Bradley’s Bad Decision
Heather Mar-Gerrison
Published by Heather Mar-Gerrison at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Heather Mar-Gerrison
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Chapter 1
4 years ago
“Well Cassie, we’ll be going up to the big school in September – scary huh?” Bradley looked at his best friend with big worried eyes. “I don’t want to go.” His eyes filled with tears and his lip wobbled.
Cassie turned to him and wrapping her plump arms around his shoulders she hugged him to her. “Oh Bradley, stop worrying. Everything will be fine – we’ll always have each other and we might even make some new friends there – it isn’t just the kids from this school that’ll go, is it?”
Bradley wiped his face and smiled, feeling more confident now that he’d confessed his fears to Cassie. “No. That’s true.”
Cassie grinned at him. Her teeth were unfortunately a little bit on the hotch-potch side and she was waiting for braces. Bradley’s teeth on the other hand were beautifully straight. He was a very good looking boy, but he lacked confidence, cried quite a lot if he got pushed over by the bigger boys at play and was generally regarded by his other class mates as a bit of a wuss.
Cassie however, who was a rather plump little girl and lived next door to him, adored him. He was her very best friend and they generally stuck together like glue. Cassie stood up for him and he comforted her when she was called mean names about her considerable bulk and crooked teeth.
“We’ll have fun, I’m sure.” Cassie said with a confidence she was far from feeling. “You’ll see.”
***Four years later***
“Come on Cassie, we’ll be late for school again.”
Cassie waddled after Bradley who had turned into Adonis before her very eyes in recent years. “I’m coming!” She gasped as she finally caught up with him. She grinned up at him. “Your legs almost come up to my shoulders!” She grumbled good-naturedly.
Bradley laughed. “Yeah – who’d have ever thought I’d be taller than you, huh?” He slung his arm around her short fat shoulders and hugged her to himself. Bradley still adored Cassie, even though he had lots of friends and plenty of female admirers.
Cassie on the other hand, had only a couple of really good female friends and Bradley.
“What have you got today?” He asked, looking at her with interest.
“Um,” Cassie looked to the sky for some kind of inspiration. It was difficult to concentrate on anything much when she has skipped breakfast to make sure she had the time to walk up to school with him. Suddenly the idea of a bacon sandwich and a cup of hot, sweet coffee crossed her mind. She blinked rapidly to clear her mind of it. “Biology.” She said with a groan.
“What’s up?” Bradley frowned. He quite liked Biology – of all of his subjects he was actually really rather good at it and it was nice to be as good at something as Cassie once in a while.
“I hate those tiny chairs.” She mumbled.
Bradley reddened slightly. He had been behind a couple of boys last week who had been openly laughing at her rather large bottom hanging either side of the stool.
“Sit next to me at the back today, then.” He said.
She beamed up at him. He was always so wonderfully supportive. “I’d love to, Brad.” She said. “But I don’t think I have my glasses with me!”
Bradley rolled his eyes and laughed. “What are you like?” He said, squeezing her shoulder.
She smiled. “I don’t know – I was in such a hurry to walk with you, I guess.” She murmured, more to herself than to him.
He heard her though and grinned inwardly. He loved Cassie and he was always happy to hear that she felt similar about him. He never thought she would go out with him though – having been friends for so long, he didn’t think she would do the girlfriend thing with him. Of course he didn’t know this – what’s more, he’d never thought to check...
Chapter 2
“So, what are you wearing on Saturday night?” Ethan grinned at Tabby. They were sat in the meadow just outside of Seltham. It was Thursday afternoon and they had nothing to do all afternoon (apart from the mountain of homework they’d been set) except enjoy each other’s company.
“I dunno – maybe my jeans and my new blue top?”
Ethan nodded appreciatively. She’d bought it the Saturday before on a shopping trip with him. They’d both been given the day off by a very generous feeling Gino. “Go and have fun you two! It’sa nice to see you finally getting around to being a couple!” He had bustled off into the back with a big grin on his face, pleased that he had made them both blush.
Both of them being pale skinned with red hair, this wasn’t exactly difficult...
“You’ll look beautiful.” Ethan said, gazing at her reverently.
