Cathy Hopkins - [Mates, Dates 05] Read online

  Izzie picked a red cushion and started laying into it with passion.

  ‘Poor cushion,’ I said. ‘What’s it done to you?’

  ‘I’m imagining it’s all the terrorists who have killed innocent people,’ panted Izzie as she jumped up and down on it. ‘It makes me so mad sometimes as I feel so helpless and angry that I can’t do anything.’

  Izzie’s always thinking about the problems of the world.

  ‘Who are you going to beat up?’ she asked, stopping for a moment to catch her breath.

  I looked at the cushions. ‘Someone closer to home.’ I grinned and picked a brown velvet one. The exact colour of Tony’s eyes.

  At first, everyone was a bit shy, then Moira started getting into it. Then Cycling Shorts joined in. Then Eric and Tabula and then my dad! After ten minutes, the place sounded like a madhouse. Everyone got stuck in. I quickly glanced round to see what Daniel was doing as I didn’t want to look an idiot in front of him, but he was going for it like the rest of them. If you can’t beat them, join them, I thought, and got down on my knees and pummelled my cushion. I felt stupid to start with, then I began to get into it. That’s for dumping me, I thought, as I whacked the cushion. And that’s for turning up at that party with another girl…Whack! Thwump!

  At the end of the session, I felt brilliant. Like a dam had burst. Everyone looked exhilarated, even Prudence, whose hair had escaped her bun and was sticking out all over the place. We should have done this session before the massage, I thought. It wouldn’t have been so painful for me if she’d done this first. Chris was right. I hadn’t known all those feelings were stuck inside. I felt much better about Tony. I knew that I’d be able to handle it if I saw him at Nesta’s. We could, as he always wanted, be friends.

  ‘I’m so fed up,’ said Izzie as we filed out of the room when it was over. ‘I’ve got to go back to the hotel for the evening and I’ll miss the lecture. It’s about Bach Flower Remedies and I’m really into those.’

  ‘Til tell you all about it,’ I said as Daniel caught up with us.

  ‘Maybe we could go for a walk before the lecture,’ he said, and Izzie gave me the thumbs-up behind his back.

  ‘Maybe after,’ I said. ‘But first I’m going to walk Iz back to her hotel.’

  My feelings about Daniel might have done a complete turnaround, but that didn’t mean I’d forgotten everything that Nesta had taught me. Don’t be too available. Don’t be too easy.

  I got back from the village an hour later and after putting on a little make-up, went into the dining room. There was no sign of Daniel.

  All through the lecture afterwards, I kept looking at the door, expecting him to come in. But he didn’t. Now what? I thought as I tried to concentrate on the talk. Was he peeved because I’d gone down to the hotel with Iz? Maybe he wasn’t as nice as I’d thought he was. All my newfound inner peace evaporated like thin air as I watched the door.

  ‘The Bach Flower Remedies are good for correcting any emotional imbalance,’ said Chris. ‘A lot of disease is literally that - dis-ease! Then she began reading a list of the remedies out and what they were good for. ’Agrimony for mental torture behind a carefree mask, chesnut for failure to learn from mistakes, impatiens for frustration, mustard for gloom, scleranthus for mood swings, white chestnut for mental arguments, wild oat for uncertainty.‘

  That’s me, and that’s me, I was thinking as she went down the list.

  ‘You’ll only need one or two of them,’ she said when she’d finished. ‘And they’re on sale in the dining room.’

  After the talk, Chris was surrounded by people asking about the remedies, so I didn’t get a chance to ask her where Daniel was. I went and found Dad instead.

  ‘Can I have next month’s pocket money as I want to buy some remedies?’ I asked.

  ‘Sure,’ he said. ‘Which ones do you want?’

  ‘All of them,’ I said.

  C h a p t e r 1 1

  Home Sweet Home

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  Dad wanted to leave at the crack of dawn the next day so that he’d be back in time to open the shop at nine-thirty. He dropped me off at home first and it felt wonderful to be back in the cosy clutter of our kitchen with only Steve and Lai at the breakfast table instead of a bunch of strangers. Mum had already left for work and Steve and Lai soon went off to play tennis, so apart from the dogs, I had the whole house to myself. It felt great to take a long, hot, foamy bath without a queue of people banging on the door. To make a decent cup of tea and toast and strawberry jam. As I wandered round the house, I felt that I was seeing everything in a new light. The telly in the living room I could sit in front of and watch whatever I liked. My lovely bedroom that I didn’t have to share. My CD player. And there’d be no more getting up at six a.m. to contort myself into unnatural positions.

