Nesta has met a new boy called Simon Pedington Lee. Très posh. He lives in a big house in Holland Park. She’s been a bit weird since she met him, not like her usual confident self, which is strange because usually no one phases Nesta, but Simon’s sister and her mate have intimidated her for some reason. I think it maybe because they are well loaded – like mega doshed up.
I am the only singleton still. So much for my lofty goddess act. Sometimes I really regret that I ended things with Tony. Specially when my mates are out with their boys and I have no one to hang out with. Boo hoo blub blub. No, actually I am OK. I had hoped that I’d meet someone else though cos part of the reason I broke up with Tony was that I wanted to date a few more boys and see how they compared. He was my first snog. Nesta’s always saying: so many boys, so little time. So where are they all? That’s what I’d like to know.
Nesta was so funny after I’d finished with Tone. She was so apologetic. He’d told her that he’d finished with me. Cheek of it! But I could never tell her the real reason that I wasn’t seeing him any more. She’d have killed him. I saw him a few weeks later over at her house and confronted him. He smiled and said, ‘Everyone has their own version of events.’ I swear he looked sad when he said it. Ah well. What can you do when your life’s full of poo? I’m a poet and I don’t know it.
Nesta told me last week that Tony has a new girlfriend. Felt jealous. I wonder if she puts out. I am not going to think about him any more. Instead I will find a boy and make him jealous and see how Tony likes it.
That’s it. Goodnight, ta ta and toodleoo.
I had an almighty hangover. Never again, I thought as I staggered out of bed and out towards the kitchen. I’d spent the previous evening with Anna, a girl I’ve been out with a few times. I doubt if it’s going to last though. I don’t feel like being tied down now or anytime soon. God, my mouth is dry, I thought, and my head’s pounding like a bunch of goblins are Riverdancing in steel boots on my brain. Must have coffee, must have coffee.
‘Whoa!’ I said when Lucy, Izzie and Nesta burst out laughing as I opened the door into the kitchen. ‘Er . . . whoops!’ I was only wearing my boxers. I put my hands over my crotch and I sort of hopped out of the room backwards. ‘Nesta, why didn’t you tell me you had guests?’
‘And risk the wrath of the zomboid one by waking you up early on a Sunday? I don’t think so,’ she replied.
What did I do to deserve an annoying sister like Nesta? I asked myself as I legged it back to my room and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I had bed hair! What would Lucy think?! It was sticking out in all directions. I dashed into the bathroom and had a quick shower. When I’d finished, I slicked my hair back with a touch of gel and sloshed on some of Dad’s Armani aftershave which I nicked for special dates and I know is one of Lucy’s favourites. Oops. I checked myself. Would she think I was trying too hard? Too late. The deed is done. I tried to wipe the hair gel off so it wouldn’t look too obvious, then I went and put on my best black jeans and T-shirt. They’re a good combo. Casual but look the biz. When I was presentable, I tiptoed back along the corridor and listened at the door for a moment, just in case there were any more interesting confessions going on. Hmm, singing? Someone was singing. Not Nesta. She can’t sing for toffee.
I poked my head around the door. ‘Hey, who was that singing?’
‘It was Izzie,’ said Lucy.
‘Wow, you’ve got a good voice,’ I said.
Izzie looked chuffed.
I grabbed myself a coffee and hung about for a while, but the girls seemed to be occupied. A power breakfast or something girlie like that. I was glad to see Nesta with Izzie and Lucy and acting more like her usual self. Lately she’d been hanging out with her new bloke Simon and his sister Tanya and her mate Cressida who is way stuck up. I went horseriding with them all one day and didn’t like the way the girls looked down their noses at my sis. Simon’s cool though so I didn’t say anything. I made myself useful by making toast and coffee and I tried to catch Lucy’s eye but she was acting like I wasn’t there. Very frustrating. I ate my toast nonchalantly like I couldn’t care about her either. Enough, I thought when after my third bagel she hadn’t even glanced at me. No one ignores the Master. There’s a time to be cool, there’s a time to get noticed, I thought. It’s time to turn on the charm. I went and stood right in front of her so she had to look at me. We were eyeball to eyeball and yes, the old chemistry was still there, no mistake.
