Mumnesia (21 page)

‘Lucy?’ a boy’s voice
says.

I turn. OMG! It’s Zak! He looks amazing in his black
shirt and trousers.

‘Would you like to dance?’ He smiles.

#Jawdrop

#Dimples

#Swoon

I nod helplessly, literally speechless.

Kimmy and the Megababes grin at me, and as Zak takes my hand a
tingle suddenly shoots up my arm and my legs go all wobbly! This
is incredible! I can’t believe it! Zak asked me to
dance!

I really hope my dress doesn’t fall apart!

‘I was worried I wasn’t going to find you in
time,’ he says, leading me on to the dance floor.

‘In time for what?’ I ask, surprised I’m
actually able to form words.

‘I requested this song.’ Zak smiles shyly.
‘I thought you’d like it.’

I’m so giddy from being this close to him that I
hadn’t even realized the Star-Gazers are playing.

‘I do!’ I beam. ‘They’re my favourite
band.’

‘Mine too,’ he says happily. ‘They’re
playing a gig in town next month, and I was wondering if, maybe .
. . you’d like to go?’

OMG, Zak’s asking me out! He’s actually asking me
out! Woo-hoo!

Wait,
is
he?

‘Um . . . like a date?’ I check.

Zak shrugs. ‘It’s up to you. Bring some mates if
you like? My dad’s insisting on coming too.’ He rolls
his eyes as a bearded man wearing some old dad-band T-shirt waves
at us, and I smile. Maybe I’m not the only one with
embarrassing parents!

‘I just thought we could hang out. I like you,
Lucy.’

OMG, Zak
likes
me? Like,
likes
me likes me? OMG,
there were too many
likes
in that sentence – I sound
like Shazza!

‘I like the way you don’t try to fit in, or
“be cool” – which is cool. Ironically.’
Zak laughs. ‘And I’d really like to get to know you a
bit better. No pressure.’

I think of Trev. No pressure sounds great.

‘That’d be . . . cool,’ I mumble, my brain
apparently giving up on making intelligent conversation.

He beams. ‘Cool.’

I rest my head on his shoulder so he can’t see the goofy
grin splitting my face. I’d pinch myself to check I’m
not dreaming – except if this is a dream I really, really
don’t want to wake up.

Ms Banks leads me into an empty classroom.
‘Is it true?’ she asks, closing the door.

I squirm. I SO don’t want Lucy to get
kicked out of the ball! ‘Is what true?’ I ask
hesitantly.

‘That you advised Megan’s mum that
“honesty’s the best policy” when it comes to
new relationships?’

‘Oh!’ This was SO not what I was
expecting. ‘Yeah. Why?’

‘Then why don’t you take your own
advice?’ Ms Banks snaps, suddenly looking upset. ‘Why
can’t
you
just be honest?’

I blink. ‘What?’

‘Lucy’s so confused, Sharon. And
frankly so am I.’ She sighs. ‘Lucy says your
husband’s moved back in?’

‘Well . . . yes,’ I nod. ‘He
did
, but—’

‘So you
are
getting back
together?’

‘What? No!’ I cry. ‘He’s
back with Ingrid and I’m dating someone else
now.’

‘Someone
else
?’ She stares at
me. ‘Who?’

I shift uncomfortably. I don’t
know
who, but I can’t exactly tell her that, can I? I fold my
arms. ‘I don’t really think that’s any of your
business!’

Her jaw drops. ‘None of my . . . wow.
That’s told me.’

Oh fudge. Was that really rude? She is
Lucy’s teacher after all. ‘I’m sorry if
I’ve offended you . . . ?’

‘Offended me?!’ She laughs.
‘Avoiding my calls was offensive, not meeting me when
you’d arranged to was extremely rude, but dumping me for
someone else without even bothering to tell me – then
telling me it’s
none of my business
? That really
takes the biscuit.’

Wait.
What?

‘Would it have killed you to call? To text
even? “Sam, I can’t do this any more, it’s
over” – that’s all it would’ve taken. I
can’t believe you’ve been cheating on me – and
you have the nerve to tell Megan’s mum that
honesty’s the best policy
?’

HOLY GUACAMOLE!
She’s Sam?!
It’s as if an alarm has gone off in my head. Suddenly it
all makes sense. Sharon’s secret boyfriend is a
GIRLFRIEND
?

‘All this time I thought you hadn’t
told Lucy about our relationship because you were worried about
how she’d react, especially as I’m her
teacher.’ She sighs.

OMGA! So
that’s
why Sharon was so
stressed out! It all makes sense!

