by Emma Moss
For George and Lauren, Harry Potter expert advisers x
Contents
Chapter One: Lucy
Chapter Two: Jessie
Chapter Three: Abby
Chapter Four: Hermione
Chapter Five: Jessie
Chapter Six: Sassy
Chapter Seven: Lucy
Chapter Eight: Hermione
Chapter Nine: Abby
Chapter Ten: Lucy
Chapter Eleven: Sassy
Top Ten Tips: So You Wanna Be a YouTuber?
About the Author
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Hey, Morgan!
How are you? Enjoying that California sunshine, I bet . . . I SO ENVY YOU! We had, like, three days of sun but now it’s pouring with rain and so cold I’m wearing tracksuit bottoms and a hoody. It’s supposed to be summer.
School’s out – finally – but I’m sooo bummed out that I can’t come to visit you after all. Mom and Dad said it was just too expensive and also they want me to help babysit Maggie as they are both really busy. I know I shouldn’t complain – at least they both have jobs . . . I’ve seen how tough it is for Jessie’s family with her dad out of work.
ANYWAY . . . I NEED TO STOP WHINING!
Summer will be great – outside of babysitting, I’ll have loads of time to hang out with the Girls Can Vlog gang, who are almost as much fun as you and come up with some creative new vlogs. Plus I’ll get to see a lot of Sam at the farm – he keeps moaning that I don’t have time for him any more.
So loads to look forward to – maybe there will be some surprises too! I hope you also have some amazing things planned – but nothing as amazing as seeing yours truly, as that is impossible hahahaha.
Loads of love from your frozen bestie,
LUCY XOXO
Lucy pressed send and sighed. She was really disappointed not to be able to visit her best friend, Morgan, and catch up with all her old friends in America. Sometimes she missed her former life, but at least she had a brilliant new gang now – Abby, Hermione and Jessie – and their Girls Can Vlog YouTube channel was growing in leaps and bounds. This summer they’d have lots of free time for filming and incorporating their new member Sassy’s ideas into the videos. And then there was Lucy’s gorgeous boyfriend, Sam . . . whom she would have missed massively if she’d gone away.
‘Lucy! Dinner! Now!’ her mum called from downstairs.
It smelt like stirfry, and Lucy was hungry, so she hurried on down. Foghorn, her fluffy grey cat, streaked down the stairs too, hoping for a kitty pouch – though Lucy’s mum had put him on a strict diet.
When everyone was seated at the table, Mrs Lockwood announced, ‘So about this summer . . .’
Lucy rolled her eyes. ‘I know, I know. I can’t go to the US. And I have to babysit Mags.’ She grinned at her four-year-old sister. ‘C-could be worse, but we’re only watching Frozen once a day, K?’
Maggie rolled her eyes too. ‘I hate Frozen,’ she announced. ‘My favourite film is Moana.’
Lucy giggled – this was news to her. But that was her sister all over: always unpredictable and always hilarious.
‘Lucyloo, I know you’re very disappointed about the trip to America,’ said her father, stroking Foghorn as he begged for food, ‘but your mother and I have some news that should cheer you up.’
Lucy looked up curiously. ‘News?’
‘Yes,’ announced her mother. ‘We know it’s not America, but we thought it would be fun to have a family camping trip.’
‘Camping?’ shrieked Maggie in delight. ‘Sleeping outside? In tents?’
‘Exactly,’ said Mr Lockwood. ‘Tents, sleeping bags, campfires, toasted marshmallows. The whole shebang . . . fresh air and nature. I can’t wait! I was once a Boy Scout, you know . . .’
‘Yes, Dad, we know.’ Lucy sighed; she’d heard the stories before. ‘That’s pretty cool. We haven’t been on a trip in ages.’ But Lucy had mixed feelings about spending a whole week with her family, trapped in a tent. She looked out of the window, the rain hammering against the glass. Trading sunny California for a soggy tent didn’t seem overly appealing.
