The It Girl (20 page)
Authors: Katy Birchall
Marianne x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: What is wrong with you?
No, my love, Yoda is in
Star Trek
, not
Lord of the Rings
.
Rebecca x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: What is wrong with you?
Whatever. They're
both basically the same thing, right?
Marianne x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: What is wrong with you?
I actually auditioned for
Star Trek
once.
I didn't get the part because they said I looked too young.
Helena x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Sure
Stop lying to yourself, Mom. You didn't get the
part because you did it in a Jamaican accent.
Marianne x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: Sure
I'm sure your audition was wonderful, Helena. I personally think most action films could be brought up a notch if they threw in more Jamaican accents.
Anna darling, if you're struggling with your feelings about Connor and Boursin, maybe you need to take a step back from both of them and think about what you want.
Rebecca xxx
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: Sure
Thank you, Rebecca, you are kind. The part went to someone who had a botched nose job and eventually had an affair with one of those monkey actors from
Planet of the Apes
so I wasn't that upset.
I agree with your mother, Anna, you need to think carefully. Ask yourself, who would you rather spend your time with? Connor or Boursin?
Once you've worked that out, you'll know what to do.
Helena x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: Sure
I'm confused. Are we talking about men or food?
Marianne x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: STOP THIS AT ONCE
First things first, Yoda is in
STAR WARS
. Not
Star Trek
. I'm ashamed of all of you.
Secondly, Mom, how many times do I need to tell you this . . . Boursin is a CHEESE. His name is Brendan. Seriously, it's not that out there. B-R-E-N-D-A-N.
Thirdly, I am not “struggling” with my feelings for Brendan . . . or Connor for that matter. Seriously, we are just friends. And anyway, I only ever really see him in detention. That's pretty much it. So yeah, we're just FRIENDS. So drop that one please because it is so not how it is.
Lastly, I want you all to know that you have managed to confuse me EVEN MORE than I already was.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and eat some Nutella. I have already consumed an entire bag of strawberry truffles. Do you see the state you have driven me to?!
Love, me xxx
From: [email protected]
Subject: Anna's e-mail
I don't know about you, but I'm sure grateful not to be twelve years old.
Aren't you?
Rebecca xxx
So you're sure you're not mad about the screening thing? Sorry to bring it up again.
Anna, why would I be mad? Of course I'm not mad.
I feel really bad about it. I wish they weren't on the same day.
Yeah.
You and Danny should come to the party. And Connor.
Ha. We didn't get invites.
Well, I don't think that matters. Maybe she hasn't finished giving them out.
Honestly, Anna, don't worry about it. You'll have fun at the party.
So would you if you came.
I'd rather go to the screening. Danny would too. It'll be nice to hang out with Connor and those guysâI don't know them very well.
Oh, okay.
I saw you in the papers this morning. Mom showed me. Your dress was amazing. You didn't tell me you were going to a ball.
Oh that. Yeah, it was a last-minute thing that Helena and Marianne invited me to. The dress was Prada. Me . . . in Prada! Can you believe that?!
Wow. It was very pretty. You looked great.
I steered clear of soy sauce that's for sure. It's so weird. People have started sending me stuff this
week. Designers, I mean. It's really cool. I got sent this jacket that I definitely couldn't wear but I think you will love it. You want to come over after school and try it on?
Thanks! By the way, have you asked Marianne or Helena about any photographers I can talk to? I don't mind what sort of photography they do, it can be anything!
Haven't had a chance to ask them. Promise I will.
Okay, thanks. You and Brendan have been talking a lot this week. He seems to aim all his conversations at you during lunch.
Do you think?! It's amazing, isn't it? We just get along really well I guess, although I'm still not very good at talking to him. I know this sounds crazy, Jess, but I have noticed him paying me more attention.
Yeah, we all have.
Do you think it's CRAZY of me to think that there
might be a chance of him asking me to the Beatus dance? I know it's ridiculous but the other day he did ask if I had bought a dress for it yet.
Did he?
Yeah! I said that I hadn't because I didn't have a date yet and then he smiled. HE SMILED. What do you think that means?!
I don't know. Maybe he is thinking of asking you.
ARGH! CAN YOU IMAGINE?!
It would be pretty insane. Are you sure that's what you want?
Of course I'm sure! Why wouldn't I be? It would be GREAT. Jess, the most popular boy in school likes us! This stuff never happens. Isn't this better than before?
The most popular boy in school likes you, not us.
I think he puts up with me and Danny. Sophie and Josie make that pretty clear. What do you mean about before?
That's not true! You're much more interesting than I am. They're getting to know us, that's all.
Maybe. The getting to know us bit, that is.
I'd better tell Connor and Max in detention today that I can't go anymore. I keep putting it off. Do you think they'll be mad?
No, Anna, I don't think so. They'll get it, like Danny and I do.
Get what?
The It Girl thing. Better stop passing notes. Ms. Brockley is looking this way.
I wasn't sure if Connor did get it. When I told him he seemed annoyed and almost baffled.
“Sophie
Parker
?” he sort of sneered as though he wasn't sure if I was joking or not.