“Well, thanks.” She mumbled, blushing. She hadn’t quite gotten used to them being an item and it still embarrassed her when he complimented her.
He grinned. “Am I embarrassing you again?” He asked.
“She grinned ruefully at him. “A little.” She admitted.
“Good!” he grinned back at her. “’Cause you look even lovelier when you blush.”
“Oh stop it!” Tabby laughed and pushed him.
Ethan laughed and gathered her to him. “I’m sorry – I’m just so happy that we’ve finally sorted everything out!”
“Me too.” She murmured as his mouth came down to meet hers.
He straightened up after a moment or two. “Hey Tabby – have you managed to finish that assignment we were set in Psychology?”
“Well, kind of – it wasn’t exactly easy though – I don’t think I’ll be getting a particularly good mark.”
“Me either.” Ethan frowned. “Shall we have another go at it before we hand it in?”
Tabby smiled at him. “That’s a good idea – should we wrap all this up and go back to mine to do that now?”
Ethan nodded. “I guess – we’ve been here for hours and you are going a little red on your shoulders.”
Tabby glanced down. “It’s ridiculous – it’s almost October – you’re not supposed to be able to get burned at this time of year!”
“Global warming.” Ethan grinned.
“Yeah, right!”
Chapter 3
“...I hear on the grapevine that Amy Pearson has designs on a certain Mr Hughes...watch out Bradley – rumour has it she’s a bit of a man eater!
Cassie Winters has passed her GCSE in Spanish early – with an A* no less! Very well done to you, Ms Winters ¡Felicidades!”
“Amy wants to know if you’ll go out with her.” Samantha Samuels was looking at Bradley expectantly.
He stared at her. Amy Pearson was one of the most popular girls in the school. She was also a total and utter bitch to Cassie.
“Tell her thanks for asking, but no.” He mumbled, going red as a beetroot.
“What?” Samantha, who was almost as big a bitch as Amy looked at him incredulously. “You’re saying ‘no’ to Amy Pearson?” She bobbed her head from side to side, giving him attitude as she said it.
“Yeah, that’s right.” Bradley looked her straight in the eye as he answered her. “I don’t date bitches.”
Samantha’s jaw dropped, which gave Bradley a certain sense of satisfaction. “Well I’ll pass on the message – she’ll probably be glad to have escaped dating you – she doesn’t date losers!”
She stalked off back to her posse. Bradley shook his head as he watched her go. What was it with these girls? They all seemed to want to date him these days. He really wasn’t interested in any of them. They all seemed the same to him – giggly, silly and totally self absorbed. He glanced across the courtyard towards Cassie. She was sat on the grass, the contents of her bag spread next to her, laughing at something her best friend Beth had just commented on.
He sighed. She was beautiful. She was fat – there was no denying it. She used to be tubby – but once puberty kicked in, instead of getting taller and curving in all the right places, Cassie had seemed to simply balloon in all the wrong ones. Bradley frowned. It’s her mother’s fault. He thought angrily.
He wasn’t wrong. She fed her all sorts of rubbish. Bradley didn’t want to upset her by telling her she was getting too heavy – it wasn’t the sort of thing you could say to your best friend when you were a boy and she was a girl...or at least that was what he thought.
But there was no denying she was still very pretty. Her teeth had been put right by the dentist and were now beautifully straight. She either wore contact lens or her designer glasses and her sense of style was fantastic. Her hair was long, shiny black and lustrous. She was his idea of heaven. He longed to run his hand through that glorious mane while kissing her – in fact he thought of little else most of the time these days – only he wasn’t about to admit that to anyone. None of his friends knew – they would laugh him out of the group.
They all knew he liked her and that he had grown up with her – so they tended not to pick on her too much, knowing that it would annoy him. But if they knew the truth – he shivered. He would be an outsider again and he never wanted to be that kid ever again...
Chapter 4
“Come on, Bradley man – let’s go and play football for a few minutes before class.” Evan grabbed his elbow and started for the fields at the back of the school.
Evan was the only genuinely nice guy in his friendship group. He didn’t really get why he was in the group either and they seemed to have naturally gravitated towards each other as if they both felt like outsiders that had been accidently let in.
Bradley grabbed his bag off the floor and followed him. “We’ll have five minutes, tops.” He laughed.