‘I suppose a snog is out of the question?’ I asked in a posh voice.
I knew that would do it. She burst out laughing. Result, I thought. Now I can leave. And I did.
Always leave ’em wanting more.
It was Izzie’s big night. The night she was going to sing in public for the first time with King Noz. I found her doing her make-up in the cloakroom at the back of the pub where the gig was being held in Kentish Town. She looked amazing, like an alien rock chick in a short black dress matched with some wild accessories: turquoise gauntlets, blue furry leggings and an amazing blue perspex choker with spikes on it. She was doing her eye make-up silver and was adding silver false eyelashes to complete the look.
‘You OK?’ I asked.
‘I am so nervous,’ she said then looked towards the door. ‘Is Nesta OK out there?’
‘Yeah, think so. Don’t be nervous. You look fantastic,’ I said.
‘Thanks. Sure she’s OK?’
‘She was chatting to Simon at the bar. She seemed OK. Why?’
‘I caught her in here crying before.’
‘Nesta – crying! Why? What’s happened?’
‘She was in the loo and Simon’s sister and her mate came in and didn’t realise that anyone was in one of the cubicles and they started talking about her. One of them, the stuck-up one —’
‘Cressida.’
‘Yeah. She said that she thought that Simon was only going out with her to shock his mum and dad.’
‘But why would Nesta shock them?’
‘Because she’s mixed race.’
‘But that’s ridiculous,’ I said. ‘I was talking to Simon before. I can tell he genuinely likes her.’
Izzie nodded. ‘We know that but there are still some totally ignorant people on the planet. And then she called Nesta a zebra.’
‘A zebra? Why?’
‘Half black, half white.’
‘Jeez. That’s so mean.’
Izzie nodded. ‘It really upset Nesta. She lets those girls get right under her skin.’
I made my way to the door. ‘I’ll go and find her and I’ll give those stupid girls a piece of my mind too.’
‘I think it’s only Cressida who’s bitchy. Nesta said Simon’s sister, Tanya, stood up for her. I wish she’d just not hang out with them. She’s been acting weird since she met them, like she has something to prove. We’re her real mates, can’t she see that?’
‘I know.’ I made a fist. ‘Mess with my mate, you mess with me,’ I said.
Izzie grimaced. ‘Yeah, all four foot ten of you.’
‘And a half,’ I replied. ‘I have grown.’
When I got back into the hall, I saw Nesta disappearing out of the door of the back of the hall with Tanya. She saw me and gave me a wave. A moment later, Tony came in the front of the hall. I could see Cressida clocked him right away but he walked straight towards me. Nesta had said something about Cressida fancying Tony and trying to get off with him when they had all gone horseriding. I had been about to follow Nesta out, but then thought, I’ll show you. Tony asked if I wanted to dance. I said yes – I wasn’t in the mood to be coy and he had asked for a snog the last time I saw him so I followed him on to the dance floor. The first band of the evening were playing and they weren’t bad. Easy music to dance to and it felt great to have an excuse to be so close to Tony again. He smelled lovely, Armani. I know he nicks his dad’s but it suits him – some aftershaves are well overpowering but that one is subtle. I nuzzled into his neck and inhaled the scent mixed with his own and, as he moved clos
er in, I felt myself starting to melt into him. So comfy to be near him. Felt so right. When the song had finished, we both pulled away and the expression in Tony’s eyes made me want to put my arms round him and kiss him, right there in front of everyone. I took a deep breath. I am a glacial goddess, I thought as I felt heat rise up to my cheeks.
‘Laters,’ I said.
‘Laters,’ said Tony in a suggestive voice.
I took a few more deep breaths, turned away and went to do a last check on Izzie. She looked pale.
‘It’s going to be OK,’ I said. ‘You look fab. You have a great voice. Just relax and go for it.’
Izzie nodded and Ben took her hand and led her towards the stage wings ready for their performance. I gave her the thumbs up. I really felt for her.
Back in the hall, Nesta had reappeared so I went straight over to her.
‘Izzie told me what Cressida said about you. What a cow.’
Nesta giggled. ‘I’m a zebra, she’s a cow. I told her that Tony fancied you and she was like, “Er, I doubt it. Like, not when he could have me”.’
