Mumnesia (7 page)

‘So . . . have you asked Zak out?’ Shazza
asks.

‘As if!’ I laugh. ‘I’ve never even
spoken to him!’

‘What? Why
not
?’

‘Because . . . whenever he’s nearby my throat just
completely dries up and my legs turn to jelly!’

‘Must be love!’ Shazza swoons.

‘It’s hopeless!’ I sigh, gazing at his
picture again. ‘He has no idea I even exist!’

‘Then make him notice you!’ Shazza sits up.
‘You just need a bit more confidence, Lucy – you have
to take your destiny into your own hands! Worked for me. I got
fed up of waiting for Trev to ask me out, so finally I just went
up and asked
him
out.’

‘You did not!’ I can’t believe Mum was ever
this feisty.

‘Did so!’ She grins.

‘I could never do that!’ I gasp. ‘Just the
thought of it makes me dizzy!’

‘Well, you have to do
something
to get
Zak’s attention!’

‘Actually –’ I hesitate – ‘there
is this Black and White Ball . . .’

Shazza’s eyes light up. ‘Awesome! And I know
exactly
what you should wear!’ She grabs one of the
shopping bags and pulls out the sparkly white dress I tried on
earlier. I can’t believe it!

‘OMG! Shazza, no way!’

‘Way!’ She beams.

‘Thank you
so
much!’ I squeal.
‘It’s
perfect
for the ball!’ Then my
heart sinks. ‘But Mum’ll never let me keep it.
She’ll return it to the shop tomorrow.’

‘In that case . . . whoops!’ Shazza rips the label
off and tears it into tiny pieces. ‘She can’t return
it now!’

I gasp. ‘
Shazza!
It was so expensive!’

‘So what? Lucy, you’re my daughter and this ball
is majorly important. I mean, Zak could be, like,
The One
!
If this dress gets him to notice you, it could change your whole
entire life!’

I can’t believe it. My mother finally understands me.
Tears filling my eyes, I throw my arms around her. ‘Thank
you!’

‘You’re welcome!’ She laughs. ‘And
thank
you
for wishing me here, Luce. I’m so psyched
I got to meet you!’

‘Me too.’ I beam. ‘Today’s been
uber-amazing.’

But tomorrow Mum will be back. She’ll return my phone.
She’ll say I can’t go to the ball, and she DEFINITELY
won’t let me date Zak.

And worst of all, Shazza will be gone.

I can’t sleep. My nose-stud might
look cool but it’s really irritating me, so I take it out
– but every time I close my eyes I see horrible zombies!
And strange shadows keep flitting over the ceiling. And
it’s so
noisy
. Cars are still driving past, even
though it’s really late! And I can’t get comfy
– this bed feels weird and this nightdress smells funny,
but the main problem is . . . I don’t have Zebby. I
haven’t slept a single night without my toy zebra in my
entire life. Or my night light . . .

I climb out of bed and tiptoe into the hallway.
I’m sure Lucy won’t mind if I put the light on . . .
just so I don’t, like, trip over anything if I need the
loo. I fumble for the light switch and suddenly something touches
my arm!

I scream, jump backwards, fall over and squeal
even louder as I curl up into a defenceless ball.
It’s a
ZOMBIE! They’ve come for me!

Suddenly the light clicks on.

‘Mum? Are you OK?’

I peer up nervously. ‘Lucy?’ Of
course it’s Lucy! Duh! ‘Um, yeah. It’s just
it’s, like, majorly dark and I couldn’t get to sleep
. . .’

Lucy’s face lights up. ‘You’re
still Shazza?’

‘Yes.’ I smile. ‘Actually, um,
as we’re both still awake, and I’m only here for
tonight, maybe we could have, like, a sleepover?’

She smiles. ‘Are you scared of the
zombies?’

‘
Yes!
’ I confess. ‘This
house is majorly strange and super-scary and what if the zombies
are, like,
under my bed
?’

Lucy laughs. ‘Well then, you’d better
come in.’ She flings her door wide open.

‘Thank you!’ I dive on to her bed
– and land on something lumpy. I can’t believe my
eyes. ‘
Zebby?
’

He’s much tattier, but he still feels
– and smells – the same. Finally there’s
something familiar in this weird world.

