Paparazzi Princess (11 page)

I hopped on the ascending escalator, scanned the crowds again and thought I glimpsed Riko on the descending escalator opposite. Was it her? I couldn’t be sure. I didn’t have a clear view as there were so many people packed onto it. I could only see the back of the girl’s head but she had a blue jacket on and I thought I glimpsed a flash of red in her hair. Chopsticks. It
must
be her. She appeared to be with someone. A guy. Again, I could only see the back of him and couldn’t be sure if she was actually with him or just happened to standing next to him on the escalator. I strained to get a better look just as an enormous Indian man carrying a huge packet pushed past me, further obscuring my view. When I could see again, the girl had disappeared, swallowed up into the endlessly moving wave of shoppers. But I wasn’t going to lose her. I ran up the rest of my escalator, hopped onto the descending one, ran down the left hand side and back onto the second floor. I raced around the floor through kitchenware, bed-linens, china, luggage. But no sign of Riko.
And she wouldn’t be looking at this stuff anyway
, I decided.

I called Pia. ‘Any luck?’

‘She’s not down here. Five minutes to go until the driver’s here to collect us.’

The knot in my stomach tightened, making it hard to breathe. I would be grounded for the rest of eternity. My life was over.

I was feeling utterly miserable when a hand suddenly slapped on my shoulder. I almost jumped out of my skin. ‘There you are,’ said a familiar voice.

I turned. It was Riko.

‘Here
I
am? Where’ve
you
been?’

Riko grinned. ‘Hey. Don’t sweat it. I haven’t been anywhere.’

‘But you were supposed to meet us in the café.’

She grinned. ‘Sorr
ee
. I’m always losing track of time. But it’s cool, yeah?’ She didn’t look sorry at all as she glanced at her watch and waggled her wrist at me. ‘We’re still on time, yeah?’

‘Yes, so that’s all right then. I’ll let Pia know we’re ready to go,’ I said sharply. I felt cross with her for getting us so worried. I texted Pia to meet us at the entrance then went back to Riko, who was now checking out the bath gels in the bathshop. She appeared totally unconcerned about the scare. ‘Yes, we’re on time, Riko, but you gave us a fright. Your dad and mine would have been furious if they’d known we’d split up.’

Riko gave me a fake smile. ‘Hey chill, Jess. I’m here now, so what’s the problem?’ She linked arms with me. ‘Don’t be mad with me, Jess Hall. I won’t get lost again. Promise. And, anyway, dads are always cross, right?’

‘Why did you turn your phone off?’ I asked. I was still annoyed with her.

‘Did I?’ She pulled it out from her pocket. ‘Um . . . it’s new. Sometimes I er . . . hit the silent button and don’t realise. Silly me. But hey, Jessie, I wouldn’t have dropped you in it, really I wouldn’t. You’re my good friend.’

Yeah right
, I thought as we took the escalators down.
Friends don’t wander off and not say where they’re going, Riko. And don’t call me Jessie!

‘I can’t tell you how fabulous freedom is, if only for a short while,’ continued Riko. ‘To be on my own with no-one watching my every move.’

‘I guess I can understand that,’ I said begrudgingly as we reached the ground floor where Pia spotted us and came to join us.

‘Where the hell were you, Riko?’ she demanded. Pia was never one to mince her words. ‘Jess and I were freaking out. What if you’d been kidnapped or something had happened to you?
We’d
have been right in it, that’s what. Or don’t you ever think of other people?’ She shoved Riko’s bags at her. ‘And I’m not carrying these any more either. I believe they belong to you.’

Riko looked taken aback by Pia’s outburst but it made me want to giggle. She was voicing exactly what I had been too polite to say. Riko looked at a loss as to what to do for a few moments then she reached into one of the carrier bags and pulled out two small boxes. She gave one to me and one to Pia. ‘I’m sorry. Truly I am. And see, I got you a scented candle each to say thank you for today. For being my friends and not my minders. Yes? Understand? The candles are amber and fig. Mm. Smell fab.’

I felt like I was being paid off. Pia clearly felt the same.

‘Thanks, Riko, but we don’t need presents to be your friend. Just don’t go wandering off again, right?’ she said. ‘And you’re right. We’re not your minders but your dad
is
holding us responsible for showing you around.’

