OMG! I'm in Love with a Geek! (52 page)

OMG – Jen has just rung me. She was out with Simon being goth and they saw Nicky come out of the police station. He was caught tagging a police car in the city! The policeman thought it was a cry for help as “only someone who wanted to get caught would tag a patrol vehicle with 2 law enforcement officers and a shoplifter in it”. Even the shoplifter, who had just been caught with some yoghurts and a widescreen TV, had a go at Nicky for being a mindless vandal!

OMG – I wonder if the shoplifter was the same shoplifter who nicked the yoghurts and the telly from Gran's supermarket?

My brother said all shoplifters steal tellies and yoghurts because people always want them.

Then he asked why I asked him.

I said I'd just seen something on telly!

But I hadn't! I am the girlfriend of someone on
Crimewatch
.

I've texted Nicky. He hasn't replied. Perhaps the shoplifter took his phone.

Everyone is talking about Nicky the criminal at school. Hardly anyone gets arrested at our school. He is officially totally hard. People are asking ME to tell HIM that HE is REALLY COOL.

I don't think he is cool. I think he's a doughnut.

As long as Mum doesn't find out about Nicky I'm OK. Luckily she's been working really hard and is still falling asleep at stupid o'clock every day. It's a good thing – like Gran says, when she's dozy she's not nosey.

Apparently, the rumour is Nicky is going to be excluded from school! Mrs Cob will not tolerate vandalism in or outside the building. Nor will she tolerate repeated absenteeism (she means bunking off). Nicky does both of those things. I'm going out with a major problem character now.

Rob called me into the kitchen tonight. He'd been doing his last lesson of the day on Tuesday. During an emergency stop he saw Nicky getting arrested.

I begged him not to tell Mum. Rob just said, “Hattie, is he really the right boy for you? He's already getting into trouble.”

It's actually a good question.

He still hasn't texted me since he did it.

And do I REALLY love him? No.

No.

I don't think I do. He's hotness but even the tingles have gone. Tagging cancels out my tingles.

And really wasn't I on the sort of rebound? Even though I wasn't actually rebounding from anyone?

This is hard.

Barry is taking Gran to Europe! An OAP is having an officially more exciting life than her grandaughter!

Gran got really cross when I told her about Nicky! She of all people should understand loving a man who makes mistakes. She said, “Graffiti today! Armed robbery tomorrow. I know he's from a tough background but that's no excuse! Anyway – I need to get ready. Barry and me are going to Calais. He's staying in his cab – I'm in a Holiday Inn. You don't rough it at my age, Hattie. Neither should you be slumming it at 15. Get yourself a nice boy!”

Gran! Independent women like me do not want a “nice boy”. They want boys with strong personalities who also let us be our own women and who do lots of stuff on their own but also take control and say what they mean.

I hardly see Nicky and when I do it's because HE wants to.

I am not a strong independent woman. I am a bit rubbish.

Nicky FINALLY rang. He was really horrible! He said, “Tagging is my right. It's like art. It's just a scribble, Hattie. Get over it. If you don't want my heat get out of my kitchen!”

I didn't have a chance to talk. He just shouted at me about how he “wasn't actually in the wrong” for about 10 minutes. Then he said, “If you really want me I'll be around!”

I don't think I want to be around.

Why am I so useless in love?

No, Mum. Roast lamb will not cheer me up.

It did a bit. But I still don't know what to do!

Mum just asked me how it's going with Nicky.

I said, “Yeah. Good.”

Even through Lemsip and Berocca cocktails she can TOTALLY tell there is something wrong.

Spent all day in my room listening to music wondering what to do about Nicky. I think it's got to end but am I deserting a man in actual need of my help? Perhaps I can help him stop drawing on everything.

Mum knows! SHE WENT MENTAL. And the best thing – not?! Goose told her! He's apparently “worried” about me. He never worries about me these days – he's too busy snogging flimsy-dress FAKE woman.

What a grass!

What business of HIS is it anyway? Why does HE care?