‘You gave him to me when I was a
baby.’ Lucy smiles, leaning over to stroke his soft, worn
ears. ‘He was my favourite toy. I’ve grown out of the
others, but Zebby’s just, well . . .’

‘Special.’ I beam, handing him to
Lucy as she climbs into bed beside me.

She shakes her head. ‘You keep him tonight.
He’ll help protect you from the zombies. He’s a very
fierce little zebra.’

I smile. ‘He is.’ I snuggle down,
take a deep breath of Zebby’s lavender scent and feel
instantly at home.

As sunlight fills my room I yawn and stretch
– then nearly jump out of my skin as someone suddenly
snores loudly beside me! I completely forgot about Shazza!
She’s fast asleep, her new red curls splayed over my
pillow, Zebby tucked under her arm.

I smile, remembering how we lay here for hours last night,
talking about anything and everything. I told her all about Zak
and Kimmy and school – things I’ve never told Mum,
things Mum just wouldn’t understand. But Shazza did. It was
almost like having a sister. From the eighties . . .

#Crazy

Suddenly she yawns and my heart beats faster. Will she
remember? Or will it be like yesterday never happened? I hold my
breath.

‘Lucy?’ She blinks sleepily. Then her eyes fly
open. ‘Holy guacamole, I’m still here!’

I gasp. ‘
Shazza?
’

‘I’m still in the future!’ she cries, gazing
around the room. ‘Isn’t this rad?’ She throws
her arms around me and I hug her back tightly. This is
amazing!

But suddenly my joy is tinged with fear.

Why hasn’t she changed back to Mum?
When
will she
change back?

What if she
never
changes back?

‘I don’t get it. Why are you
calling the doctor? I feel fine!’ I protest as Lucy picks
up her mobile.

‘Shazza, you’re a twelve-year-old in
a middle-aged body! That’s not exactly normal!’ Lucy
reasons.

‘Well, no – it’s magic!’
I exclaim.

‘But what if it’s
not
?’
Lucy bites her lip. ‘I only wished you here for a day,
after all . . .’

‘Well, sorry for outstaying my
welcome!’ I huff, folding my arms.

‘I didn’t mean it like
that!’

‘I thought you
liked
having me
here?’

‘Shazza!’ Lucy grabs me in a hug.
‘I LOVE having you here. Yesterday was one of the best days
of my life!’

‘Really?’ I say, pulling back and
scanning her earnest face.

‘Really,’ she insists. ‘I just
want to make sure you’re OK. OK?’

I roll my eyes. ‘Fine!’

But apparently luck’s not on her side.

‘There’s no appointments until
Thursday,’ Lucy sighs, hanging up.

‘Awesome!’ I jump up. There’s
so much of the future still to explore! ‘So what shall we
do today?’

‘Well . . .’ Lucy pulls a face.
‘I
have
to go to school. The Megababes saw me at the
cinema yesterday so they know I’m not ill.’

‘Bogus,’ I groan, my excitement
popping like a balloon as I flop back down on the bed. ‘So,
like, what am
I
supposed to do all day?’

Lucy shrugs. ‘Watch TV? Go
online?’

‘Go where?’ I frown.

‘On the Internet,’ Lucy explains.

I blink. ‘What’s the
Internet?’

‘Oh my giddy, giddy aunt, my mind is
literally BLOWN!’ Shazza cries, her eyes like saucers as I
open up different websites on Mum’s laptop in the
lounge.

‘So you can watch TV, films or find any information you
like,’ I explain. ‘Just type what you want here, then
press Search.’

‘By clicking the . . . oh, don’t tell me.’
She squeezes her eyes shut. ‘It’s some kind of rodent
. . . the rat?’

‘The mouse.’ I smile.

She giggles. ‘You future dudes have such bizarro names
for things.’

I laugh, then notice the time on the computer’s clock.
‘Crumpets, I’ve got to go.’ I jump off the sofa
and pull on my big furry trapper hat and coat. ‘See you
after school, OK? Remember, don’t go outside, open the door
or answer the phone – unless it’s me.’

Shazza rolls her eyes. ‘Just like Snow White.’

‘Exactly!’ I wink. ‘If you need me for
anything, just call my mobile like I showed you. It’ll be
on silent – we’re not meant to have mobiles at school
– so leave a message and I’ll ring back as soon as I
can, OK?’

‘All right already! Don’t have a cow, dude!’
Shazza says, in a terrible attempt at an American accent.