Evan shrugged. “If it gets you away from all those female hormones then it’s got to be worth it though, eh?”
Bradley grinned at Evan’s train of thought. “I guess.” He agreed.
Cassie watched him as he passed. He was so utterly beautiful.
“Why don’t you just tell him how you feel about him?” Beth asked absently. She was admiring Evan’s bum in his school trousers.
“What?” Cassie tore her eyes away from his retreating back and looked at Beth.
“Bradley.” She whispered. “Why don’t you just tell him that you’re totally into him?”
“I couldn’t do that!” She exclaimed, scandalised. “He’d totally freak – we’re best friends!”
“So what?” Beth shrugged. “I’ll bet he’d be stoked.”
“Huh! Yeah sure he would – did you read that gossip page last week? He’s not going to be chuffed to find his best friend has gone all mushy on him just when he’s found himself someone beautiful and smart and everything.” Cassie looked at Beth as if she was suffering temporary insanity and she hadn’t finished her rant yet either, “May I ask you to just take another look at Bradley and then take a good look at me? Then you might be able to see the slight problem in us dating. He’s Adonis and I am...” She cast around for someone to compare herself with. “...Ugly Betty but with far more poundage!”
“Rubbish – you’re carrying a few extra pounds – so what? Who isn’t?” Beth said kindly.
But the truth was that she was carrying far more than a few extra pounds and she was beginning to worry that if she didn’t do something about it soon, she would be struggling to find anything decent to wear.
“I tell you what – I’ll go on a proper diet. I’ll go to that new slimming club at the Church Hall and I’ll ask him out when I get to my target weight – if he isn’t already in a relationship with Sophie Giddings by then.”
Beth frowned. “There’s no need to go to extremes. I’m sure he likes you – just the way you are.”
Cassie smiled at her friend. “Yeah – that’s all very well – but I’m not happy with the way I am – I’m not changing myself for Bradley or for anyone else for that matter – I’m doing this for me. I can hardly keep up with him anymore – his legs are so long. I want to lose weight so that I feel healthy and so I can find clothes that I can really rock in!”
Beth looked at her admiringly. “You go girl!” She joked. “When’s the class? I’ll come with you.”
Cassie looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow. “You don’t need to come!” She said eyeing her friend’s long slim limbs enviously.
“I know – but I’d like to come and support you.”
“Aw, thanks babe!” Cassie grinned. “But can we keep this between ourselves? – If I fail I really don’t need the fall out.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” Beth tapped her nose conspiratorially.
Chapter 5
Julia was sitting on Ben’s bed, papers strewn around her, a pencil behind her ear and a pen poised at the sheet. It was after school and they were getting their homework done together, as usual.
“What’s up Jules?” Ben looked up from his position on the floor. It was his seat of choice when he was working on his drawings.
“Virgo.” She muttered with a frown. “It’s just not working out today.”
“So, do Pisces or Sagittarius instead.” He shrugged, turning his attention back to his work.
“Already done – this is the last one.”
“What about doing something else then.” He set his pencil down and grinned wolfishly at her.
“Mm.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “What did you have in mind?”
“What do you think?” He grinned again and stood up. Pulling her gently to her feet, he kissed her.
“Wow. I never get sick of that.” She smiled up at him.
“I should hope not.” He smiled back and kissed her again. “So what’s wrong with Virgo then?” He asked, seeing that she was still agitated about it.
“Dunno – the words just won’t come this afternoon – it’s okay – I’ll get around to it later, I guess.”
“I can walk you home if you need to concentrate on it.” Ben offered.
Julia gazed at her boyfriend in wonder. He really was the most thoughtful and loving person in the world.
“Oh, no – I’d much rather be with you than at home trying to figure out Virgo’s day!”
Ben smiled. “Good – I really didn’t want you to go!”
She snuggled into him. “There was never a chance of that!”
“So how’s it going with Amethyst and Selina at the magazine?”
“They’re brilliant – I’ve got no doubt that between them they’ll be able to carry on our great work, once we all leave.”
“Cool – so when are you going to hand over the reins for the horoscopes?”
Julia smiled. “As late as possible – I may have hit a bit of Virgo block today – but you know how much I love writing it – Selina can have it when I move on from 6th form!”