  My bed was calling me, so I turned off my mobile, switched on the answering machine and climbed under the duvet for a few hours of divine uninterrupted sleep.

  ‘How was the course?’ asked Mum when she popped in at lunchtime.

  ‘Interesting,’ I said. ‘Some of it was a bit boring, but some of it was brilliant.’

  ‘What were the people like?’

  ‘Mad. But actually by the end of it, they’d sort of grown on me. Even a grumpy old one called Prudence.’ Prudence had given me a huge hug when I left, as though I was her dearest friend. ‘It’s fantastic to be home, though. It feels so quiet and comfortable and roomy and there’s loads I can do here.’

  Mum smiled. ‘Did I ever tell you the story about the farmer who felt his house was overcrowded and went to see a wise man?’

  I shook my head.

  ‘I use it at work sometimes when I’m talking to people who are unhappy with their lot in life. Want to hear it?’

  I nodded.

  ‘A farmer was very unhappy with his home,’ she started.

  ‘He had a wife and two daughters and only one room. He went to a wise man and asked what he could do to improve the situation. The wise man told him to move in three dogs. So he did what he was told. The next day, the wise man told him to bring in the cow from the field and let it sleep with them. The farmer thought it was a bit strange, but again, did as he was told. The next day, the wise man told him to bring in the chickens. The next day, a few goats. By the end of the week, there was a whole farmyard living in the house and it was unbearable. The farmer went back to the wise man and asked him what to do next. First take out the dogs then the cow, said the wiseman. Then the next day, the goats, then the hens. The farmer did what he was told until he was back to the original situation. His wife and his two daughters and himself. He was over the moon. It felt so quiet and spacious and the farmer never felt unhappy again.’

  ‘Exactly,’ I said.

  ‘Well, let’s see how long the feeling lasts,’ Mum laughed. ‘And your dad called me from the shop. He said that Chris’s son was at the course?’

  ‘Yeah, Daniel. Creep.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘We were getting on brilliantly but then he just left, no message, nothing. Honestly, boys - you never know where you are with them.’

  Mum smiled. ‘Oh, I think you may hear from him sooner than you think. He phoned the shop today to ask for our number here.’

  ‘Really?’ I felt my spirits lift in an instant and dashed to check the answering machine. There were two messages flashing.

  ‘Hi, it’s Nesta, call me when you get back,’ said the first.

  ‘Hey Lucy, it’s Daniel,’ said the second. ‘Sorry I had to leave last night, I hope Mum gave you the message and told you what happened…Anyway, I’ll call again later.’

  Luckily I didn’t have to wait long as the phone went soon after Mum had returned to work.

  ‘Hey,’ he said.

  ‘What happened?’ I asked. ‘I never got any message from your mum, but then we did leave first thing this morning so I didn’t see her.’

  ‘Flood,’ said Daniel. ‘Our neighbour phoned t
o say that a pipe had burst in his flat and was pouring water into ours. We’re on the ground floor. Anyway, Eric was coming up to London at supper time so I cadged a lift. All sorted now, but I think I got here just in time. You must have been mad at me disappearing like that.’

  ‘No, not at all,’ I fibbed. ‘I had a fabulous evening. To tell you the truth, I didn’t realise that you’d gone until after the lecture.’

  ‘Oh,’ he said, sounding a bit disappointed. ‘I was hoping you’d missed me. I missed you. I felt like we really connected down there and I’d like to see you again, if that’s OK with you.’

  I grinned to myself. I loved the way he came straight out with it. No games, no pretending to be cool. We’d connected, and he wanted to see me again. I decided to be just as honest back.

  ‘I’d like to see you again too. I really liked meeting you.’

  ‘I’ve got a few things to do this afternoon. How about this evening?’

  ‘Fab,’ I said.