‘There’s more,’ said her mum with a smile. ‘We’ll be renting a campervan, so there will be some spare seats. I thought you might like to invite some of your friends to join us, Lucy. Would you like that?’
Lucy’s mixed feelings suddenly weren’t so mixed.
‘M-my friends could come too?’ she asked, her stammer intensified by her excitement. ‘R-really? That would b-be sooo amaaazing! Oh, Mom, thank you, thank you.’ She leaped up and gave her mother a hug. ‘H-how many?’ she asked, and held her breath.
How would she choose? There was the cute, nerdy Hermione, who’d befriended her on that horrific first day at school – never to be forgotten – and remained loyal throughout. Hermione wasn’t exactly outdoorsy, her accident on the school ski trip had proved that, but she would still enjoy it. Then there was Abby: upbeat, happy, a bit out of control sometimes, but loads of fun. She was a must for the trip to be a success. Plus, she was chairperson of the GCV channel and always bursting with ideas. Prank-loving Jessie was the most outdoorsy of the girls and probably would be the best at all the camping stuff. Finally there was the pink-haired Sassy, who’d recently joined the group . . .
‘I think the campervan has seven seats,’ said her dad, ‘so you can bring three friends. I bet I can guess which three!’
‘That’s insane! I c-can’t wait to tell them! They’ll be so excited! I hope they c-can all come.’ Lucy pushed the thought of Sassy to the back of her mind – the other three had to come first.
‘And now for the EXTRA-good bit,’ said Lucy’s mum mysteriously as she dished out more of the stirfry. ‘As part of the trip, we’re going to spend a day at Chesterbury.’
‘As in th-the festival?’ gasped Lucy.
‘Yes,’ said Mrs Lockwood. ‘We haven’t been to a decent music festival since Maggie was born, and you deserve a treat after doing so well this year, settling into your new school.’
Lucy squealed, then reached over and gave her mum a hug.
‘It’s not the same as a whole summer with Morgan, I know,’ added Mrs Lockwood, ‘but we thought you’d like it.’
Lucy looked at her incredulously. ‘Are you k-kidding? It’s Chesterbury – of course I’ll like it! I’ve always wanted to go.’ Something occurred to her. ‘Can the girls come t-too?’ she asked, holding her breath.
‘Yes, that’s part of the treat!’ said her mother. ‘My friend helps organize the festival and got me a discount on tickets.’
‘Whoop!’ cried Lucy. Her parents were the actual best sometimes.
‘Your mom is dying to dig out some of her old boho gear – watch out!’ Lucy’s dad laughed.
‘What’s boho?’ asked Maggie, picking up a noodle.
Mrs Lockwood laughed. ‘A groovy fashion look. Now eat up, everyone, before this food gets stone cold. And sorry, Foghorn, you are out of luck!’
After dinner, lounging in her bedroom, Lucy didn’t know who to tell her news first, so she WhatsApped the girls on the group chat – the old one that didn’t include Sassy.
20:27
Lucy: Omgggg, guys! Exciting news!
20:27
Abby: What????????
20:27
Lucy: My parents are inviting you all on a camping trip with us . . . and on the last day we’re going to Chesterbury!
20:28
Abby: Chesterbury Festival? Seriously???!!!
20:29
Lucy: Seriously! Can you believe it???
20:29
Jessie: Sorry, guys, is this a joke?
20:30
Lucy: NO! They told m
e to bring three friends.
20:33
Hermione: Wow, that’s so generous of them . . . Not sure about the camping though . . . think of the INSECTS
20:35
Lucy: H, you’ll be fine
20:35
Lucy: My parents are ringing all of your parents RIGHT NOW!
20:40
Jessie: Amazing! I love camping! Ghost stories round the campfire, toasting marshmallows . . . like in all the horror movies! Mwah-ha-ha!
20:41
Abby: Er, guys! Focus on the festival! Ollie Storm is headlining this year I think . . .