‘Please take the candles all the same,’ she said. ‘I realise now that I worried you.’ She attempted to look apologetic but part of me felt like I couldn’t trust her and that she was putting on an act. However, as she continued to press the candles at us, we eventually accepted them.

‘Thanks, Riko,’ I said.

She was all smiles now and linked arms with Pia and me as we went out to the car. ‘Good. Now we’re all friends again. I’m very happy to have had this time with you,’ she said.

I wasn’t though. The all-pals-together act felt false to me. She had a secret and friends shared secrets. No way was she sharing hers with me.

‘Yay,’ I said as I glanced at my computer the next morning. ‘A message from Tom! He and Josh have been on the facebook site and left some tips for us about boys.’

‘No way,’ said Pia. ‘Let’s have a look.’ She squeezed next to me on my chair and peered at the screen.

‘And look, a party invite at last!’ I said. ‘He says, “Hey Hall, been missing your particular brand of madness. Party at my place New Year’s Eve. Bring your strange midget friend.” Do you think he means you?’

‘Probably. Blooming cheek. He can stuff his invite. I mean, you’re not going to go are you? Not after the way he’s treated you?’

‘There’ll be other boys there. I will go, but I’ll ignore him. I’ll get off with another boy or maybe even a few boys and show him that I’ve moved on and don’t care.’

Pia raised an eyebrow. ‘Yeah, right,’ she said. ‘I can see that.’

‘But a party . . . It would be fun.’

Pia frowned. ‘I don’t want to see you get hurt.’

‘I’ll risk it. It’s been so boring. Chaperoning Riko. Being Miss Goody-two-shoes on Christmas Day with Aunt Maddie, even though I did enjoy it in the end. It’ll be so nice to hang out with some people our own age from school and not think about stuff like who’s rich, who’s poor, how to save the world, end poverty and bring peace on Earth and all before my sixteenth birthday. It’s all right for you, you’re all loved up at the moment.’ She was too. I’d tried not to mind but it was hard having a best mate with a boyfriend who wasn’t as available as usual. When ever I called she was over at Henry’s listening to music or he was at hers watching a DVD. I felt like a great, goosing gooseberry and although Pia always invited me along to whatever they were doing, it felt like another case of them and me. The rich and me. The homeless and me. Henry, Pia and me. Charlie, Tom and me. Mainly
me
out of a limb on my own with a million mixed feelings. I was getting fed up of it and I wanted to have a night having a laugh with nothing more serious to think about than pulling boys – although actually that was
very
serious.

‘So. What nuggets of wisdom have they sent us?’ asked Pia as she scrolled down to see what they’d written. I began to read. ‘“You don’t need to try too hard. Most of us are grateful for any attention from a girl.” Ah, Josh would have written that. It’s true. His only criteria for a girl is that she’s breathing.’

‘“If you like a boy, TELL HIM,”’ I read. ‘“We are not mind-readers and never will be. We need all the guidance and help we can get. We are useless when it comes to reading girls. Think of us as emotionally dyslexic and you won’t go far wrong. Most of us don’t recognise flirting even when it’s coming right at us.” Hmm. Doubt Tom wrote that so I reckon that’s one from Josh again.’

‘“We will never be slushy with you in front of our mates,”’ read Pia. ‘“We might be nuts about you but it’s not cool to show it.” Hmm. I think Tom might be trying to tell you something.’

‘No way. He’s the King of Confidence,’ I said and read on. ‘“Try to understand that a boy wants to be with you but simultaneously wants to be left alone. Us boys can be contradictory and complicated too, but mainly we’re just simple.” That doesn’t sound like Josh, does it? Maybe Tom
is
trying to tell me something.’

Pia read the next line from the screen. ‘“Boys are very anxious about rejection. Be kind to us. We have feelings too.”’

‘Definitely Josh again!’ we chorused.

‘Tom’s probably never been rejected,’ I added.

‘“Boys are intimidated by beautiful girls,”’ read Pia.

‘Josh again,’ I said. Pia nodded in agreement.

‘“Be kind when dumping us, treat people as you expect to be treated yourself,”’ I continued. ‘That’s a good point.’