‘Oh really,’ I said.
I glanced around and could see Tony at the back of the hall chatting with Simon. I went over to him. By now, Cressida had joined them and was doing a flick-flicky thing with her hair and looking meaningfully into Tony’s eyes. He looked like he wanted to get away. I went and stood beside him and slipped my hand into his.
‘Want another dance?’ I asked, standing in front of Cressida.
He nodded eagerly and led me towards the dance floor. ‘Thanks. That girl is scary.’
Once on the dance floor, I glanced at Cressida. She was watching us through narrowed eyes. I remembered what she’d said about Nesta, snuggled into Tony and put my arms around his neck and thought, And it’s goodbye to me being a glacial goddess. ‘Remember that snog you wanted the other day?’ I asked.
He laughed, nodded and we leaned towards each other and went for it. A really long smoochy snog. I opened my eyes and looked over Tony’s shoulder. Cressida’s jaw had fallen open. Serves you right for slagging off my mate, I thought as I closed my eyes again and let myself forget everything except the sensation of being close to Tony and being wrapped in his arms. It felt utterly delicious and I wanted the moment to never end.
Our cosy bubble was interrupted when the first band finished and the lights came on up on the stage. Tony and I drew apart and clapped loudly while I tried to catch Izzie’s eye as she went to take her place at the microphone. She was looking at the stage floor and still looked terrified. Ben took his place centre stage and played the opening chords; behind him, the rest of the band began to play and then Izzie joined in with her lovely velvet voice. As the song progressed, I could see that she was beginning to relax so I relaxed too. Tony stood behind me so that I could lean back on him, with his arms around my waist – lovely.
I glanced around the hall. People seemed to be enjoying the set. And then Nesta marched out into the middle of the dance floor and began dancing – not just swaying to the music like other people were doing around the edges of the hall. She was giving it her all, disco dancing a go go like she’d had too much caffeine. I felt Tony take his arms away from my waist. A few people were laughing, a lot of people were watching and the band were staring at her with disbelief. What the heck is she doing? I thought. I looked around at Tony. He held his hands up as if to ask the same question. Izzie looked bewildered and I started to feel angry. Nesta was stealing the limelight. It was Izzie’s show. Not hers. I dashed on to the dance floor.
‘Nesta, go and sit down!’
‘Why? Trying to gereveryone dancing,’ she slurred. Her breath stank of alcohol.
Oh God, she’s drunk, I thought with horror. ‘Everyone’s looking at you,’ I said.
‘S’all right. Un showing en how isdone.’
I grabbed her wrist firmly and pulled her to the side of the dance floor. ‘It’s Izzie’s moment. Not yours,’ I whispered. ‘Have you been drinking?’
Nesta nodded. ‘Snice. Tanyannme. Champy-ain.’
Behind me, the band had carried on and people were watching them again, apart from Tony who came straight over. He helped me to get her to a chair. The moment she sat down, she slumped forward and rested her head on the table.
‘She’s drunk,’ I said.
Tony nodded. ‘I thought as much. Tanya is too. She just threw up all over Simon. He’s trying to get some water down her. You go and wait for Izzie. I’ll sort Nesta out now.’
I nodded and made my way back over to near the stage. I could see that Izzie had been watching with concern whilst trying to carry on at the same time. I could kill Nesta, I thought. She’s not only ruined the lovely time I was having with Tony, this is so the last thing that Izzie needed.
After the gig was finished, I waited backstage for Iz and filled her in on everything.
‘Is she OK?’ she asked.
‘Tony’s with her. But never mind her, are you OK? You were brilliant by the way.’
Izzie nodded. ‘Yeah, yeah, I’m fine and I guess you have to be prepared for the odd nutter in the audience – just you never expect it to be one of your best mates.’
My mobile beeped with a text to say that mum would be outside at eleven so I went to tell Tony because she was giving Izzie and Nesta a lift too. I ran into him the minute I got outside the hall.
‘Have you seen Nesta?’ he asked, his face full of anxiety.
‘No. I came to ask you that. I thought she was with you.’