I raise an eyebrow. ‘A
cow
?’

Shazza laughs. ‘I’ll be fine!’

I hope so. I grab my school bag and hurry outside, pulling up
my hood against the October drizzle. I check my mobile to make
sure it’s on, then I hesitate. Is it really safe to leave
Shazza home alone? A twelve-year-old girl from 1985, loose in the
twenty-first century? Who knows what trouble she could get into?
Wait, who’s the parent here anyway?

#RoleReversal

‘Lucy!’

I turn to see Kimmy running towards me.

‘I’m so glad you’re feeling better!’
she cries, hugging me tight. ‘I rang your house after
school to check on you, but there was no answer.’

‘Sorry, I—’

‘Of course, I could’ve called you on your cool new
smartphone if I’d known!’ she squeals, spotting my
mobile. ‘Wow!’

‘Mum bought it for me,’ I explain, as we walk
towards school.

‘
Really?
’ Kimmy raises an eyebrow. ‘I
thought she was uber-against you having a mobile?’

‘Well . . . she’s changed!’ I grin.
‘You’re never gonna believe what
happened—’

‘What happened?’ Megan cuts in as the Megababes
walk up beside us. ‘Ooh, nice phone!’ She snatches it
from my hand.

‘Hey, give that back!’ Kimmy demands.

‘Chill, Chung, I’m just looking. Lucy
doesn’t mind, do you?’ Megan says sweetly.

‘I . . . um . . . no?’ I say helplessly.

‘See?’ Megan smiles smugly as Kimmy frowns.
‘It was lovely to meet your mum last night, Lucy. How was
Mutant Zombie Vampires
?’

‘What?’ Kimmy stares at me. ‘I thought you
were ill yesterday?’

‘Oops, did I put my foot in it?’ Megan’s
eyes gleam. ‘You certainly didn’t look very ill,
Lucy, especially with your chic new hairstyle.’

‘What new hairstyle?’ Kimmy’s frown
deepens.

‘You haven’t
seen
?’ Megan nods at
Nicole, who pulls my hood down and my hat off.

Kimmy gasps. ‘What did you
do
?’

My hands fly to my hair. ‘Don’t you like
it?’

‘Well, yes, but I liked it before!’ Kimmy says.
Suddenly her jaw drops. ‘OMG, are those
earrings
?’

‘Gorgeous, huh? What a makeover!’ Megan gushes.
‘Selfie time! All the blondes together!’ She pulls me
into a group shot with the Megababes and I beam at the camera
– trying to ignore Kimmy scowling at us.

Megan checks the result, smiles and shows it round. I can
hardly believe it.
Me
in a photo with the
Megababes
!

‘Nice camera,’ she says. ‘But you could
really do with some decent tunes. The Star-Gazers album?
Really?
’ She taps the phone and my favourite band
begins to play.

Nicole smirks. ‘Lame.’

My cheeks burn. ‘That was already on there,’ I
lie. I downloaded it last night.

‘Ugh, don’t you hate when they do that?’
Megan grimaces. ‘You don’t mind if I borrow your
phone till the end of the day, do you, Luce? Surfing YouTube
might
just
keep me sane through double maths!’

‘Er, actually—’

‘I’d be MEGA grateful,’ Megan interrupts,
batting her eyelashes. ‘Plus I could download some decent
music for you.’

Kimmy narrows her eyes. ‘Like she needs your
help.’

Megan scowls at her.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say, ‘but I really need
my phone today.’

‘What a shame!’ Megan pouts. ‘Cos you know
mobile phones aren’t
allowed
in school, are
they?’ She tosses it to Nicole.

‘Nope,’ Nicole says, throwing it to Cara.
‘Why’s that, Cara?’

‘It’s probably because it could get lost,’
Cara says, chucking it to Viv.

‘Or broken,’ adds Viv, throwing it back to
Megan.

‘Or nicked.’ Megan grins.

‘Give it back!’ Kimmy growls, lunging at Megan and
accidentally knocking the phone out of her hand.

‘No!’ I cry as it plummets towards a puddle . . .
but suddenly, from out of nowhere, a hand catches it.

I look up and my heart stops dead. It’s Zak!

‘Is this yours?’ he asks, his chocolate eyes
locking on mine, leaving me unable to think or speak. Or
breathe.