The It Girl (19 page)
Authors: Katy Birchall
“He doesn't really count.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Jess sighed, threw her arm around me, and led me to the first class of the day.
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I arrived at detention in an extremely good mood that afternoon having had everyone be so nice about my new look all day.
Well, Mrs. Ginnwell did say that I looked a bit like a woman she once knew who these days lived in downtown Chicago. She didn't expand. I wasn't quite sure if that was a
positive comment or not, but since everyone else had been so nice, I hoped it might be.
I plonked myself down next to Connor. “Hey,” he said sheepishly, breaking away from a conversation he was having with Max.
“Hey, how's it going?” I reached into my bag for my notebook. “How was your break?”
“Yeah, good.” He looked awkward. “I was . . . um . . . were you okay and everything after the school trip?”
I blushed at the memory. “Yeah, I was fine. Sorry for being . . . rude.”
“No, I'm sorry for . . . you know. Well, as long as you're okay.”
“Yeah, I'm all good.” I nodded. He nodded too and then for the first time since I'd got to know him, we didn't seem to know what to say to each other. I opened my textbook and tried to concentrate as Mr. Kenton sat at his desk, his head in his hands, poring over some essays and grumbling about teenagers' handwriting being “impossible to read nowadays.”
I didn't last long.
“How's that new project coming along?” I asked Connor, nonchalantly turning a page in my textbook.
“It's still not ready.”
I watched him as he studied a page in his sketchbook, making corrections.
“Don't you ever have homework to do?”
“Always.” He grinned and looked up at me. “But I have my priorities.”
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When Mr. Kenton wearily got to his feet and announced it was time to go home, Connor watched me pack up and then blurted out, “Your hair is different.”
“You just noticed?”
“No.”
“Well, is it good different?”
“I guess . . .”
I must have looked insulted because he chuckled. “Relax, Spidey. It looks good. You look good.”
“Oh.” I felt my cheeks burning.
“Hey, Anna.” Max walked by and whacked his bag at Connor's shoulder. My brain jerked into focus. “You like
Lord of the Rings
right?”
“Of course,” I laughed, picking up the new book bag Mom had given me.
“There's a screening of the second movie in a couple of weeks,”
Max said, looking at Connor who was staring at his feet.
“Oh right, the best one of the three,” I said.
Max nodded slowly. “You just passed the test, oh young one.”
I looked at him in anticipation.
Max took a deep breath and began to speak in a low, rumbling voice. “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there areâ”
“He's inviting you along,” Connor interrupted before Max could go any further, standing and picking up his sketchbook. “There's a few of us going. Stop showing off, Max. It's not cool to know all the words.”
“Yeah, that is just so not cool,” I agreed, finishing the rest of the line in my head.
“Way to ruin a guy's moment.” Max sighed. “Well, Anna, do you want to go? I can't promise I won't quote along with the film.”
“He's being serious,” Connor warned. “It will be fun though. You should come.”
“Unless you have a premiere or something important to go to.” Max grinned mischievously.
“Sounds good. I'll make sure I keep that night free of royal galas and celebrity parties,” I teased, trying to act cool like
Jess always tells me but inwardly dancing around that I had received an invitation from someone who wasn't Jess, Danny, or Dog.
“How generous.” Max laughed as we walked out of the room. “It's on the twenty-first of March.”
“I'll put it in the calendar.” I nodded. “Can Jess and Danny come too?”
“Course.” Connor smiled, his eyes twinkling. “Everyone's welcome.”
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I was so excited that I immediately e-mailed Jess and Danny when I got home to tell them to keep that evening free so we could all go. They replied quickly to agree, and I felt like I might burst with happiness. Not only had I been invited to something, but I got to bring Jess and Danny along.
This whole change thing really was working out. I combed my bangs humming happily and then ran downstairs to do a victory dance with Dog.
Dad came barging out of his study angrily. “I can hardly hear myself think, Anna!” he moaned as I wobbled around the living room attempting to tango with Dog, who was actually impressively steady standing on his back legs. But not even Dad's temper could dampen the fact that I had been invited to
watch a movie with a group of friends. ME. The person who never used to have anyone to sit next to on a bus.
But then disaster struck.
It was in the form of Sophie, who bounded over to me the next day with Josie. “Anna,” she said, smiling and passing me an envelope. “Here, this is for you.”
I opened it. “Wow, an invitation!” I cried in not a very cool way. I then coughed and said, “Cool,” in a more casual manner as though I got invitations all the time.
Hello, I totally got an invitation yesterday. Check me out.
