Mates, Dates and Cosmic Kisses (12 page)

‘Do I have to?’

‘Yes.’

I stood up. ‘I affirm that now I can, attract the perfect man. I affirm that now I can, attract the perfect man. I affirm that now I can, attract the perfect man.’

At that moment, Tony walked in.

‘And here I am,’ he grinned, then went over to Lucy and gave her a peck on the cheek. ‘Coming into my room, Luce?’

Lucy went bright red like she always does when Tony’s around, then stood up and meekly followed him out of the room.

‘Hmmm,’ I said. ‘Should be interesting.’

‘He’d better not try anything,’ said Nesta. ‘Or I’ll kill him.’

Nesta and I spent the rest of the evening doing our nails and trying out make-up. Nesta painted her nails her usual dark purple and I did mine blue then put a layer of glitter
on top.

‘I affirm that now I can attract the perfect man,’ we said over and over as we waited for our nails to dry. Then we did the affirmations again in all the accents we knew. Scottish,
American, Indian, Irish, Cockney.

After that, Nesta showed me a dance routine that she’d worked out for the disco tomorrow. Not to be outdone, I showed her a routine I used to do in Irish dancing when I was at junior
school.

We collapsed on the sofa after fifteen minutes of mad Irish dancing and watched Nesta’s DVD collection of ‘Friends’ and soon it was half past eleven. There was still no sign of
Lucy or Tony.

Nesta made up beds for me and Lucy in their spare room then went and banged on Tony’s door. It was locked.

‘Bed-time, Lucy. What are you doing in there?’

We heard stifled giggles then Tony’s voice. ‘Nothing,’ he said.

‘Well me and Izzie are going to bed and you’d better be out of there before Mum and Dad get home,’ said Nesta.

More stifled giggles.

‘I hope she’s all right in there,’ said Nesta, looking concerned.

‘So do I,’ I said, then knocked again. ‘Lucy.
Lucy
. Sure you’re OK?’

‘Yeah, fine,’ called Lucy. ‘Be out in a minute.’

‘Or two,’ said Tony.

I settled down in my bed in the spare room and snuggled in to go to sleep. What a few weeks, I thought. At least things are better with Mum now. We had a really good time this
morning and it reminded me she can be OK sometimes. And I suppose I have been a bit of a pain lately. Not my fault totally though, as Pluto
has
been going through an intense phase in my
horoscope and it made everything seem complicated. I still think there’s something to astrology no matter what Lucy thinks. But I’ll make it my New Year’s resolution not to be so
obsessive. And to be nicer to Mum. And I’ll
even
try being nicer to Angus. He was really cool about the wedding photos the other night. It was his daughter’s wedding album
I’d supposedly ruined but he’d made it OK in the end.

As I went through my list of resolutions I started to nod off.

I was almost asleep when I heard the door open and Lucy crept in. I switched the light on and looked at my watch. It was past twelve.

‘Sorry, did I wake you?’ said Lucy.

‘S’OK,’ I said sleepily, ‘You OK?’

Lucy sat on her bed and sighed. ‘Not really.’

‘What is it?’ I said, sitting up. She looked close to tears.

‘Promise you won’t tell Nesta?’

‘Promise,’ I said.

‘Because if you do, she’s bound to have a go at Tony and then he really will dump me.’

‘Why, what’s he done?’

Lucy hesitated. ‘Wandering hands,’ she said finally.

‘Oh.’

‘I don’t know what to do, Iz. I’m happy just kissing. But he always wants to take it further. And I don’t. I’m just not ready. He says it’s because I’m
too young for him and he knew this would happen. He says maybe it’s best we don’t see each other and then he can go out with someone more his own age.’

‘Oh Lucy . . .’ I began.

‘What he means is someone who won’t say no to him. So what do I do? If I don’t play along, I’ll lose him and he’s the first boy I’ve ever really liked. But if
I do play along, who knows what will happen? Maybe he’ll dump me anyway. Nesta’s always said he loses interest when there’s no challenge left.’