20:41
Lucy: YESSS! I just looked it up and you’re right! Love him!
20:48
Abby: And think about the amazing vlogs we can do! Hey, what about Sassy?
20:53
Lucy: Not enough room in the van, sadly
20:53
Abby: Aw, that sucks
20:56
Lucy: Yeah . . . anyway, talk to your parents and we can meet up tomorrow to start planning?
20:56
Abby: And shopping!
20:59
Jessie: This is so awesome!
21:03
Hermione: Hope I can come xx
The following day, they met up at the cafe in the park. The rain had cleared, so they sat outside having ice cream and enjoying the sun, though it was still chilly. Lucy felt a tiny bit guilty for not inviting Sassy to the park, but there didn’t seem to be much point, and it would be hard for her to hear about their camping plans.
Hermione was explaining to Lucy that her mum hadn’t been sure about letting her come, but that Hermione’s dad had convinced her, saying that she would learn a lot about nature on the trip.
‘So I can come,’ said Hermione, ‘which I am pleased about, but I’m still a bit anxious about sleeping outside. Insects are so disgusting . . . They could just crawl into the tent and on to our faces when we’re asleep.’
Lucy laughed, watching her friend grimace at the thought.
‘I don’t want to learn about nature close up!’ Hermione shuddered.
‘These things are always scarier in your imagination,’ said Lucy soothingly. She often felt protective of Hermione, who had a tendency to worry about things that hadn’t happened yet and might never happen. ‘D-don’t sweat it, H! We’ll look after you.’
‘Well, I can’t wait!’ said Jessie, holding her head upside down to catch a drip leaking from her cone. She spoke with her mouth half open. ‘The great outdoors . . . So much fresh air, so many opportunities for pranks!’
Abby rushed up last, wearing a blush-pink crop top, shorts and huge new sunglasses, with her cream pug, Weenie, trotting along at her side.
‘You l-look cute,’ said Lucy, ‘even if you are covered in g-goosebumps!’ While she was happiest in jeans and the same old comfy T-shirts, she had to admire Abby’s firm commitment to fashion.
‘Mind over matter!’ quipped Abby, rubbing her arms. ‘Anyway, we have much more important things to talk about. Such as, what vlogging are we going to do while we’re there – and how are we going to prepare for Chesterbury? Has anyone been to a festival before?’
‘Nope,’ said Lucy and Hermione together.
‘Me neither,’ said Jessie, ‘which is why this whole thing is so hashtag incredible!’
‘I wonder if Sassy has,’ Abby said. ‘Seems like the kind of thing she’d have done . . . she loves her music. Down, Weenie! So, Sassy definitely can’t come?’
Lucy shook her head.
‘It’s just such a shame,’ said Abby sadly.
Lucy started to feel annoyed. It was going to be an amazing trip, so why was Abby complaining? ‘Not enough seats in the v-van, Abs, like I said. So it could only be the four of us. Still pretty c-cool, though, huh?’
‘Does it have to be –’ Abby broke off and cleared her throat – ‘us four? As opposed to, like, three of us and Sassy if one of us can’t make it?’ She lifted her sunglasses and glanced quickly at Jessie. ‘Like, if we have . . . commitments or something.’
Lucy sighed. Abby implying that Jessie wasn’t fully dedicated to the group was becoming a regular thing, and she was getting sick of it.
‘We can all come,’ said Jessie angrily, glaring back at Abby. ‘As we just established. So what are you suggesting?’
‘Nothing,’ said Abby. ‘It’s just – like – well, I thought you might have had a gymnastics competition or something.’
Lucy saw a hurt look cross Jessie’s face and wondered why Abby had to be so insensitive. Just because Jessie had messed up a GCV fashion shoot because of gym one time. She hadn’t done it on purpose, and, anyway, that was weeks ago now!
‘It’s fine – there’s less training over the summer,’ said Jessie, her tone frostier than her double-choc ice cream, ‘but, if you’d prefer Sassy to go in my place, just say.’