Ben grinned. “That’s my girl!” He hugged her to him.
The magazine was about as successful as it had ever been. The success was down to hard work from all concerned and they were very proud of what they managed to achieve between homework and classes.
“She’s brilliant at that problem page though you know – maybe that’s more her thing than horoscopes – I dunno.” She shrugged.
“Ahh, it doesn’t matter anyway does it?” Ben shrugged.
“Nope, all that matters is that we do well enough to get to Uni.”
Chapter 6
“Hop up on the scales for me then dear.” The lady that ran the weight loss class looked at Cassie with a bright smile.
Cassie grimaced but stood on the scales.
“That’s thirteen stones and eleven pounds.”
Cassie almost fainted. The last time she had been brave enough to get on the scales at home she had been horrified at her twelve stones and seven pounds.
She gaped at the woman. “You’re kidding?” She whispered.
“Nope.” The lady smiled. “It’s all good – you’ve come to the right place. You’ll never be hungry again and you’ll learn what to eat to maximise your weight-loss.” It was a mantra that she was obviously used to quoting, but those words washed over Cassie like a security blanket.
“Really?” She breathed, thinking of herself in a lovely slinky dress on Bradley’s arm at the Prom next year.
“Absolutely!” The lady beamed at her. She could see that this girl had determination and she knew in that very moment as she looked at the expression on Cassie’s face that she had her new slimmer of the year in the making.
Chapter 7
Cassie got up the next morning early and checked her weight loss chart.
“Poached egg on two slices of brown bread.” She mumbled opening the fridge door. “Baked beans on the side.” She grabbed a small tin out of the cupboard. “And a glass of water with lemon infusion.” She took a lemon out of the fruit bowl and filled her glass from the tap.
“Well, that’s far more than I usually eat in the morning.” She grinned at the pile of food in front of her. She checked her chart again just to make sure she wasn’t imagining it. “And I can have a bowl of strawberries too? This is fantastic!” She clapped her plump hands together in glee.
After eating her breakfast and washing it all down with a cup of coffee (with sweetener instead of sugar) she was ready to face the day at school. She walked down the path to where Bradley was waiting for her with a big smile on his face.
“Hey, beautiful!” He called.
“Hi handsome!” She grinned back at him.
He slung his arm over her shoulder as was usual and they made their way up to school together.
Cassie had made a conscious decision not to let Bradley know about her plan to lose weight. She knew he would be supportive, but he would probably tell her that it wasn’t necessary and she didn’t need someone trying to talk her out of it. She wanted to do this for herself – if he still didn’t want to go out with her when she was slim and (hopefully) beautiful then at least she might be attractive enough to find someone else – well maybe one day, when she had forgotten Bradley ever existed which would be never, so...
They got to school and went their separate ways.
Lunchtime was going to be tricky. He usually came to sit with her and she generally had either the lasagne or a burger and chips, but today she was going to have something off the lighter menu, as she had discussed with the lady from the weight loss class the night before. She felt entirely confident in herself that she could actually do this.
Lunchtime came and went and she felt a mixture of happiness to have eaten without seeing him and sadness that she’d missed him. Still all she had to do now was to have her planned evening meal and the first day of her new eating regime was achieved.
“How was your day, honey?” Her mother asked in her very slightly Spanish accent as she sat down.
“Oh, it was fine, thanks.”
“Lovely – I thought we’d go out for dinner.” Her mother smiled broadly. “Dad and I found this lovely little place.”
“Sorry, Mum.” Cassie said firmly, shaking her head. “I’m not coming out – I was serious about losing some weight and I can’t go out for dinner and ruin everything.”
Her mother looked at with narrowed eyes and said sharply. “You will end up anorexic!”
“Yeah, right – like that’s going to happen!” Cassie rolled her eyes. “Mother – I’m nearly fourteen stone – the chances are that I will die of a heart-attack before I even get to my goal weight if I don’t start changing my ways!”
Her mother frowned. “Fourteen stone?” She echoed. “But that cannot be possible.”
“’Fraid it is, Mum.” Cassie replied flippantly, as she opening her book and bit into her apple.
Her mother left the room.