‘It’s not fair,’ I said, suddenly feeling angry about Tony and about Mark. ‘Why should boys always be the ones who call the shots? It should be us. Tony’s acting
like a spoiled kid who can’t have what he wants, and threatening you. Don’t let him get away with it, Luce.’

‘You think?’

‘Yeah. Take control. Dump
him.
He’s making you feel bad. Tell him
you
think it’s not working out and you’ll see how you feel about it all later but right
now, you’re not ready. You should feel you can trust Tony and you obviously don’t. It should feel really special. You should be the one that chooses. You shouldn’t feel forced
into anything you don’t want to do.’

‘Maybe we should see what my horoscope says about it,’ said Lucy.

‘I thought you said you didn’t believe in astrology,’ I said.

‘I never,’ said Lucy. ‘I just thought you were taking it all too seriously, that’s all.’

‘Well, I’ve realised a lot about all that in the last few weeks. Astrology can give you
some
clues as to what’s happening but you were right, you can’t let it rule
your life. It’s what you make of it all in the end. You have to take control, make things happen or not. Choose.’

‘Even if I lose Tony?’ said Lucy sadly.

‘What are you losing?’ I said, growing more and more sure as I spoke. ‘We have each other. You, me and Nesta. We should be the ones that choose or else we’re all going to
go through hell, up and down and round and round, trying to please boys but losing ourselves in the process.’

I was only too aware that all I was saying applied to me as well as Lucy.

Lucy smiled weakly. ‘I suppose you’re right. Boys, huh? Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.’

‘No,
can
live with them,
can
live without them. From now on, we call the shots.’

Chapter 14

Mum dropped me off
at the disco at about eight thirty the following night and already the place was buzzing with a party atmosphere. People were up
and dancing, Robbie Williams was blaring out through large speakers on either side of the hall, and Mrs Allen and Mr Johnson, wearing daft Santa hats, were standing by the drinks table. Probably on
the look-out for boys adding vodka like they did last year. Half the school was out of their skulls by midnight and the other half sick all over the place. It was a riot when parents arrived to
pick people up, with the teachers getting the tellings off for a change.

I had a quick glance round the hall before taking my coat to the cloakroom. The place was unrecognisable as the usual hall where we had assembly. The Christmas tree had been moved up on to the
stage where equipment had been set up for the band, and fairy lights were strung all along the walls.

I put my coat away then went into a cubicle to change. I’d been over to see Dad and Anna this morning and was having a moan about having nothing to wear for the disco.

‘Well, I was going to give you this for Christmas, but if you really want, you could have it now,’ said Dad. ‘Probably best you pick something you want yourself.’

Then he handed me a fifty-pound note.

I gave him a huge hug then dashed out to Primrose Hill. The black velvet dress I’d seen weeks ago was still in the window and had been reduced in a Christmas sale. It fitted perfectly,
really tight and made me look tall and slim. I was a bit worried Mum wouldn’t let me wear it tonight as it’s backless and a bit low at the front, but she agreed on condition I wore a
little top underneath. Which of course I did.

In the cubicle, I took off the little top and put it in my bag, then I put on a black choker I’d borrowed from Mum’s jewellery box. I went and checked my appearance in the mirror and
applied a bit of red lippie then made my way into the main hall and soon found Nesta.

‘This place is poser’s heaven,’ I said, looking at all our class swanning about in their posh party frocks.

‘I know,’ said Nesta. ‘Great, isn’t it? Hey, you look gorgeous. Great dress. Really sophisticated.’

‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘So do you.’

Nesta looked beautiful in her sparkly silver dress and her hair like black silk right down to her waist. She’d soon get off with someone and Lucy, of course, would be with Tony. I hoped I
wasn’t going to be the only one on my own.

‘Have you seen Jade Wilcocks?’ said Nesta. ‘She’s got a ton of make-up on. I saw her just now in the corridor, all over some boy.’

‘She’s not the only one. On the way from the cloakroom, I saw half a dozen couples having snogathons.’

‘It’s going to be a good party,’ grinned Nesta. ‘What time’s the band on?’

