Cathy Hopkins - [Mates, Dates 04] by Dates Mates, Sleepover Secrets (Html) Page A

my
sandwiches and stretched out in the sun, but I couldn’t help but notice that
some girls were passing a piece of paper round, then staring at me and giggling
in a nervous way.
    Oh, what now? I
thought, as Izzie came out to join me on the bench.
    ‘What’s going on?’ I
asked.
    ‘Oh, Wendy. You know
she’s running for editor as well. She’s just jealous…’
    ‘Take no notice,’ said
Lucy, coming to join us. ‘You don’t need to know, TJ. She’s a sad cow and you
should ignore her.’
    ‘No, I want to see,’ I
said and got up and went over to a group of girls who were standing round Wendy
looking at the piece of paper. I glanced over Wendy’s shoulder. There was a
picture of a dog with its head cut out and mine stuck on instead. She’d cut out
the photo of me from the group shot in last month’s newsletter. Underneath
Wendy had written ‘Dog of the Week‘.
    ‘What do you think, TJ?’
giggled Wendy. ‘You getting your dog gave me the idea. Each month in the
newsletter, we pick someone to be Dog of the Week. What do you think?’
    As I searched for the
right put-down, a voice behind me got in first. ‘I think, Wendy, that if you
were any more stupid, you’d have to be watered.’
    I turned round and
there was Nesta. She looked mad.
    She took the paper
and, much to Wendy’s astonishment, she ripped it up. ‘This is not remotely
funny, Wendy. And you know it’s not. It’s not journalism.’ It’s just nastiness.
Come on, TJ. Don’t lower yourself by breathing the same air as this low life.‘
    I was as gobsmacked as
Wendy, but I turned away with Nesta and followed her to a bench where Lucy and
Izzie were sitting.
    ‘Thanks, Nesta,’ I
said, ‘but I was OK. I can handle Wendy Roberts.’
    ‘I know. But I’ve
been, waiting for a chance to show you that I’m on your side. I’m sorry about
the other day. Sometimes words come out the wrong way.’
    ‘Not just then,’ I
grinned. ‘That was brilliant. I wish I could come out with stuff like that. I
always think of good things to say later, like when I’m falling asleep or
something…’
    ‘Nesta’s special
talent is fighting for her mates,’ teased Lucy. ‘Her special downfall is her
big gob.’
    ‘Well, I know what
it’s like to have some saddo like Wendy have it in for you,’ said Nesta.
    ‘I don’t know why. I
never did anything to her.’
    ‘With her sort you
don’t have to,’ said Nesta. ‘She’s probably jealous.’
    ‘Of me? Don’t be mad.’
    ‘Looks and brains,’
said Nesta. ‘Lethal combination.’
    I felt really chuffed.
Maybe she didn’t think I looked too bad after all.
    Then I looked over at
Wendy who was glowering at us from the other side of the playground. I hoped
this wasn’t going to be the start of something.
    Then I looked at Lucy,
Izzie and Nesta glowering back at her like they were my best mates. And I hoped
that this
was
going to be the start of something.
     
    email: Outbox (1)
    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Date: 18 June
    Subject: notalot
     
    Dear H
    Weather is lovely. Wish you were here.
    TJ
     
     
    email: Inbox (2)
    From: [email protected]
    To: goody2shoes@ psnet.co.uk
    Date: 18 June
    Subject: notalot either
     
    Dear TJ
    Weather is here. Wish you were lovely. Arf arf. Must dash. Going to movie,
ie. Drive-in. Bigola hugs and heeheehasta la vista baby.
    Hannah
     
    Book title:
    Chest Complaints
by Ivor Tickliecoff
     
     
    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Date: 18 June
    Subject: Friday night
     
    Hey, Lara Croft
    Wanna come to a sleepover Friday night? Iz and Lucy are coming. About
7?
    Nesta
     
     
     
     
C h a p t e r   8
    Sleepover
Secrets
     
    Contents - Prev / Next
     
    ‘ TJ. TJ!’ called Mum
excitedly as she came in the door. ‘Where are you?’
    ‘Here,’ I called from
upstairs where I was straining to get started on some ideas for the school
magazine. So far, I’d written one word. Aggh.
    It was Friday night