Chapter 8
“...Our Netball team are flourishing under Sapphire’s fantastic team management this term – well done girls – keep up the good work....and on the subject of Sapphire – her boyfriend and the rest of the Basketball team are doing pretty well too – do those two practice together in their spare time? Just a passing thought...On to more romantic business, I heard on the grapevine that Jamie Daniels has decided to move to California with Becky Willis next year – good luck out there guys!...and staying at home (or rather flying the nest but remaining on English soil) Josh Mason has been accepted at Loughborough University – as has his lovely girlfriend Freya Templeton...”
Selina looked up in surprise as the door creaked open.
She was alone in the IT office, having dashed there between eating her lunch and the end of the lunchtime break in an attempt to keep up with the problem page demands put upon her.
Will was a great help when he was actually available, but all of his time was being taken up with football since the start of the football season.
What she had found herself doing instead of tackling the mountain of new problems was reading Amethyst’s latest gossip sheet that she had left on the desk. It was a great read and she had gotten completely engrossed in it.
She sighed as she spotted Cassie. Now she wasn’t going to be able to get on with what she wanted to do. She forced a smile.
“Cassie, hi. What’s up?”
“Um, nothing. I just wondered if I could have a quick word with you.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Well, I wondered if it was you who did the problem page?”
Selina smiled. “I’m not actually allowed to discuss who does it with anyone.”
“Well, okay. It doesn’t really matter to me if it’s you or anyone else. I just wondered if you could have a general advice page too.”
Selina frowned. “I’m not sure I understand.” She said.
Cassie grinned. “I guess I’m not making too much sense. Okay – well I’ve started to attend a weight loss class and I found that I was far heavier than I thought and I know I’m not alone in carrying a few extra pounds.” She grinned sheepishly, going a little pink. “I thought you could do a healthy lifestyle page or something.” She shrugged. “It’s difficult when you get no encouragement.”
Selina nodded slowly. It was a good idea. “I’ll talk to Rachel.” She promised. “She and Miles are the editors after all.”
Cassie beamed at her and then turned to leave.
“Hey, Cassie – before you go.” Selina had been surprised when Cassie had said she was dieting.
Cassie turned back. “What?”
“How’s the diet going?”
Cassie grinned then and her whole face lit up. “It’s going great. I’m totally losing weight even though it’s only the first week!”
“Well that’s fantastic! Are you coming on Saturday night to the Harvest Festival Disco?”
Cassie shook her head. “Nah – I’ve got to go out with Mum and Dad.” She grimaced, remembering the evening before. “Mum doesn’t believe that I need to lose any weight and it’ll be really difficult to order a decent meal.”
Selina smiled sympathetically. “Just go for something light.” She offered.
Cassie nodded. “Yeah, I already called the restaurant and they do a light menu so it’ll be fine. Anyway – gotta go – I said I’d wait for Bradley before our next class.”
Selina looked at Cassie admiringly. She was really determined. She noticed that Cassie’s cheeks had reddened slightly at the mention of Bradley and guessed that he meant a little more to her these days than just her next door neighbour and good friend.
She watched her go and wondered if Bradley had any idea that his beautiful little friend had fallen in love with him....
Chapter 9
“Are you going to the Harvest Festival Disco on Saturday?” Cassie squinted up at Bradley in the afternoon sunshine.
“No. I’ve got to go and watch Lauren’s play.” Bradley didn’t sound so terribly put out by that. Cassie wondered briefly why, but then she remembered that Sophie Giddings would probably be going too.
“Will Sophie be there?” She smiled at him.
He grinned back, blushing. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Why don’t you just ask her out?” Cassie urged. And put me out of my misery of hoping that I might someday have a chance with you.
He frowned at her. Bradley was in a dilemma. As much as he really loved Cassie, he did quite fancy Sophie – more to the point, Sophie Giddings was slim and attractive and would fit in completely with the ‘in’ crowd that he was mysteriously a part of.
He found himself justifying himself with the thought that Cassie wouldn’t be encouraging him to date Sophie if she was in any way interested in him herself and completely ignored the fact that she went all pink when he agreed that he should just ask Sophie out.
“Let me know how things pan out.” She mumbled as she left him to go to her AS Level Spanish class.
He watched her go. She looked smaller today somehow – vulnerable even.