‘Soon I think,’ I said, looking at my watch. ‘Where’s Lucy?’

‘Putting some silver glitter through her hair in the cloakroom,’ she said. ‘She looks amazing. And you know she’s dumped Tony?’

‘You’re kidding. When?’

‘This morning after you’d gone.’

‘Is she OK?’

‘Yeah,’ said Nesta. ‘She’s fine. Great. It’s hysterical. It’s Tony who’s not. He couldn’t believe it even though she did it really nicely. She
spent ages talking to him. But he’s never been dumped before. He’s always been the dumper. He’s gone into shock, I think. He was lolling about all morning, saying Lucy was
special, not like other girls. He’s phoned her about ten times today.’

‘Hiya,’ said Lucy, coming to join us.

‘Wow,’ I said. ‘You look fab. Like a Christmas fairy.’

Lucy had a short white hipster skirt on with a thin diamante belt round her waist and a short white top with tiny bootlace straps that criss-crossed round her back.

‘Did you make the top?’ I asked.

Lucy nodded. ‘Like it? I made it last week. I read in a mag that if you show off your back no one will notice you haven’t got any boobs.’

I laughed. Having a flat chest was Lucy’s big hang-up but she needn’t worry. She looked fantastic.

‘It looks great,’ said Nesta.

‘But tell me about Tony,’ I said. ‘What happened?’

Lucy grinned. ‘It didn’t feel right any more.’

I couldn’t believe it. She was being so cool.

‘But you really liked him!’

‘I know, but after last night, I realised you were right. I was getting more and more miserable trying to be and do what he wanted. I want it to feel really special and I’m just not
sure of him yet. Anyway, it
should
be us girls that call the shots. And I decided I just wasn’t ready.’ She looked anxiously at Nesta, but she was busy giving some boy the eye.
‘After last night, I thought I don’t want to be poor little Lucy. Dumped because she’s too young. I decided to turn the tables.’

‘Good for you, Luce,’ I said. ‘I think you’re really brave. And looking like this, you’ll get off with someone else really easily.’

Just at that moment, the lights went down and a hush fell over the hall. I looked up at the stage and saw a boy go over to the main mike and pick up a guitar.

He looked familiar. Oh no. It was Ben. Oh
no,
I thought, he’s going to play more of his appalling songs from the shows. He’ll look a right prat in front of this lot. He must
be the warm-up act to King Noz. I wondered what idiot booked him.

At that moment, he looked down and caught my eye and gave me a wave. I waved back nervously. Oh dear. Now everyone would know that I know him and it’s going to be so embarrassing when he
starts playing.

‘And now,’ said the DJ. ‘Let’s hear a big round of applause for King Noz.’

What?
I thought. It
can’t
be.

Three other boys walked out on the stage to join Ben and took their places, one at the keyboards, and the other two on guitar. Then they started playing and Ben started singing. He was amazing.
They
were amazing. Totally amazing. Everyone went mad, clapping and cheering then manic dancing in time to the music.

My jaw must have dropped open because Lucy turned to me.

‘What’s the matter, Iz?’

‘I
know
him,’ I stuttered. ‘That’s Ben up there.’

‘I know. He comes to Dad for lessons. He’s brilliant, isn’t he?’

‘But he’s the guy from the wedding . . .’ I said. I couldn’t get my head round it. The same Ben that had looked so awkward playing at the wedding was now up on stage
giving it all he’d got and looking mucho cute. Everyone was up on their feet, dancing away. The audience loved them.

After a couple of fast numbers, Ben took the mike. ‘And now we’re going to slow it down a bit,’ he said. He swapped places with the keyboard player and they began to play
again.

Girls paired off with boys to slow dance as Ben sang a lovely ballad. He was really good. A strong clear voice. I couldn’t believe I’d been such a nerd. I should have realised. But
how was I to know that
he
was King Noz?

As the band upped the pace again Nesta disappeared into the throng with some boy who’d asked her to dance. I watched her doing the routine she’d shown me the night before. Everyone
was watching her but some of the girls didn’t seem too happy about the way their boyfriends were ogling.