Mumnesia (19 page)

‘Um . . . maybe?’ If I can still get a ticket!
After everything that happened this morning, I forgot to bring
the money! Duh!

‘Cool.’ He grins. ‘Well, maybe see you
there. Hopefully they’ll play some decent music this
year.’

‘Right!’ I beam, desperately trying not to squeal
or clap my hands with excitement – or do anything else
uber-embarrassing!

‘See ya.’ He waves.

‘See ya,’ I echo.

I squeeze Kimmy’s arm as he walks away. ‘Did you
hear that?’ I squeak. ‘Zak just asked me
out!’

‘No, he didn’t.’

‘What? Didn’t you hear? He was right here and he
just said—’

‘He said, “Maybe see you there,” ’
Kimmy corrects. ‘That is
not
asking you
out.’

‘What planet are you on? It totally is!’

Kimmy rolls her eyes. ‘Whatever. Just don’t get
your hopes up, Lucy. He’s a lot older than you.’

I bite my lip, remembering what Shazza said about Trev.

‘Besides, you haven’t even got a ticket yet, have
you?’

‘On it!’ I pull my mobile out of my bag to text
Shazza to bring the money. She still hasn’t texted back
from earlier. Weird.

‘They’re sold out,’ a voice says. I turn to
see Nicole standing behind me. ‘I couldn’t help
overhearing you,’ she says quietly. ‘Freya tried to
get one this morning, but they’re all gone. Sorry,
Luce.’

‘Yeah, right.’ I roll my eyes. Nasty Nicole is so
NOT sorry.

‘No,
really
.’ She crouches next to the
table to look me in the eye. ‘I’m sorry you
can’t come to the ball. And I’m sorry I’ve been
mean to you this week. I thought . . . we thought you were the
one who set Megan up and ruined our friendship. We were wrong.
Sorry.’

‘Oh. Um. That’s OK,’ I mumble, feeling
guilty all over again. Maybe she’s not that nasty after
all.

‘Lucy Andrews, is that a mobile phone?’ Ms Banks
cries.

Oh fudgeballs, here comes yet
another
detention . .
.

‘G’day!’ I say in my best
Aussie twang as the gym receptionist answers the phone again.
‘Can I speak to my cousin Ingrid, please?’

‘Of course!’ he replies.
‘Who’s calling?’

‘I’m her cousin.’ Duh!

‘Which one?’ he asks pleasantly.

‘Er . . . Kylie,’ I reply, saying the
first Australian name I think of.

‘Just a minute.’

I cross my fingers tightly.

‘Kylie?’ Ingrid gasps suddenly.
‘Strewth, how amazing to hear from ya!’

Yes!
I punch the air. What a lucky
guess!

‘Especially as I don’t have a cousin
called Kylie,’ Ingrid continues, and I freeze.
‘Sharon, stop calling me.’

‘Ingrid, please – I have to talk to
you!’ I beg – but the line’s already dead.

Strewth.

I follow Ms Banks back to her classroom and
slump down at a table.

‘Lucy,’ she sighs, closing the door, ‘is
everything all right at home?’

I freeze. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, after your family emergency yesterday – is
everything resolved?’

‘Um . . . kind of,’ I mumble. ‘It’s a
work in progress.’

She sits down next to me, her voice gentle. ‘Lucy,
what’s going on? You’re usually such a good student,
but lately you’ve seemed . . . distracted. You were off
school on Monday, you didn’t hand in your homework on
Wednesday, there was the “emergency” yesterday, the
broken glass a few minutes ago, and you know mobile phones
aren’t allowed in school.’

Wow, she’s really been paying attention!

‘I know things have been a bit unstable with your
parents lately. That can’t be easy . . . ?’

I shake my head. #Understatement

She smiles sympathetically. ‘Divorce is always
difficult, especially when your parents move on to new
relationships. I understand your dad moved out? That he’s
got a new girlfriend?’

Wow, teachers really know a lot. Do they just sit in the
staffroom and gossip about us?

‘Not any more,’ I mumble. ‘They broke
up.’

‘Oh.’ She seems surprised. ‘That must be . .
. unsettling for you.’