“It's my birthday. Friday the twenty-first.” She grabbed Josie's hand and shook it excitedly. “It's going to be so fun. It's at my house. Dad's getting a DJ and everything.”
My face dropped. “The twenty-first? Of March?”
“Yeah, it says there.” She pointed at the pink invite and then looked up, frowning. “Can't you come?”
“You're not too busy at a premiere or a celebrity party that night or something?” Josie added, looking at Sophie pointedly.
I swallowed. I had already accepted the invite to the
Lord of the Rings
screening and asked Jess and Danny to go. I'd told Connor I'd be there.
But could I turn down an invitation to what was probably
going to be the most exciting birthday party of our class? This was what I had done everything forâand it was working.
Then, out of nowhere, Brendan Dakers was suddenly looking over my shoulder at the invite in my hand. “It's going to be so cool, Soph,” he said, standing so close behind me that the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
“I know; I just gave Anna her invitation.” Sophie leaned into him.
Josie smirked, folding her arms and watching me.
“Good stuff,” Brendan said. “You are coming, right, Anna?”
“Uh,” I replied, opening my locker door and groaning inwardly as my history textbook toppled out and slammed onto the floor. I bent down to pick it up clumsily, and as I stood straight, struggling to balance it on top of my other books, Brendan reached out. He took the history book and carefully arranged it back in my locker.
“Wouldn't be right without our very own It Girl there,” he said, winking.
“So,” Sophie prompted, coming around the other side of Brendan so she was back in front of me, “can you come?”
I looked up. Brendan smiled at me.
“Of course I can come.” I nodded confidently. “I'll be there.”
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: Confused
Darling, I hope you don't mindâI've copied Helena and Marianne on your e-mail, because I thought they might also be able to help.
I think it's wonderful that you've been invited to a party! You must go. You're only young once.
I see your dilemma though. In my experience, honesty is the best policy. Explain to the others that you can go to a screening with them another time but you've been invited to a friend's birthday party that you feel you should attend.
Unless you're not close to this girl who is throwing the party?
Mom xxx
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: Confused
I remember having a very similar problem when Prince Michael of Kent invited me to a black tie ball the same night I had a date with George Clooney.
I picked the date because George would have been very distressed otherwise and I'd just had an eyebrow wax that day.
Helena x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: Confused
Mom. That was the worst advice ever. It wasn't even advice. And it was WAY too much information. Please keep your hair removal details to yourself.
Anna, do what you feel is right. If you think that Jess and your friends will be very let down, then maybe the right thing to do is to go to the screening?
But, like your mom pointed out, screenings happen often. Birthdays are only once a year.
Go with your gut.
Marianne x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: By the way
Just out of interest, who is this Connor fellow?
Rebecca xxx
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: By the way
Yeah, he hasn't come up before, and now suddenly you've
mentioned him a couple of times?
Marianne x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: By the way
Oh how lovely! Is Connor your new beau?
Helena x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: By the way
MOM. Please don't use the expression “beau.” It last got used in the sixteenth century by people wearing big wigs and too much powder.
Marianne x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: By the way
That is not true. It has been used in this century by rappers in dreadful rap songs. I know this thanks to you, darling daughter, blaring that garbage at all hours.
If you ask me, she should spend less time rapping terribly about him and more time making him happy. Then her “beau” might pay her more attention and we wouldn't have to listen to her woes through the medium of rap on the radio.
Helena x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: More confused
Anna, what happened to Boursin?
Rebecca xxx
PS Helena, I tried rapping once when I was
in South Africa. I was actually rather talented. Perhaps you'd like me to teach you some?
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: More confused
Oh was that your Boursin? I had some the other day, I do apologize. It was in Nick's fridge and so I put it in the salad. Were you saving it?
Helena x
PS That would be wonderful! I bet you're a great rapper, Rebecca. You could give me lessons!
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: More confused
Please, neither of you ever rap in public. That's all I ask.
Anna, is Connor into music? Maybe you can
ask him to On the Rox to make up for ditching him at the screening?
If he's into you, then he won't care if you cancel the screening and ask him to a show instead.
Way more fun.
Marianne x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: Re: More confused
My God, Marianne, is that how you treat men? Ditch them when they invite you to nice, romantic screenings and then lure them to immoral rock shows instead?
As soon as you come back from this jaunt in Barcelona we are sitting down and having a talk, young lady.
Helena x
From: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected];
Subject: What is wrong with you?
Mom, in case you had forgotten, you MARRIED a rock musician. That's how I came about. So don't give me heat about “immoral” shows thank you very much.
And I would hardly call
Lord of the Rings
romantic. That Yoda dude doesn't exactly set the mood.