‘“Don’t try and change us. We don’t like it,”’ Pia read out. ‘Tom?’

I nodded. ‘Yeah. Charlie says that too. He says he hates it when girls start telling him how to dress or wear his hair. Big no no.’

‘“Have fun in a relationship before you get serious,”’ read Pia. ‘I think deffo Tom is trying to tell you something.’

‘That’s decided, then,’ I said. ‘I will go to his party and I will have fun.’

‘Will come to party and bring strange midget friend,’ I typed quickly then pressed reply before Pia could object. ‘There. Done. I’m sure you can bring Henry now that you’re joined at the hip.’

Pia gave me a salute. ‘Yes, SIR – and as for being joined at the hip, for that, you’re coming to the movies with me and Henry this afternoon and I won’t take no for an answer.’

I saluted her back. ‘Yes, SIR.’

As we were getting ready, my phone rang. It was Riko.

‘Jess, what are you doing this afternoon?’ She sounded agitated.

‘Apparently going to the movies with Sergeant Major Pia,’ I said. I was glad I had something to do in case Riko wanted to hang out.

‘Cool. What time are you going?’

‘In about half an hour.’

‘Where?’

‘A cinema down the King’s Road.’

‘Great. OK. I’ll meet you in reception. I can get my dad’s chauffeur to drive us.’

‘I . . . er—’ It was too late to object. She’d gone.

I put down the phone.

‘What was all that about?’ asked Pia.

‘I think we’ve just been outdone in the Sergeant Major stakes,’ I said. ‘That girl is a master!’

Riko was waiting for us in reception and once again, we were driven in her dad’s limo. Luckily this time, the journey was further so I could enjoy the ride.
I could really get used to this
, I thought as the car purred along the road and I stared out at all the pedestrians, buttoned up against the dull, cold day. Riko wasn’t saying much. She still seemed agitated and kept looking at her watch. I felt uncomfortable about the whole deal. It was as if she was con trolling my life and I didn’t like it. Pia and Henry sat holding hands, seemingly oblivious to it all.
In their love bubble
, I thought. They were even wearing matching red scarves and red Converse sneakers.

‘How’s the survey going, Jess?’ Henry asked.

I didn’t feel much like talking so I shrugged a shoulder.

‘It’s about what boys want, isn’t it?’ he asked.

‘And what girls want too,’ said Pia.

Henry laughed. ‘Ask a girl what she wants and you’ll get lectured for days.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Communication. Growing as a couple. Respect.’

Pia slapped his arm. ‘Hey mister, I’m not like that. So come on, then, tell us. What
do
boys want?’

Henry grinned. ‘Come naked. Bring beer.’

This time, it was mine and Pia’s turn to roll our eyes. Riko didn’t appear to be listening. She was busy texting someone and when I glanced down I was sure she’d written the road we were going to as if she was giving someone directions. When she saw me looking, she turned away so I couldn’t see.

‘You OK?’ I asked, after the driver had let us out of the car and we went to join the line to get our tickets.

‘Yeah, I’m good,’ she said unenthusiastically as she got out her phone again and checked for texts. It appeared that there was one and she turned away to read it and reply.

What’s with all the secrecy?
I wondered.

‘What’s up?’ I asked when she turned back to me then quickly put her phone away.

‘Oh, you know,’ she said. ‘Same ole. My dad. He won’t get off my case. I’m sixteen, no longer a kid but that’s how he treats me.’ We got our tickets then Riko waved hers to the driver who was now hovering a short distance away. ‘We’ll be fine now,’ she called to him. ‘See you here after the movie.’

The driver nodded and got back in his car. I noticed a couple of girls from our school going in to see the film with their boyfriends. Even though Riko was weird, part of me was glad she’d come along because at least I didn’t look like the only sad singleton.

‘Yeah, dads,’ I said. ‘Tell me about it.’ I was trying to sympathise but actually my dad had been pretty cool with me lately. In fact, he probably gave me too much freedom. He never knew where I was half the time. He was too busy running the apartment block.

‘No,’ she said. ‘It’s different for you.
You
can come and go as you please. I have no freedom at all. In fact, it’s a miracle my parents have let me out with you.’