‘Of course not,’ said Hermione anxiously. ‘We want you! Don’t we, Abs?’
Abby yawned, and Lucy felt herself get angrier. Why wasn’t Abby answering? ‘D-don’t we, Abs?’ she prompted, putting her arms round Jessie.
There was a pause and Weenie whined, as if even he could sense the awkward tension in the air.
‘Of course,’ said Abby eventually, lowering her sunglasses again. ‘But we’ll have to think of how to let Sassy down gently. We don’t want her to get upset.’
‘I’ll explain,’ said Lucy. ‘I’m sure she’ll understand. W-we haven’t been friends for very long, whereas we’ve all known each other for a year at least.’ She stared meaningfully at Abby.
‘Cool,’ said Abby with a shrug. ‘Well, let’s get down to business. We need to go shopping for our festival gear.’
‘The festival’s only one day,’ said Jessie. ‘Most of the time we’ll be camping, which means hiking, swimming, canoeing and stuff like that. So we’ll need waterproofs and warm hoodies, socks and hiking boots.’
‘I suppose . . .’ said Abby grudgingly. ‘But bikinis as well!’
Lucy had to laugh.
Then Hermione said, ‘I don’t have a sleeping bag, so I guess I’ll need to get one. Shall we all go into town tomorrow?’
‘Yeah. I’ll help you choose, H,’ said Jessie, ‘though I’ll be in a smelly old sleeping bag that belonged to my brother, Leon. It can practically walk by itself . . .’
‘Eeugh!’ said Lucy. ‘TMI.’
‘Oh, and we need to get like a million delicious snacks for midnight feasts!’ exclaimed Jessie. ‘I really want to try those new pigs-in-blankets-flavoured crisps.’
Lucy smiled, relieved to see that Abby’s weirdness seemed to have been forgotten.
Later that night Lucy was cuddled up in bed with Foghorn, on WhatsApp.
22:03
Lucy: Phew! Sassy was a star about everything.
22:05
Abby: She’s the BEST.
22:11
Hermione: So . . . has everyone starting packing?
22:11
Abby: I’m struggling. Think I need a bigger suitcase!
22:13
Lucy: Sorry to break it to you but don’t think there’s room in the van for suitcases – rucksacks only!
22:13
Abby::
22:16
Jessie: I’m already packed, but I have non-great news . . .
22:17
Lucy: Oh no WHAAT?
22:17
Abby: Spill!
22:19
Jessie: It’s about you-know-who!
22:20
Lucy: Not Dakota?
22:21
Jessie: Yep! She’s just been gloating online about how she’s going to Chesterbury and her dad bought her VIP everything! She’s probably got a pass to a special VIP Portaloo!
22:23
Abby: I swear that girl only exists to ruin my life! Now the whole festival is spoilt!
22:23
Lucy: Not true!! We’re gonna have a great time whatevs.
22:24
22:26
Hermione: You’ve never let her beat you at anything, Abs! Don’t start now!
22:28
Abby: True! This festival’s gonna be insane! See ya tomorrow, gotta go upload our vlog, Luce xxx
VLOG 1
FADE IN: ABBY’S FAMILY ROOM – EVENING.
ABBY and LUCY on the sofa surrounded by shopping bags. WEENIE peeking out from under bags.
ABBY
Hi, everybody!
LUCY
Hey!
ABBY and LUCY wave.
ABBY
We’re just back from a mega-successful shopping trip. Some of this stuff we’ll show you properly in later vlogs – we’ll just give you a sneak preview for now. So, first, I’ve been stocking up on essentials for creating my festival look for Chesterbury. I got this brilliant eyeshadow palette . . .
ABBY holds it up to the camera.
ABBY (CONTINUED)
and a whole load of glitter make-up, which I’ll be showing you how to use in a tutorial.
LUCY
Loving the g-glitter, Abs – so pretty! Personally I think I’m g-gonna stick to denim shorts and vintage T-shirts.