  Life couldn’t get better, I thought, after I’d put down the phone. I felt like I was floating on air. I was home. I had a date with Daniel. And there were weeks of the holidays left.

  C h a p t e r 1 2

  Truly, Madly, Deeply

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  The following Friday, I met Izzie and Nesta in Ruby in the Dust.

  ‘At last,’ said Izzie when I walked into the cafe. ‘We were going to put out a missing person’s alert.’

  I grinned back at her. ‘Not missing, just been out a lot.’ I felt chuffed to be the one who’d been too busy to catch up, for a change.

  ‘So, how’s it going with dreamboy?’ she asked as we took our favourite sofas in the window.

  ‘Fantastic,’ I said. ‘I’m in lurve… Truly, madly, deeply.’

  ‘What is this thing called love?’ said Izzie.

  ‘What? Is this thing called love? I replied, joining in one of our games - seeing how many different ways you can say the same sentence.

  ‘What is this thing called, luv?’ said Nesta.

  ‘What is this thing called love?’ I said.

  ‘But it’s great,’ said Nesta, spooning the froth from her hot chocolate into her mouth. ‘You deserve a decent boyfriend after my horrible brother.’

  I’d had an amazing week with Daniel. We’d seen each other every day and decided to be like tourists in London. We went to the IMAX cinema in Waterloo, up on the London Eye, to the Victoria and Albert museum in Kensington to look at the costumes, to a photography exhibition at the Portrait Gallery and we spent ages cruising all the boutiques in Bond Street and Knightsbridge. He knew so much about fashion and its history, and I felt I was learning loads from him as well as having a good time. The best thing, though, was that I felt safe with Daniel. Secure. He phoned when he said he would, he was never late and he didn’t play games about where I stood with him.

  ‘He’s as different to Tony as anyone ever could be,’ I said. ‘He’s so romantic. And when I’m not with him, he sends me lovely text messages. Every day, sometimes five a day. Then on Wednesday when we were in Covent Garden, he bought me a rose and a little fluffy teddy bear. He said it reminded him of me.’

  ‘Aw, sweet,’ said Izzie. ‘I wish Ben would do stuff like that. Knowing him, he’d probably say that kind of thing is all a commercial rip-off and the only people that benefit are the companies that make them for nothing.’

  ‘That’s what Steve says about Valentine’s Day,’ I said. ‘But I think it’s mainly because he never gets anything. I bet he’ll feel differently next year if TJ sends him something.’

  Nesta looked sad. ‘Simon used to be all romantic with me when we first met, but lately, I don’t know, it’s like he’s cooling off or something.’

  ‘No, he adores you,’ said Izzie.

  Nesta shook her head. ‘Nah, I know the signs. Like I phoned him yesterday and he hasn’t called back yet. In the beginning, he always called me straight back.’

  ‘I don’t need to call Daniel,’ I said. ‘He always calls exactly when he says he will and sometimes even before. It’s so fantastic not having to worry or wonder. You know, does he like me? Does he feel the same? I know he does.’

  I was about to launch into telling them about what a great kisser he was, but Nesta looked downcast and I thought that maybe I was being a bit insensitive.

  ‘You’re probably imagining it,’ I said. ‘No one in their right mind would go off you.’

  ‘Well, I only saw him once last week,’ said Nesta, then pouted. ‘It’s been awful and every time I called to talk to you, you were out with Daniel. And even you didn’t return my calls.’

  ‘Don’t be rotten, Nesta,’ said Izzie. ‘I bet that Lucy felt like that enough times when we were off with Ben and Simon, didn’t you, Luce?’

  ‘All in the past,’ I said. All those times when I felt I was billy loner were ancient history. I was so happy now. I felt bowled over by Daniel’s attention and the fact that someone wanted to be with me so much.

  ‘I’ve never been dumped before…’ Nesta started. ‘Just because he hasn’t returned one call doesn’t mean he’s going to dump you,’ I said. ‘He’s probably been busy.’ ‘Too busy to talk to me? To return one call? Get real. There’s one thing I do know about and that’s boys. And when boys want to be with you, you don’t have to spend time agonising over whether he will or won’t call. If he wants to, he calls. What shall I do? Finish with him before he finishes with me? What?’