‘It is.’ I nod. ‘And I had to rush to
hospital last night because Ingrid collapsed, then I was up late
because Dad stayed over, and with everything that’s been
going on I just . . . I didn’t have a chance to do last
night’s homework either – sorry.’ I wince,
bracing myself for another detention.

‘I see.’ Ms Banks runs a hand across her forehead
and sighs. ‘Well, that’s understandable. In light of
everything you’ve told me, you may go.’

I look up, stunned. ‘No detention?’

She shakes her head, her beaded braids clacking against each
other like maracas. ‘And you can have your phone back at
the end of the day.’

‘Thanks, Ms Banks!’ I jump up and hurry to the
door before she changes her mind.

‘And Lucy?’

I groan inwardly, literally two steps from freedom.

‘I’m always here if you want to talk,’ she
says kindly. ‘All your teachers are.’

‘Um, thanks.’

‘And if you ever need an extension on your homework, or
have other stuff going on, just tell me, OK?’

‘OK,’ I call as I hurry through the door.

Teachers are so weird. Why would she be uber-strict about
detentions in class and then just let me off the hook? Not that
I’m complaining. Hey, maybe it’s because I got Megan
and the Megababes back together. Maybe it’s karma!

I climb out of the taxi, take a deep breath and
push through the glass doors of the gym.

‘Hi.’ I flash the receptionist my
brightest smile. ‘I’m looking for Ingrid.’

‘Ingrid who?’

OMGA, not this again!

‘
Sharon?
’ an Australian voice
says suddenly, and I spin around.

Ingrid narrows her eyes at me. ‘You
seriously don’t give up, eh?’

‘No, I don’t.’ I shake my head,
suddenly full of nerves. ‘I can’t.’

After all, Operation Make-Up is depending on
me!

I check my phone as soon as Ms Banks returns
it after school, but there’s still no text from Shazza.

#Weird

I ring her as I hurry outside, but she doesn’t
answer.

#UberWeird

Suddenly Dad’s car pulls up, so I pocket my phone and
plaster on a smile, hoping against hope that everything’s
gone to plan – Operation Make-Up depends on it!

‘Thanks for the lift, Dad,’ I say, as we drive
into town.

‘No problem, sweetheart!’ He smiles. ‘I was
surprised to get your text though – couldn’t your mum
drive you?’

‘Um, no. She’s busy.’ I hope!

‘Right.’ He glances at me. ‘Is everything OK
with you two? I’m so sorry I put my foot in it this morning
– I honestly didn’t know you were there. It
wasn’t my place to tell you about Sam.’

‘It’s OK, Dad. I’m glad I know. So’s
Mum.’

‘Really?’ He looks surprised.

‘
Really
.’ I smile. I take a deep breath and
launch into my Operation Make-Up speech: ‘Dad, I’m
really sorry about how I reacted when you got together with
Ingrid. If she makes you happy, that’s all that matters.
You and Mum deserve to be happy.’

‘Thank you, sweetheart.’ Dad’s eyes crinkle
as he smiles. ‘So, you’re really OK with your Mum
dating Sam?’

‘Yeah.’ I shrug. ‘I’m fine,
and—’

‘That’s great,’ he interrupts. ‘I know
your Mum was really nervous about telling you.’

#Understatement. So nervous she gave herself amnesia!

‘And I understand why. It’s got to be a bit weird
for you, huh?’

‘Well, yeah,’ I admit. ‘The thought of
either of you dating anyone else is weird.’

‘Well, yes, but especially Sam,’ Dad presses.

Especially
Sam? ‘Um . . . why?’

Dad’s face relaxes. ‘
Absolutely.
You’re right. Why should it be weird? I’m really
proud of you, Luce. I’m not sure I’d be as cool about
it if I were you, especially given Sam’s job.’

Sam’s
job
? OMG, is he an
assassin
or
something? A drug dealer? Please, please, not a
politician
! I gulp, my mind spinning. #WhoIsSam?
I have
to know!

‘Dad—’

‘Lucy,’ he interrupts, peering through the
windscreen as we park outside the restaurant, ‘is that
Ingrid
?’

I gasp, torn between being relieved that Shazza managed to get
Ingrid here – and panicking that I haven’t had time
to explain!

‘Ingrid?’ Danny cries, hurrying
out of the car with Lucy. ‘Sharon? What are you doing
here?’

