Girls Out Late (14 page)
“Hey, what about a bit of Velcro? Then you could stick the teddy to the jumper.”
“Yes! Oh, Ellie, you’re a genius,” says Anna, giving me a kiss.
“I’m not sure I’d go
that
far,” says Dad, giving us both a big bear hug. “But you’re a good girl, Ellie. I’m pleased you’re being really straight with us now. No more silly lies, right?”
“Right,” I say, practically swallowing my black tongue.
But it’s all right. They’ll never know.
Famous last words!!! There’s an item in Saturday’s newspaper all about Claudie Coleman and her canceled concert.
Oh help!
“Ellie!” Dad thunders.
I am in for a stormy time. I try to explain. Over and over again.
It gets me nowhere.
Magda rings. Her mum spotted the newspaper article too.
Nadine rings. Ditto
her
mum.
We were supposed to be meeting up to go shopping in the afternoon. We are not allowed. We are not allowed out anywhere apart from school for a
very
long time.
Russell rings.
“Hi, Ellie! How are you? Enjoy the concert? My dance was totally dire. I’m rather glad you weren’t there, it was just so incredibly stupid and stuffy. In fact I left early because it was so boring standing there with a whole lot of other sad guys without girls. Not that I’d have wanted any of the girls who
were
there. There was no one remotely like you, Ellie. So anyway, I got home early, like I said, and my dad was pleased and said he’s glad I’m behaving like a responsible human being at last—so I’m not grounded anymore. We can go out on our first proper date. Tonight! Remember I said I knew where I wanted to go? How about the seven-thirty showing of
Girls Out
Even Later
? It’s still on at the Rio.”
“There’s just one problem, Russell.”
“Don’t worry about it being scary. I’ll hold your hand tight, I promise. Everyone says
Girls Out
Even Later
is a really great film. Well, not great art, just great fun.”
“Russell—”
“But don’t worry. We don’t have to see it if you really think it might upset you. We’ll go anywhere you want.”
“I can’t go to
Girls Out Even Later
. I can’t go out late myself. Or early. Oh Russell, I’m in big trouble.
I’m
not allowed out for ages now.”
I explain. Russell listens. Groans. Tells me off for taking crazy risks. Moans that we can’t go out after all.
“So it’s back to secret after-school trysts in Mc-Donald’s?” he says.
“It looks like it.”
“Ah well. I suppose it can’t be helped. We’ll have our big night out
one
day, right?”
“You bet.”
“Good. Because you mean a lot to me, Ellie.” There’s a little pause. I hear him swallow. “Ellie . . . I love you.”
I swallow too. I glance around quickly to make sure Eggs isn’t lurking.
“I love you, too,” I whisper, and then I put the phone down.
I pick it up again. Who shall I phone first, Magda or Nadine? I can’t wait to tell them what Russell’s just said!
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Published by
Dell Laurel-Leaf
an imprint of
Random House Children’s Books
a division of Random House, Inc.
New York
Copyright © 1999 by Jacqueline Wilson
First American Edition 2002
First published in Great Britain by Doubleday, a division of Transworld Publishers
Ltd, in 1999
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law. For information address Delacorte Press.
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RL: 6.0
June 2003
eISBN: 978-0-307-43346-6
v3.0