Model Misfit. Holly Smale

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      bviously the most important thing at a time like this is to remember to maintain the moral high ground. To react with dignity and self-control: noble in defeat, gallant in loss.

      Which is why it’s a massive disappointment when I throw the fake flower bouquet across the kitchen and yell, “Stop trying to ruin my life! This is so unfair! I wish I’d never been BOOORRRN!”

      And charge over to the front door, pull it open and stomp out with as much vigour as I can muster. Leaving it hanging wide open behind me.

      Before I actually run away, I’d just like to point out how incredibly unreasonable my parents are being.

      I’m nearly sixteen. By this age, Isaac Asimov was at university, Eddie Murphy was doing stand-up comedy shows in New York, Louis Braille had invented raised writing, chess champion Bobby Fischer was an international grandmaster and Harry Potter was well on his way to saving the entire world of magic.

      It’s not that I don’t appreciate having people in my life who want to be with me, every step of the way. But still.

      I bet Isaac Asimov didn’t get this kind of disrespect from his parents.

      My plan is to stomp all the way to Nat’s house and then stay there a) forever or b) until my parents are so prostrate with grief at my absence that they’ll let me do whatever I want as long as I come home again.

      Unfortunately the huge silk skirt of my bridesmaid dress gets caught on a bush at the bottom of the road, and by the time I’ve managed to rip myself free I don’t really have any stomping energy left. I just feel like a bit of an idiot.

      Nat’s door swings open before I’ve even knocked, and – not for the first time – my brain spins slightly. When Nat’s mum isn’t covered in colourful miracle paste and wearing a dressing gown, she looks so much like Nat it’s like having a worm-hole into the future.

      “Harriet, darling!” she says, beaming at me. “What a pretty dress!” She leans forward to give me a kiss. “And I adore the tiara.”

      “Hello, Ms Grey,” I say politely. “I’ve run away and I’m living here now.”

      “Are you, sweetie? How terribly exciting.”

      “Is Nat in, please?”

      “She’s upstairs, packing for her trip.” Nat’s mum pauses and sniffs. “And by the smell of it she’s taking my Chanel perfume with her.”

      “IT’S NOT THE CHANEL ACTUALLY, MUM,” Nat yells downstairs. “IT’S THE PRADA. SHOWS HOW MUCH YOU KNOW.”

      Nat’s mum leans up the stairs. “You’re being punished, Natalie. You’re not taking any perfume, mine or otherwise. And no high heels, make-up or jewellery either. I will be checking.”

      Nat appears at the top of the stairs in about half a second, like a magic genie. “Mum. I can’t leave the house without make-up. I’m not a savage.”

      “Maybe the next time you decide to skip an exam because you feel like testing out lipsticks, you’ll think twice.”

      “Or maybe I’ll just check first that my mum isn’t testing out eyeshadow in the aisle behind me.”

      Nat’s mum laughs. “Touché, Natalie. Unfortunately only one of us is Mum and it’s not you.”

      Nat looks furious. “Fine. Whatever. Have it your way, as always.”

      She looks at me and makes her Can You Believe This? face.

      Then she looks at me again with her What The Hell Are You Wearing? face.

      “Harriet, why do you look like something that СКАЧАТЬ