The It Girl: Superstar Geek. Katy Birchall

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СКАЧАТЬ but at the same time wanting him to leave me alone. This, after all, was the person who’d escalated Sophie’s strop at me about setting Josie alight into a full-on tantrum for the whole class to witness.

      ‘I’m interested,’ he replied, smugly.

      ‘It’s nothing important.’

      ‘What does it say at the top?’

      ‘It says you’re going to get us in trouble.’

      ‘Funny.’ We both looked up at Mr Kenton. His head was hanging down and his eyes were closed. A faint snore came from his direction.

      Connor grinned. ‘I think we’re safe.’

      I gave him an ‘end of discussion’ look and went back to my list.

       3. Find a date for the Beatus dance – the ideal would be Brendan Dakers but clearly, at this point, anyone would be an achievement.

       There will be more chance of this happening if I achieve point 1. Brendan Dakers isn’t going to be interested in someone who is not kind and thoughtful. Also he will probably be impressed by someone with cool skills (see point 5 below to nail this one) and by someone who is not a disaster and talks about interesting things (for example, their recent trip to Africa to hand out rice to those in need).

       4. Meet comic book world GOD, Stan Lee, and inspire a great comic strip about a girl keeping London safe from the threat of evil.

       Should this ever happen I will be content for the rest of my days and never complain about one single thing AGAIN. I promise not to say anything embarrassing to the man who created some of the best characters in the world. Note to self: does asking him to make me into a comic book superhero count as embarrassing? Confer with Jess.

       5. Learn how to do hip hop dancing.

       A necessary skill in life. Bound to impress pretty much everyone anywhere. Handy to pull out of the bag in an awkward or sad situation to make things better. Your friend just got dumped? Pull out the running man! Lost your homework the day it’s due in? Wait a second, let me pull out the running man! Hate your life? So does everyone! Pull out the running man!

       6. Save someone’s life.

       Preferably on land and not in the sea because I hate sea weed and jellyfish.

      ‘Wait, you know who Stan Lee is?’

      I whipped my head up. ‘Hey!’

      ‘What? It’s not like you’re covering it very well.’ Connor shrugged. ‘Go on, let me have a look.’

      ‘I didn’t want you to see,’ I complained. ‘How would you like it if I just leaned over and looked at your work?’

      ‘Feel free.’ He slid his notepad along the desk to the edge. ‘You might actually appreciate it.’

      I glanced at the open page and then pulled it closer to gaze down in awe. The notepad was littered with animation sketches. ‘You drew these? They’re good.’

      ‘Thanks. I’m thinking of doing my own graphic novel some day. I approve of point four. Personally I’ve always thought Batman the best creation of all time.’ He pulled his notebook away from my gaze.

      ‘Please, Batman? He’s amazing but Marvel have SO many cooler heroes. Look at Spider-Man, for example.’

      He raised an eyebrow. ‘I’m not going to take that seriously from someone who has learning to hip hop dance higher on their list than saving someone’s life.’

      ‘Who said these were in order of importance?’ Before he spotted point 3, I put a protective arm round my notebook and changed the subject. ‘Who would your superhero be?’

      ‘Sorry?’

      ‘In your comic?’

      ‘I’m waiting for inspiration.’ He grinned. ‘But me probably.’

      ‘How original.’

      ‘I’d have to come up with a superpower.’ He looked thoughtful. ‘What would yours be?’

      ‘It would be cool to control things with my mind, like Jean Grey in X-Men,’ I replied. ‘Before she was taken over by the Phoenix Force and became evil, obviously.’

      ‘Obviously,’ Connor agreed.

      ‘Also,’ I added, noticing him straighten up to try and peer over my arm that was hiding what I’d written, ‘Controlling things with my mind would mean I could make you STOP LOOKING AT MY LIST!’

      Mr Kenton grunted and shifted in his seat. I narrowed my eyes at Connor and continued.

       7. Get over fear of pigeons.

       Ugh, the flapping. Plus it is becoming increasingly difficult to live in London with this phobia.

       8. Invent something useful for mankind.

       So that I can be thought of as charitable and helpful at the same time. Like the clever person who invented that spray balsamic vinegar so that it doesn’t spill all over your plate and ruin your salad.

      ‘What about a pigeon-deflecting helmet?’

      ‘Excuse me?’

      Connor was leaning back in his chair with a biro in his mouth. ‘That covers points seven and eight.’

      ‘No, it doesn’t. Putting on a deflecting helmet wouldn’t cure my fear of pigeons. It would just keep them away from me.’ I sighed. ‘Don’t assume I didn’t already think about that one.’

       9. Have name engraved on a trophy.

       Unlikely to be for a sporting event so may have to think outside the box for this one. Do they give out trophies to people who hand out rice in Africa? (Note to self: research this.)

       10. Train Dog to high five.

       It took him ten months to learn that his name was Dog. This is probably the most ambitious life goal on this list.

      When detention finally finished, I stowed my list away safely into my bag and filed out of the classroom with everyone else towards the main school doors, ready for freedom.

      ‘Hey! Spidey!’ Connor was suddenly at my side. ‘Did you finish your list? When does the world get to witness the hip hop dancing? I’m gripped with anticipation.’

      I snorted. ‘Uh. Never? Forget the list, it is PERSONAL.’

      ‘All right, all right.’ He grinned as he opened the exit door for me and I marched past him. ‘Don’t get your Spidey senses in a twist.’

      ‘OK,’ I grumbled at him, stomping down the steps. ‘Just because I admire the superior skills of Spider-Man СКАЧАТЬ