Paris Crush (18 page)

I pull out the silver-wrapped chocolate Eiffel Tower. It’s in one perfect piece and as big as his head.

‘Wow!’

As he takes it from me, eyes popping, a voice sounds behind me.

‘Is this Ben?’

I turn and see Sam grinning down at my brother. ‘Yeah,’ I say proudly.

Sam sticks out a hand and shakes Ben’s. ‘Hi, Ben. I’m Sam.’

Ben grins up at him. ‘Are you Gemma’s boyfriend?’

There’s an awkward silence while I shrivel into a desiccated corpse. Then Sam laughs. ‘Gemma’s too busy for boyfriends.’ He tousles Ben’s hair.

Ben ducks away and holds up the chocolate Eiffel Tower for Sam to see. ‘I’m going to eat all of this today.’

‘Good move.’ Sam glances at me. ‘You can never trust sisters around chocolate.’

Eyes widening in horror, Ben hugs his tower protectively.

‘Gemma?’ Mum’s heading our way. ‘Did you have fun?’

I catch Sam’s eye. ‘Yes,’ I smile. ‘It was fantastic.’

‘The best trip yet.’ Sam grabs his rucksack and heads away. ‘See you tomorrow, Gem.’

I watch him for a moment before Mum grabs me and hugs me hard. Ben joins in and I don’t care if half the school sees me playing happy families. I’m Gemma Stone, Year Nine, and
I’m totally visible.