.

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

      Everyone fell about. Everyone but Rosie, that is.

      I couldn’t help noticing that our mate didn’t join in Frankie’s scheming. She’d been quiet all day. Any time we asked what was wrong, she said she had a headache.

      This is typical Rosie. She keeps her worries so bottled up, Kenny says it’s a wonder steam doesn’t spurt from her ears. She’s heaps more chilled than she was when she first moved to Cuddington though. It used to take weeks before she’d admit anything was bothering her. Now it’s days at most. Though even now, she tends to withdraw inside herself at the first sign of trouble.

      I couldn’t help feeling tense as we walked home. Mum says I have to learn not to be so sensitive. But I can’t bear those jangly vibes when people are upset, can you? Suddenly I noticed something totally unbelievable. Emma and her new friend were following us.

      The others noticed it at exactly the same moment.

      Emma was obviously desperate for us not to notice her. Each time one of us looked back, she bent down and pretended to tie her shoelace, which has to be the most pathetic ruse ever. (Kenny reckoned she must have seen it on an old 1970s cop show!) Emma’s friend was obviously wondering what on earth was going on.

      “I’ve had enough of this,” growled Frankie. “No one spies on the Sleepover Club and gets away with it.”

      “Spying?” I said in surprise. “Why would Emma spy on us?”

      “Because she’s gone over to the dark side, dummy,” said Frankie. She blocked the pavement, very obviously waiting for the two girls to catch us up. “What’s going on?” she called to them in an aggressive voice. “You’ve been sticking to us like fly paper all day.”

      Emma went bright red, but to my astonishment, the new girl beamed at Frankie and stuck out her hand. “Hi, you must be Frankie!” she said in a genuinely friendly voice. “I can tell from your gorgeous curly hair. Emma’s told me all about you guys. I’m Kirstin.”

      Frankie looked totally confused. She just did NOT know how to react. I felt it was down to me to jump in and save my fellow blonde from humiliation. I grabbed Kirstin’s hand and pumped it up and down.

      “Hi, I’m Fliss. Let me introduce the others. From left to right: Rosie, Lyndz, Kenny and yes, the one with her mouth open is Frankie. I just lurve your trainers, by the way.”

      Kirstin looked pleased. “I got them in Sydney, just before we flew over. I’m Australian if you hadn’t guessed.” She pronounced it “guissed”.

      “I thought so! She sounds exactly like the characters in South Beach, doesn’t she?” Lyndz said excitedly.

      “Emma told me you guys had a bit of a South Beach craze going. I heard you met Brad Martin.” Kirstin made a flirty face. “That guy is so dishy!!”

      “Emma TOLD you we met Brad?” Frankie said suspiciously.

      “She said she almost fainted when he invited you guys up on stage.”

      Frankie scowled. “She must have fainted from jealousy. It was us he invited to perform with him, not the Gruesome Two—”

      Emma frantically tried to shut her up. “So, you’ve finally met my e-pal,” she interrupted brightly. “We’ve been e-mailing each other for over a year now.” Emma went into peals of fake laughter. “But you knew that already, silly me! I’m always telling you about Kirstin, aren’t I?”

      “You are?” said Kenny.

      Emma Hughes suddenly looked at her watch. “Heavens!” she said in an artificial voice. “Is that the time! We’re going to be SO late for my grandmother’s party.” She flashed us a strangely pleading smile. “See you later, guys!”

      Before we could say “Huh?” Emma dragged her bewildered e-pal up the road and out of sight.

      Frankie stared after them with a puzzled expression. “Did you hear that, or did I imagine it?”

      “What?” we chorused.

      Frankie gulped noisily. “I thought she said, ‘See you later, guys’.”

      Kenny looked thoughtful. “She did say that, actually.”

      “Is it a crime?” I said timidly.

      Frankie looked outraged. “It is, actually, Felicity Proudlove. A crime against Nature. Emma made it sound like we were friends with her!”

      Kenny shuddered. “That is creepy.”

      “She was weird at dinner time too,” said Lyndz.

      “Maybe she really has got nits or ants in her pants or whatever?” Rosie suggested.

      “Bats in her belfry more like,” Kenz sniggered.

      Frankie shook her head. “Emma’s up to something. But she won’t get away with it. I’m going to be watching her very closely.”

      “Listen to Frankie the super spy!” Lyndz giggled.

      I was feeling slightly hurt. Why did Frankie have to draw attention to my name like that? It’s not my fault my new stepdad is called Andy Proudlove. Mind you, my real dad’s name is even worse. It’s Sidebotham, would you believe. When it comes to names, my family has the worst luck.

      “Mum will be worrying,” I sighed. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

      I waved to my mates and went speeding down the street. I was still waiting at the pelican crossing when I heard Rosie call my name. She caught me up breathlessly. “Have you got a sec? I need to talk to you.”

      I had an awful feeling like going down too fast in a lift. Rosie can be really touchy sometimes. Obviously I’d upset her and that’s why she’d been acting so strangely. I decided to get in first.

      “I don’t know what I’ve done, Rosie, but I’m so SO sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. And what’s more I’ll never ever do it again, erm, whatever it was.”

      Rosie looked confused. “What? No, Fliss, you haven’t done anything. But I’m really worried about something and I need to talk to someone.”

      A warm glow started up inside me. Rosie trusted me. “You can tell me anything, dummy,” I said. “I’m your mate.”

      I stood at the crossing for ten minutes, listening to Rosie.

      When I finally walked up my front path and put the key in the door, I barely heard my brother and sister’s wails. I trudged upstairs to my bedroom, shut the door, and collapsed miserably on to my bed.

      We’d been looking forward to this trip for ever: since Kenny’s sister Molly went to the same safari park. We’d daydreamed about what animals we’d see and what outfits we’d wear. We’d planned in detail the wonderful sleepover feast we’d have afterwards.

      Now our dreams had ended up in the dustbin of disappointments.

      I knew the awful truth behind Rosie’s СКАЧАТЬ