I freeze. Hasn’t Lucy explained? I was
going to text her to check everything had gone to plan, but
I’ve left my mobile at home . . .

Ingrid’s hands fly to her hips. ‘You
don’t
know
?’

‘Dad! Ingrid!’ Lucy rushes between
them. ‘LISTEN! I owe you both an apology. And a
confession.’ She takes a deep breath. ‘Ingrid, you
were right, I was trying to break you guys up. I deliberately
chose horrible spa treatments to try to make you hate me –
but I truly had
no idea
you were allergic to bee stings! I
honestly wasn’t trying to kill you!’

‘I know that.’ Ingrid sighs.
‘I’m sorry – I overreacted.’

‘No,
I’m
sorry!
So
sorry,’ Lucy gushes, taking her hand.

‘You’ve always been so nice to me,
and I’ve never really given you a chance. And then
yesterday—’

‘It’s OK.’ Ingrid smiles sadly.
‘I get it. You didn’t want to lose your Dad. Neither
did I. He’s one of a kind.’

Danny smiles sheepishly.

Lucy nods, her face crumpling. ‘It’s
just . . . the thought of choosing between my parents – of
living halfway round the world from one of you . . . it’s
horrible
.’

Danny puts his arm around Lucy and squeezes her
tight. ‘I should never have put you in that
position,’ he says softly.

‘But it’s not about me,’ Lucy
says, pulling away and standing up straight. ‘It’s
about you two.’ She takes Danny’s hand. ‘Daddy,
I will
always
be your daughter. But if Ingrid goes to
Australia without you, you might lose her forever. And I know she
makes you happy. I know you love each other.’

Danny looks at Ingrid. Both of them have tears in
their eyes. Even I’m welling up!

‘Please don’t break up because of me
– I’d hate myself.’ Lucy sniffs, placing
Ingrid’s hand in Danny’s. ‘So . . . I’m
taking myself out of the equation. I’m staying in England
with Mum –’ Lucy smiles at me, then swallows hard
– ‘but you two should talk, so we’ve booked you
a table on us. Have a drink, or some food – no
high-cholesterol stuff though, Dad.’

Danny laughs, and Ingrid gives a watery
smile.

‘But whatever you decide, I’m cool
with it,’ Lucy promises. ‘It’s completely up to
you.’

Danny kisses the top of her head. ‘I love
you.’

‘I love you too,’ she mutters
huskily.

I blink away a tear.

I have never been more proud.

Not even the pouring rain can dampen my mood
after Dad calls the next morning to say he’s back with
Ingrid . . . but he’s staying in England! They’re
going to try long-distance! #Result

‘I can’t believe it!’
Shazza squeals when I tell her the news. ‘Everyone’s
happy! It’s perfect!’

‘I know!’ I beam at her. ‘Now we just have
to fix
your
love life!’

She nods. ‘And hopefully my memory at the same
time!’

We get to the bandstand early, trembling
with cold and nerves as we huddle behind a pillar, scanning every
man who passes by.

‘H-how will we know which one’s Sam?’ Shazza
asks anxiously.

‘We don’t have to – he’ll recognize
you,’ I reply. ‘Then you can introduce me to him, and
hopefully . . . bish bash bosh!’

Shazza looks at me. ‘Bish bash bosh?’

‘You know – it should cure your
amnesia.’

#FingersCrossed

‘Only if he turns up,’ says Shazza fretfully,
shivering as she peers around. The bandstand shelters us from the
worst of the rain, luckily, but it’s useless against the
icy wind. ‘What if he’s changed his mind?’

‘Chillax,’ I soothe. ‘We’re early.
He’ll be here.’ If he’s not already – the
bandstand is pretty crowded with people sheltering from the
sudden downpour.

‘Sharon?’

We both turn as a middle-aged man taps her shoulder. My eyes
widen as I take in his flat cap, army jacket and grubby jeans. He
is
so
not the kind of person I thought Mum would date!

‘Blimey! I almost didn’t recognize you!’ He
laughs, hugging her. ‘I like your new hair!’

‘Oh, um, th-thanks,’ Shazza stutters shyly.

Phew! I was worried he’d hate it – he fell for
old-Mum after all.

Shazza puts her arm around me. ‘This is my d-daughter,
Lucy.’