‘But obviously the real reason was because
you weren’t that serious about me anyway! And now she never
has to know, does she?’ she continues bitterly.
‘Well, I hope you’re happy. Goodbye,
Sharon.’

She walks out, leaving me literally speechless,
my mind spinning in a million different directions. Wow, so
Sharon’s in love with a woman? Future me is gay? Is that
why it didn’t work out with Trev? Or Danny? Or maybe I like
men
and
women? This is so confusing – I have to talk
to Lucy!

I hurry into the corridor, then stop myself.

Maybe I
shouldn’t
tell Lucy . . . ?
This must be what caused Sharon’s amnesia after all. What
if she was
right
to be nervous? I know Lucy said that
being gay is no big deal these days, but will she feel the same
about her own mum? What if Lucy reacts really badly and it ruins
their relationship? And if it’s over with Sam now anyway,
why upset Lucy for no reason?

I twirl my hair anxiously.

But if I don’t tell Lucy the truth, then
I’ll be stuck as a twelve-year-old in a middle-aged body
forever and Lucy will never get her mum back . . .

What should I do?

As Zak goes to get us drinks, Kimmy rushes
up to me. ‘OMG! I was SO WRONG about Zak!’ she cries.
‘Did he ask you out?’

I nod, and Kimmy squeals as she squeezes me tight.

‘I still can’t believe it!’ I beam.

‘Did everything work out with your parents too?’
Kimmy asks. ‘Did Operation Make-Up work? Is your Dad
staying in England?’

‘Er – no, yes, yes!’ I laugh.
‘He’s back together with Ingrid, and Mum’s got
someone new!’

Kimmy’s eyes widen. ‘Since
yesterday
?’

‘No, they’ve been dating in secret for a while
apparently,’ I say, looking around for Shazza, who seems to
have disappeared.

‘What a dark horse!’ Kimmy gasps. ‘I guess
that explains her makeover! Who is he?’

‘I still don’t know!’ I laugh. ‘Have
you seen her?’ My eyes scan the crowded dance floor. I
can’t wait to tell her about Zak!

‘Not since she went into the corridor with Ms
Banks.’

‘Ms Banks?’ I say, surprised.

Kimmy nods. ‘She didn’t look happy.’

Oh no! Maybe she’s discovered I’m here without a
ticket!

I race into the corridor. ‘Mum! Shazza!’

‘Lucy!’ Shazza rushes up to me, her face pale.

‘Are you OK?’ I ask. ‘What did Ms Banks
want?’

‘Lucy, I . . . come with me. I think you should sit
down.’ She takes my hand and leads me into an empty
classroom.

Uh-oh. This does not sound good. ‘Am I in big trouble?
Are we getting kicked out?’

‘No . . .’ Shazza smiles, but it doesn’t
reach her eyes. ‘But . . . I’ve discovered who Sam
is.’

#Wow! ‘What? How?’ I stare at her. ‘Is Sam
here
?’

‘Shh!’ she hisses, closing the door behind us.

OMG. If Sam’s here, that means he must be a parent, or a
teacher or . . . or . . . oh please, no – not a
sixth-former! I’d never live that down! No wonder Mum
didn’t want to tell me who she was dating! Maybe it was his
mother
who answered his mobile?

As soon as we’re alone, Shazza hugs me tightly and I can
feel her heart beating fast. She’s so nervous! Of course
she is. After all, Mum was so uber-stressed out about telling me
about Sam that she got amnesia!

And suddenly I’m not nervous at all.

‘Don’t worry,’ I tell Shazza. ‘Whoever
Sam is, it’s cool.’ I smile as I remember Zak’s
definition of cool. Maybe I am, after all. ‘Shazza, I
don’t want you – or Mum – to ever be afraid to
tell me anything. We’re a team.’

I feel her relax in my arms. ‘Thanks, Lucy. But before I
tell you, I think we should, like, say goodbye. Just in case, you
know . . .’

‘Bish bash bosh,’ I say quietly.

She nods. ‘I’m gonna miss you so much.’

‘Me too,’ I say with a sniff, squeezing her tight.
I feel as if my heart’s breaking. I know it’s silly.
Shazza is Mum, and Mum is Shazza. But even so . . . this has been
the most crazy, awesome, epic week EVER.

‘Don’t be sad,’ Shazza says gently.
‘After all, they say my form of amnesia can be recurrent
– who knows, maybe Sharon’ll have another major
stress-out about something else some day and I’ll be
back!’

I laugh. ‘I hope so! Well, not that Mum gets stressed
out, of course, but . . .’

‘I know what you mean,’ she murmurs, stroking my
hair.

I swallow hard. ‘OK. I’m ready if you
are.’

