair. Absolutely drop dead goooorgeousissimo.
I watched him walk away down the pavement on the other side. It was like time stood still and suddenly I understood what all the fuss is about. Usually I never see boys I like. Not really. Even at Hollywood Bowl, I’ve never seen anyone who’s caught my eye. Not like him. I wonder if he goes there to the movies? I wonder who he is? I must find out. I’ll persuade Izzie to come up to Highgate and hang out. There are loads of cafés there. He must go into one of them sometimes after school, all the St Michael’s boys do. My heart was racing.
It had happened. At last. Love at first sight.
As we drove on, I felt elated. I had a goal. Meet that boy.
Izzie lives a few roads away from me on the Finchley borders. Their house is one of those mock Tudor jobs, detached, with gardens at the front and back. It’s very neat inside and so quiet compared to the bedlam at ours. The kitchen looks like an operating theatre, all white and steel. I always feel I have to talk quietly even when there’s no one there.
Izzie’s mum likes things just so. Izzie says it’s because she’s a Virgo and they’re perfectionists. Even though they have a cleaner in every day Mrs Foster still likes to clear around us if we’re there. I’m a bit scared of her – like once I was eating an apple in the hall when I was waiting for Iz.
‘Where are you going with that apple?’ she said, coming up behind me.
‘Er, nowhere,’ I said.
‘Well, don’t drop bits on my clean carpet, will you?’
And she went into the kitchen and brought me out a knife and a plate. Eek. She wouldn’t last ten minutes in our house.
I’m glad she’s not back tonight so Iz and I have the place to ourselves. Izzie’s room is different to the rest of the house. It’s the only room that has any colour as Mrs Foster favours neutral shades, on the carpets, curtains and walls. And she only wears black. Black with pearls. Always immaculate and expensive-looking. Her dark hair cut into a severe bob to match her personality.
Izzie painted her room herself and she’s done it a deep turquoise. ‘A very healing colour,’ she told me. And she’s got purple curtains and cushions. It looks vibrant and interesting. Like Izzie.
She lit one of her nice smelly candles then cranked up the computer. I looked at her posters. Billie Holiday, who’s one of Izzie’s heroines, and a dolphin. Izzie’s big on them. She wants to go swimming with them one day. Honestly, she’s more like my mum than I am.
I flopped on the bed and Izzie sat at her desk and starting pressing keys.
‘Right, I’ve been dying to try this. I got some new software and it works out a personalised horoscope for you,’ she said. ‘You were born May 24th, Gemini, right? What time?’
‘Five past midnight,’ I said. I remember because it’s Dad’s birthday as well and Mum says I was his birthday present. Only just made it by five minutes though.
Izzie punched in the information.’Give it a few minutes and it will tell us all about you. While we’re waiting for it, we’ll do the Tarot cards.’
She gave me the pack and I started shuffling.
‘Have you done your chart yet?’ I said.
‘Yep,’ grinned Izzie. ‘Aquarius,
sign of the genius, humanitarian, eccentric …’
‘Barking mad, you mean,’ I said. ‘And I dunno about the genius bit but the rest sounds like you. I suppose you are humanitarian most of the time when you’re not swanning off to see films without me.’
Izzie threw a pillow at me. She knew I was teasing.
‘What did you think of that lesson with Mrs Allen?’ I asked.’Sad, wasn’t it?’
Izzie nodded. ‘I’m going to write a song about it.’
‘Why?’ I asked. ‘It’s a bit of a depressing subject for people to listen to.’
‘Ah, but songwriters have as much power, if not more than some politicians.’
‘How can they?’ I laughed. She was always coming out with mad stuff like this.
‘Well look at Bob Geldoff. He did loads, didn’t he, when he did that Band Aid concert? Raised more money than anyone in years. And look at Comic Relief. Millions in a night. And John Lennon. “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” I reckon if you can write a song or a book or make a film, sometimes you can touch more people that way than boring politicians droning on. Music makes people think. They listen to lyrics. Better than lecturing them or dropping a leaflet through the door that only gets put in the bin.’
This is one of the things I like best about Izzie. She makes me think. She’s so wise. Mum says Izzie’s an old soul. When I asked if I was, Mum looked at me strangely and said, ‘No, love, I think it’s your first time on the planet.’ I don’t know if that was a compliment or an insult.
And Izzie’s right. I’d only thought about being a volunteer and going wherever needed and doing some cooking or clearing up or something. But if you could reach people and touch them, there’d be more people to help. If only I had a skill like she has with her song-writing.
‘I was talking to Nesta about it at break,’ continued Iz. ‘She wasn’t into going and being a volunteer and sleeping in a tent and having no MTV. She says her plan is to be mega mega rich when she’s a model then she can give some of her money away.’
Mates, Dates and Inflatable Bras Page 3