“Yeah, I know. I wish it was on another night, but it is her birthday. She can't really switch that.” I laughed nervously, attempting to lighten the mood, because the way Connor was suddenly looking at me made me feel very tense.
“But . . . you love
Lord of the Rings
. You really want to go to Sophie Parker's birthday party? Seriously?”
“Of course I do, she's my friend! Like I said to Max, I'll definitely be there the next time a screening happens. And I can see if maybe you guys can come to her party too or something . . .” I trailed off as we both knew that wasn't an option. Not when it came to Connor.
“That's okay, thanks. I'll pass. So, are Jess and Danny still coming to the movie?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, feeling a little deflated. “Yeah, they're still going.”
He studied my face and then shook his head.
“What?”
“I just . . .” He looked at me and then sighed and turned back to his work. “Nothing.”
“No, what were you going to say?” I encouraged.
“Nothing, Anna, don't worry about it,” he snapped.
I don't know why he had to make me feel so guilty when everyone else had been so nice about it. His mood didn't improve with me as the night of Sophie's party drew near. I tried to ask him about his drawings, but he didn't seem to want to talk to me. I even made a comment one day about Gwen Stacy being Spider-Man's one true love rather than Mary Jane, and he barely flinched.
Connor not talking to me made me feel weird.
But the night of Sophie's party I knew I had made the right decision. So many people were going who I wanted to talk to. If someone as popular as Sophie invites you to a party, then you know that you're doing the right thing. Going to Sophie's party and looking like an It Girl meant that I could make friends with people in my grade who never used to talk to me, and if they liked me, then they would start inviting Jess and Danny to things too. Maybe even Connor would come around. Then all of us could hang out together, and there wouldn't be this weird divide.
It made complete sense.
Connor was just being stubborn, I thought to myself as I hunted around my bedroom for my shoe before the party. Maybe if I explained, he would start being himself around me again.
Suddenly my dad yelled up the stairs that we had to get going, and I had to put my thoughts about Connor aside and finish looking for my shoe, which turned out to be lying on top of the silverware in the dishwasher because on the rare occasion that Dad haphazardly leaves it open Dog likes to keep things safe in there.
I picked out another pair of shoes and we set off.
Of course, my dad tried to embarrass me as much as possible. He insisted on coming into Sophie's house with me and hunting down her parents to say hello and to tell them he would be picking me up at eleven o'clock sharp. I cringed as Sophie and Josie stood nearby whispering to each other.
“Happy birthday, Sophie,” my dad said to her when he forced me to introduce them.
“Thank you, Mr. Huntley.” She giggled. “Congratulations on your engagement. If you and Helena want to come join us at the end of the party, my parents would be more than happy.”
“That's very kind, but I'm actually working on a very interesting chapter in my book about gas masks.”
It couldn't have been a celebrity party or something cool keeping you from a drink with Sophie's parents, could it, Dad. It HAD to be a chapter on gas masks.
“It's actually very fascinating,” Dad began, and I saw Sophie's fixed smile wobble.
“Okay thanks, bye, Dad!” I interrupted, basically pushing him out the door. I made my way back to Sophie and Josie and laughed nervously. “Parents, huh.”
“Yeah,” Sophie agreed. “You look nice. I like your jacket.”
“Thanks!” I said, brushing the leather sleeve. “I'm going to give it to Jess after this.”
“Really?” Josie snorted. “I think it's better for you.”
Sophie smiled. “I'll see you later. Have fun.”
As the pair floated away to greet other guests, I felt uncomfortable and wasn't sure why. I was at the most popular party of the yearâand things were getting better already at school; I just needed to embrace it. I tried not to think about Jess and Danny at the screening with Connorâthe movie would have started by now. I bet they were all getting along really well. It made sense. Connor would love the fact that Jess was into
Lord of the Rings
.
I pushed aside the sinking feeling in my stomach as Brendan came over. “Hey, It Girl,” he said, pushing his bangs out of his eyes. “Nice jacket.”
“Yeah, it's a hit.” I smiled back weakly.
“I've been meaning to talk to you.” He grabbed my hand
and pulled me over to sit on some cushions and rugs that had been laid out in the garden. My stomach flipped in excitement. “I saw that Marianne was on a date with the lead singer of On the Rox. It was in the papers this week.”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“That's crazy. They're my favorite band!”
“Really? No way,” I said, noticing that our knees were touching. I suddenly felt very hot. “I'm actually going to see them next week. Marianne got me tickets.”
“That is so cool!” He leaned in so that our faces were almost touching. “Promise to tell me all about it?”
“I . . . uh . . . yeah.” Since it was obvious I had nothing else intelligent to say, Brendan smiled and got up, ready to walk away.
My mouth went dry. “You should come,” I blurted out suddenly, unable to tear my gaze from him.
“You serious?” He sat down, grabbed my hand, and squeezed it. “That would be incredible! Thanks, Anna.”
I was about to respond when Josie and Sophie slumped down next to us. Brendan dropped my hand quickly. Surprised by the sudden change, my brain kicked in again, and I realized that I had just asked Brendan to the show I had promised to take Jess to.
“I've been meaning to ask you,” I said quickly to them, hoping Brendan wouldn't say anything about the show. “How are things looking for the Beatus dance?”