‘OK.’ Shazza nods. ‘Lucy . . . Sam is
–’ she takes a deep breath and I can feel my
heartbeat thrumming in my chest, my temples, everywhere –
‘Ms Banks.’

MS BANKS?

Ms Banks, my ENGLISH TEACHER?

OMG!
THAT’S
why a woman answered Sam’s
phone! Sam = Samantha! Mum’s in love with another
WOMAN
? My teacher! Wow. I mean it might make it a bit
awkward at school, but . . .

But none of that matters. Not if Mum’s happy. Not if
Mum’s Mum.

A thousand questions fill my head, but they all pale in
comparison to the most important one:
did it work?

Slowly I pull back, searching her face for signs of a change.
Is Mum still Shazza?

She blinks at me as if she’s just woken up.

‘Lucy?’ she says tentatively, brushing a hair from
my face. ‘Pumpkin, are you OK? You look awfully
pale—’

‘
Mum!
’ I throw my arms around her in a rush
of love. ‘Oh, Mum, I’ve missed you SO much! Are you
all right? How are you feeling?’ I pull back and she
smiles.

‘I’m fine. I feel better than fine
actually.’ She laughs and somehow she looks younger.

‘Do you know where you are? I mean, what do you
remember?’

‘We’re at your school ball,’ she says.
‘I remember everything, Lucy – it’s like a
dream. I remember having the best week of my life with you,
feeling so young again, hanging out, dancing, talking about
everything
, and . . . and getting into several
scrapes!’

I grin, tears prickling at my eyes.

‘And I remember that I’ve just told you that
I’m dating Sam – Ms Banks . . . and you haven’t
said anything back,’ she says, beginning to look nervous
again. ‘Oh dear, I didn’t want to spring it on you
like this! I’d planned a lovely dinner together, just you
and me, and I was going to tell you then, talk everything through
before you had to make a decision about going to Australia, and
then if it went well Sam was going to—’

‘Mum, I think it’s great!’ I interrupt,
hugging her quickly. I don’t want her slipping away again!
So
that
must have been the real reason she didn’t
want me to come to the ball . . .

‘Oh, Lucy, I’m so glad! So
relieved
!’
She squeezes me tight. ‘You’re really OK with
it?’

‘Mum, I’m more than OK!’ I insist. ‘If
she makes you happy, I think it’s absolutely
awesome.’

‘She does.’ Mum smiles. ‘She’s
amazing.’

‘Then that’s all that matters.’ I beam.
‘Now let’s go and tell her!’ I jump up.

‘Oh gosh, first I have to fix my hair – and my
make-up!’ Mum says, catching sight of her reflection in the
classroom window. ‘And what am I wearing? What was I
thinking
?’

‘Come on!’ I urge. ‘None of that matters.
Just be you.’

Ms Banks isn’t hard to find. She’s slumped on a
chair in the corner of the hall, looking uber-miserable.

‘Hi, Ms Banks!’ I cry, racing up to her. ‘Or
should I say “Sam”?’

She looks up and frowns. ‘Lucy, I don’t think
that’s appropriate.’

‘Really?’ I smile. ‘Because I think we
should be on first-name terms – since you’re dating
my mum and everything.’

Her eyes widen as Mum steps forward.

‘You told her?’ she whispers.

Mum nods.

‘But what about your new relationship?’

Mum shakes her head as she sits down next to her. ‘There
isn’t anyone else. I just . . . I thought we should break
up because I didn’t want to risk upsetting Lucy, and I
thought it would be easier if you thought I was a horrible person
. . . Then you could just hate me and get on with your
life.’

Wow – even present-day Mum is good at blagging her way
out of tricky situations! I’m gonna have to get some
tips!

Ms Banks swallows. ‘So that’s why you’ve
been avoiding my calls?’

‘I’m so sorry, Sam, for the way I’ve treated
you this week –’ Mum takes her hand –
‘but the thought of life without you makes me so miserable.
You’re right. I do need to be honest with myself –
with everyone. I want to be with you, Samantha Banks. And I
don’t care who knows it.’

‘OMG!’ Megan squeals, appearing beside me with
Kimmy. ‘Your mum and Ms Banks?! No way!’

Wow, that didn’t take long!

‘I guess the secret’s out!’ Kimmy grins at
me.

A shy smile spreads across Ms Banks’s face. ‘I
guess so!’

‘About time too.’ Mum grins, pulling Ms Banks to
her feet. ‘Fancy a dance?’

‘I’d be delighted.’ Ms Banks beams,
following her on to the dance floor. A fast song comes on and as
they twist and spin around the room, loads of people stare and
whisper and point, but Mum and Ms Banks don’t seem to
notice. Or care.