‘She was. I told her that your mum would be here soon and she went all weird saying that it would make Cressida’s night to see you all getting into your mum’s jalopy. I told her that it didn’t matter what they thought but she went off saying she was going to the loo and now I can’t find her anywhere. Honest, Luce, I don’t know what’s wrong with her lately.’
‘I know. Me and Iz have been worried about her too.’
He disappeared back into the hall and then, to my relief, Nesta appeared. ‘Sorry, sorry,’ she began.
I’d had enough. ‘Honestly, Nesta, it was Izzie’s big night but you managed to get all the attention as usual.’ I looked around to see that Mum’s car was pulling up a short distance away. It was an old jalopy, Nesta was right. It was an ancient Volkswagen Beetle painted turquoise and I used to be embarrassed about the fact that it stood out like a sore thumb, but lately, it didn’t seem to matter any more. Izzie arrived so I linked my arm with hers. I really felt for her. Mum waved and Izzie and I began to walk towards the car. I turned to check that Nesta was behind us but she’d disappeared into the night.
Hell. Now where has she gone? I thought as I told Izzie to tell Mum to wait then went to find Tony.
‘Is there anyone still in there?’ I said to a tall blonde girl who was coming out of the Ladies.
She shrugged. ‘Dunno,’ she said. I pushed past her and into the Ladies. ‘Oi,’ the girl called back at me. ‘It is the Ladies. The Gents is over there.’
‘I know. I’m looking for my sister,’ I said.
‘Yeah right,’ said the girl, but luckily she didn’t hassle me. I checked all the cubicles. Empty. Every one. Where the hell was she? Mum and Dad would kill me if I went back without her. I’d managed to persuade Lucy’s mum to go, taking Lucy and Izzie, but they didn’t look very happy about it although I promised to call them if I had any news and told them that Simon was also looking for her. Lucy had said she didn’t know whether to be mad with Nesta or feel sorry for her. She had looked in a total state. Lucy told me what that stuck-up bitch Cressida had said about her. I felt the same way as Lucy, mad with Nesta and sad for her. The idiot.
I went back into the hall. The last people were putting on coats and jackets and leaving. A cleaner arrived and was wearily setting about mopping the floor. The lights were switched on and the whole place was blasted into brightness. It stank of stale beer. No sign of Nesta.
I went back out on to the street.
‘I’ve l
ooked down all the alleys near here and she’s not on the street anywhere,’ said Simon coming over to me. He looked as worried as I felt. ‘Do you think she’ll have made her own way home?’
‘Don’t know,’ I said. ‘I’ve tried calling her mobile but she’s not picking up. So she’s either gone for the bus or tube but I can’t imagine Nesta doing either at this time of night. She’s got more sense.’
‘Except she wasn’t her usual self,’ said Simon. ‘I am so sorry about the booze. I will kill Tanya when I get home.’
‘Have they gone?’
Simon nodded. ‘I packed her and Cress off in the Mercedes with our driver.’
‘You could have gone home too, mate,’ I said. ‘Nesta’s my sister.’
‘And my girlfriend.’
We swapped mobile numbers and Simon went one way, I went the other. My stomach was in a knot. Kentish Town on a Friday night was not the place for a girl Nesta’s age to be on her own, especially a girl who had had too much to drink and wasn’t used to it. I wanted to phone home but didn’t want to alarm Mum and Dad in case Nesta had got home safe. Knowing her, she’d be tucked up in bed oblivious to the worry she’d caused. But what if she wasn’t? Oh where the hell was she? Anything could have happened. I tried to shut off the waves of images that were flooding my mind. Front-page disaster headlines every one. Nesta, you idiot, I thought.
A short time later, Simon called. ‘No sign. You?’
‘Nothing,’ I said. ‘I’ve been to the tube and to the bus stop. I think I’m going to go home. I’ll call as soon as I know anything.’
‘Thanks,’ said Simon.
Lucy called too. ‘No sign,’ I said.
I caught the tube then raced the short distance it was from the station to our flat. I opened the front door and was hit by a horrible smell. Vomit and disinfectant. Dad was on his knees mopping up. He didn’t look happy.
‘You and I need words,’ he said and with a jerk of his head indicated that I should go into the kitchen.
I stepped over the bucket. ‘Nesta’s back then?’
The Secret Story Page 5