He hadn’t even asked if she was going to the disco. What sort of a mate was he turning out to be?
Chapter 10
Cassie took her seat at the back of the class. It was her favourite subject and she was very good at it – it was no surprise really, what with her mother being Spanish. Cassie had plans to study it at A Level and then also at University. She had already passed her GCSE earlier in the year with an A* and had been allowed to study with the older students for her A Level. She definitely wanted to do something with it for a job once she’d left school.
The teacher swept into the room and immediately started talking in Spanish.
There were a few groans around the room from those who weren’t so enthusiastic about the subject, but Cassie grinned to herself and immediately turned to the page in her textbook that the teacher had told them to find.
She had finished before everyone else, just as she usually did and let her mind drift to Bradley. She really didn’t want him to ask out Sophie Giddings. It was a dead cert that she would accept. Bradley was so gorgeous it would be difficult to imagine anyone turning him down.
The bell eventually rang signalling the end of the day and she gathered her stuff together.
Claudia Stafford was waiting for her outside the classroom. She approached Cassie nervously.
“Hello Cassie – would you mind if I walked back home with you again?” Claudia had noticed that she only lived a few houses further along the road to Cassie and since she hadn’t made any other friends; she had taken to walking with Cassie whenever she saw her.
Cassie gave her a beaming smile. She felt a little sorry for this lovely looking but a little bit lost girl.
Claudia was fairly new to the school, having only joined at the beginning of the school year. She had made an immediate impression of being somewhat obsessed with her ex-boyfriend Ethan Strange, who had moved into the area (and fallen headlong in love with Tabby Pratt) ahead of her in the previous term.
She had made a complete fool of herself a couple of weeks before and Cassie had taken pity on her when she had overheard a girl in her year being mean to her on the way home from school. Kerry Longford was a bitch. Everyone knew it and most people avoided her.
Kerry’s motive for being nasty to her was quite obvious. Her ex-boyfriend, Paolo Maxwell, had been more than a little interested in Claudia since she had arrived, and he had been particularly nice to her over her behaviour concerning Ethan.
Since then he hadn’t been overly attentive, but Cassie thought it was only a matter of time before they became an item.
“Of course you can Claudia. Beth’s staying behind today anyway – she’s got netball practice or something.” She rolled her eyes. “Nothing that I could see myself taking part in.” She grinned self-deprecatingly and held her arms wide glancing down at her rather full figure.
Claudia giggled. “Oh Cassie, you are funny!” She said.
Cassie sighed. “Yeah, that’s me – the fat funny one.”
Claudia frowned. “Don’t be silly – I don’t think that. I actually think you’re really rather beautiful.”
Cassie stared at her. “Yeah, right.” She said sarcastically.
“You are.” Claudia insisted. “Look at your hair and your eyes. They’re neither brown or green – they seem to change with your mood!”
Cassie laughed. Her mother said that to her too. “Yeah – they’ve always done that.” She said.
“And so what if you’re a little on the heavy side? – nobody’s perfect Cassie.”
Cassie sighed. “I know – except Bradley.” She gave Claudia a pained look.
“No he’s not – if he was perfect he’d love you right back!” Claudia retorted hotly. She was still smarting slightly that Ethan had so very publicly rejected her. Even though she knew she’d been really awful over the whole affair, it still hurt like hell.
Cassie smiled understandingly. “Yeah, Mr Right must be out there, mustn’t he?”
“God, I hope so. I’m getting old here waiting!”
At that precise moment they exchanged a surprised look as Claudia’s name was called loudly from behind them.
“Wow – that was fast.” Claudia murmured. Cassie stifled a snort of laughter.
Claudia turned and blushed prettily as Paolo Maxwell approached them at speed. He was out of breath by the time he got to them.
“Hey.” He said grinning.
“Hey.” Claudia replied.
He started to go a little red as he stood there with nothing else to say. Eventually however, he found his voice.
“Um, Claudia. I know you said you weren’t going to the Harvest Festival Disco, but I um wondered if you’d like to come with me?...Maybe.” He looked at her shyly.
Claudia looked wide-eyed at Cassie, who grinned back at her, nodding her head.
