Cathy Hopkins - [Mates, Dates 05] Read online

  I already had an idea for when it came to my turn. I spun the bottle slowly to my left, and just as planned, it stopped at Nesta.

  ‘So Nesta,’ I said. ‘All those complaints about no boys at the party… As your friend, I had to listen to what you really wanted so your forfeit is… to snog my brother Lai in the hall.’

  Nesta looked over at Lai, who was holding his breath. She raised an eyebrow. ‘Do you think he could take it?’ she asked.

  ‘I’ll take the chance,’ he said.

  He looked like all his Christmases had come at once when she stood up, took his hand and led him out of the room.

  After a few minutes he came back in and had to go and lie down on the sofa to recover. I swear there were stars and planets coming out of his head.

  ‘So what about you and Tony now?’ asked TJ as we cleared some of the dishes back into the kitchen.

  I shrugged. He had phoned in the morning, probably hoping to get an invite to-our party. It was weird, because at the end of the call, he sounded uncertain, then asked if maybe we could pick up where we left off at the beginning of the holidays. I told TJ about it.

  ‘So what did you say?’

  ‘I said I couldn’t. I mean, to pick up where we were at the beginning of the holidays? All that uncertainty? No thanks. Amazing, huh? A few weeks ago I would have leapt at the chance, but so much has happened since then - since my letter to him, since Daniel. I feel I need some time out to think about things… to reassess what I want. To go back to where I was at the beginning of summer, to the ups and downs and wondering what was happening with Tony…? If I said, “OK, let’s get back together,” how long would it last? I know what he’s like. He gets bored and then where would that leave me? Back on the rollercoaster. I’m not sure I want to go through all that again. Not yet.’

  ‘Sounds like a very wise decision,’ said TJ. ‘No hurry.’

  ‘No, no hurry,’ I said. ‘We can be friends for sure, but I just don’t want a commitment relationship.’

  ‘Sounds like you were made for each other.’

  I laughed and followed her back into the living room where some of the girls from school were urging Izzie to get up and sing. At first she was reluctant, then she smiled. ‘Actually I have been working on a new song…’

  Everyone started stomping their feet and shouting, ‘Izzie, Izzie, Izzie!

  ‘OK,’ she said. ‘This one is for all the singletons.’ She closed her eyes for a few seconds, then began to sing in her lovely, velvety voice.

  I was a broken ship with ragged sails

  Now calm waters beckon me

  Lying out in warming sun, stretching, feeling free

  Waiting for a new wind and a wave upon my bow

  Wishing on a rainbow, following my star

  Welcoming my new world, I’m gonna travel far

  Floating in the slip-stream, just going with the flow

  Booked a passage on tomorrow with no one else in tow

  Floating in the slip-stream, just going with the flow.

  I glanced over at TJ and she smiled back. Going with the flow, I thought. Yeah, now that sounds good to me.