  ‘Just play it cool for a while,’ said Izzie. ‘I have. I only called twice, then I thought, no way I’m doing this. Reject is not a role I want to play.’

  I didn’t know what to say. Usually it’s me going to Nesta for advice not the other way around. But she did look fed up.

  ‘It will be OK,’ I said, remembering something I’d heard my mum say on the phone to one of her clients.

  ‘All relationships go through down patches. It’s probably just a phase and next week he’ll be back banging on your door begging to see you.’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Nesta, making an attempt to brighten up. ‘Sorry I’m being a downer. So, when am I going to meet loverboy?’

  ‘Tomorrow, if you like. We’re going to Netting Hill. We’re going to go down to Portobello Market to look at the vintage clothes stalls. Do you want to come?’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Nesta, cheering up immediately. ‘When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. Anyway, I love it down there. What are you doing, Iz? Are you seeing Ben?’

  Izzie shook her head. ‘Nah. Actually, I need some space from him. All we ever do is band stuff I’ve been locked up in his garage all week. An afternoon with the girls sounds great. Shall we call TJ?’

  ‘No, I spoke to her,’ I said. ‘She’s on her way back from Scotland and is going round to ours tomorrow to have the great reunion with Steve. Honestly, he’s been like a limp lettuce while she’s been away.’

  ‘Right,’ said Izzie. ‘Tomorrow. That’s settled then.’

  Daniel was waiting for me outside Ladbroke Grove tube and at first he looked disappointed when he saw that I’d brought the girls. Sweet, I thought. He wants me all to himself. He was all in black and looking gorgeous as usual. I felt proud to introduce him to Nesta as my boyfriend.

  ‘So, Lucy tells us that you want to do fashion when you leave school,’ she said as we made our way to the market.

  Daniel nodded and glanced at himself in a mirror in a window. ‘I’ve started already, actually. I did some designs for our end-of-year fashion show at school. Got first prize and the local paper came and did an article.’

  ‘Really,’ said Nesta. ‘We’d love to see them some time, wouldn’t we?’ She turned to Izzie, then back to Daniel. ‘Has Lucy shown you hers?’

  But Daniel wasn’t listening. He’d seen a shop with an interesting display and had taken my hand and hauled me off. ‘Sorry. Just got to show Lucy these designs,’ he called over his shoulder.

  When we got to the market, Daniel insisted that
he buy us all a drink and took us to a cafe he knew. He asked the girls what they wanted, then went to order.

  ‘He didn’t ask if you wanted anything,’ said Izzie.

  I blushed. ‘Oh, I trust his choice. He knows so much about everything, even coffee.’

  Daniel came back a moment later with Cokes for Izzie and Nesta and double espressos for me and him.

  ‘But you don’t like espresso,’ said Izzie as I took a sip.

  ‘It’s what everyone drinks in Milan. It’s an acquired taste,’ said Daniel. ‘She’ll get used to it.’

  I might have been imagining, but I was pretty sure Izzie shot Nesta a ‘look’.

  As the afternoon went on, I could see that Nesta was feeling more and more miserable. She kept checking her mobile for messages and I don’t think it helped that Daniel kept putting his arm around me and playing with my hair and kissing me at every opportunity. That’s one of the things I like about him, it’s like he’s really proud to be with me.

  After about an hour of Daniel and I running into shops and Daniel explaining to me why he thought this outfit worked and that one didn’t, Nesta pulled me to one side. ‘Izzie and I are going for a wander on our own. We feel that we’re a bit in the way, so see you at the tube about four?’

  ‘Yeah, cool,’ I said. I didn’t mind. It meant I had Daniel to myself again.

  Daniel walked me to the tube when it was time and gave me a really smoochy snog in front of the girls before letting me go.

  As I watched him walk away, he kept turning back and waving until he’d disappeared round a corner. A moment later, my mobile bleeped that I had a text message. ‘Big hugs, little bear.’

  I showed it to the girls. ‘See what I mean? He’s so sweet.’

  This time Nesta gave Izzie the funny look.

  They’ve been talking about me, I thought. You don’t hang around with mates as much as I do and not learn to pick up when stuff’s not being said.