She turned towards him. “I – I don’t know. Ethan might be there with Tabby – I’d feel really stupid.”
Paolo looked thoughtful. “I see your point.” He murmured. “What about the cinema then?”
Claudia’s jaw dropped. He was really serious about taking her out.
“I would love to go with you.” She said breathlessly. “But please let me just remind you – I am that nutter who stalked her last boyfriend.”
Paolo grinned. “I already told you that I was happy to take my chances.”
Grinning all over her face Claudia nodded. “Cool. Then it’s a date!”
Paolo grinned happily. “Cool.” He agreed. He cycled off.
Claudia grabbed Cassie’s hand excitedly. “Did that really just happen?” She squealed.
Cassie squeezed her hand back. “It really did!” She agreed, wishing wholeheartedly that Bradley would just ask her out in exactly the same way...
Chapter 11
Bradley sighed. He had escaped to the sanctuary of his bedroom for an hour before being hauled off to the Arts Academy for another show. He never thought he’d have to sit through so many shows. He should have known better of course, having an older sister that practically ate, drank and slept show tunes.
Lauren – his sister. Show tune writer extraordinaire.
He was proud of her – of course he was. He was just a little fed up of having to sit through so many of her productions. They were absolutely relentless – he would have preferred it if his parents would remember that he had a life of his own too. He wanted to spend a little more time doing his own thing. He wanted to go to the Harvest Festival Disco. He wanted to hang out at the coffee shop with his mates. He wanted to spend a little more time talking to Sophie...
Sophie. He lay back on his pillows and thought about her. She really was beautiful. All that lovely spun gold coloured hair and those soft not quite brown and not quite green eyes – oh no, wait a minute that was Cassie – he didn’t actually have any idea what colour Sophie’s eyes were. Blue maybe?
Well, whatever colour they were, she was lovely. Lovely and interesting and funny and...and he’d run out of things. He didn’t really know her that well, but everyone else he hung around with (with the exception of Cassie, and she was supportive of him whatever it was he wanted) thought she was a great girl and that he should go for it.
The best thing about her at the moment was that she knew exactly how he felt about the relentless shows – her older sister was also at the Arts Academy and was one of the main singers in the shows.
He suddenly sat up and brightened. Maybe she would be there – this was a new production after all and she may be hauled along too. He could always hope...
Chapter 12
“You’re very edgy tonight, Brad.” His dad grinned at him. “What’s up? Are you afraid that some of your mates might see you tapping your foot to a show tune?”
Bradley grinned ruefully. “You got me!” He lied. He didn’t really want to discuss his potential romance right now. His dad meant well, but he was absolutely useless at relationship issues.
“I wonder if Maggie’ll be here tonight.” His dad mused.
Bradley rolled his eyes. His dad had been talking about this woman Maggie for a couple of weeks now. Lauren said she was pretty for an older woman and Bradley wasn’t all that sure he was happy about it. He’d kind of gotten used the fact that they no longer had their mum around – things hadn’t been great between his parents for a while now and she’d recently moved out.
Lauren lived with her in a flat near to the Arts Academy and he and his dad dutifully went along to all the shows. It was the only time he saw his mother, so he wasn’t about to stop going along.
He thought they might have patched things up by now, but they hadn’t and he hadn’t been totally shocked to find out from Lauren that his dad had had more than one affair in the past.
“Mum isn’t even bitter about it!” Lauren had raged at him. “She just said that they weren’t compatible and that she’s much happier now that she’s living away from him!”
Even so, it wasn’t nice to imagine his dad fancying another woman – and he really didn’t want to imagine him doing anything remotely romantic (or if he was going to be completely honest with himself – anything remotely sexual) with her. He suppressed a shudder and commanded himself not to think of such things.
They found their seats quite easily having gotten there early. Lauren waved from the side of the stage and Brad raised his hand in recognition. He looked around to see if he could spot his mum. There she was on the other side of the auditorium. She waved enthusiastically to him. He grinned widely and waved back.
He was just settling himself back to check the program (just to see how long he had to suffer before he could go home and get started on his homework) when someone poked him quite hard in the back.
He turned indignantly, ready to give whoever it was a mouthful.
He swallowed his words before they even got a chance to come out of his mouth. It was Sophie, looking even more gorgeous than she usually did.
“Hi, I thought it was you.” She grinned at him, going slightly pink.
Bradley’s dad had heard their exchange and turned himself.
“Maggie!” He exclaimed.
“Derek!”
Sophie turned to her mother. “Do you know Bradley’s dad?”
Bradley turned to his dad in mild horror. No, this cannot be happening! Not Sophie’s mum!
“Well, we don’t know each other very well, but we’ve met.” Maggie smiled.
Derek grinned too. “Yeah, we’ve only seen each other a few times here.”
Bradley wondered just how often – never when he’d been around. That didn’t quite ring true – he glanced at Sophie, she was frowning at her mother.
Well that certainly changed things. Nothing like finding out your dad was dating the mother of a girl you fancied to extinguish your proverbial bonfire...
Sophie looked towards Bradley with a grimace. “Did you know your dad was dating my mum?”
“I had absolutely no idea.” He said fervently. “No idea.”
“God, me either – this is a bit awkward isn’t it?” She pulled a face.
Bradley nodded. “I hope they’re not getting serious – I can’t imagine us all playing happy families!”
Sophie shuddered at the idea. He realised when she looked back at him that her eyes were indeed blue – a rather icy blue with very little warmth in them. They were nothing like the beautiful not quite brown, not quite green eyes of Cassie.
The lights went down suddenly and a hush fell across the crowd. The play was about to start.
Bradley leaned back in his seat and allowed himself to drift away into his own little world. He did this a lot – usually in Maths class – but that was okay because Cassie had his ass covered there. She was a mathematical genius and a far better teacher in his opinion than Mr Crawshaw could ever be.
He smiled to himself as he thought about Cassie. She was so lovely. She’d been his best friend forever. He’d been neglecting her recently in favour of his other so called friends. They were okay, but they all (with the exception of Evan) thought they were better than everyone else. He wondered just how the hell he’d managed to fall in with them. It was a total mystery to him.
Bradley’s problem was his lack of self-confidence. He didn’t dare tell any of his mates that he wanted to go out with Cassie. And the reason for that was that they might drop him – he was terrified of being left out of the ‘in’ crowd.
The play was long and boring (well maybe not to everyone but Bradley wasn’t exactly interested). His father shook him awake at the end of the play and he felt a little foolish, hoping against hope that he hadn’t snored or drooled in front of Sophie.
Sophie had already gone when he finally plucked up the courage to look over his shoulder. He checked his chin for drool and was relieved to find none.
His dad was grinning at him exasperatedly. “I hope Lauren didn’t notice you snoring!” He laughed.
Bradley blushed. “I didn’t did I?”
“No, I’m just pulling your leg!” His dad turned and started striding towards the exit. Bradley grabbed his jacket and followed him.
Chapter 13
Julia was happy. Her friends were all in the same place, which was where she liked them best.
Rachel and Miles were sat together, hands entwined and looking into each other’s eyes.
Becky and Jamie were at the bar, getting everyone drinks, she and Ben were sitting a little bit away from Rachel and Miles and Lucy and Jake had just arrived too, hand in hand and still looking all loved up.
Julia gazed at them, in a world of her own.
Ben noticed her staring and nudged her. “What’s up, babe?”
She jumped. “Wh-what?” She stammered.
“You were staring off into space, but actually you seemed to be staring at Jake and Luce.”
“I was, wasn’t I?” She smiled self consciously. “I just realised that I still haven’t gotten around to writing up Virgo for this month and it’s due in on Monday!”
Ben grinned. “Have they just inspired you?”
Julia laughed. “Actually, yes! I’ll be able to write it when I get in later!”
Ben rolled his eyes and laughed. “You amaze me!” He chortled.
Just at that moment Joe and Sapphire arrived. “Hey guys!” Joe called to Ben and Julia and he immediately sat down next to Ben and started talking rapidly about his most recent win at Basketball. Sapphire smiled at Julia and sat down next to her.
“Hi Jules. How’s things?” She asked.
“Great! Your sister’s gossip sheet is about the best thing that’s happened to the magazine recently!”
Sapphire’s eyes grew round as she registered what Julia had just said. “It’s Amma that writes it?” She asked, shocked.
Julia reddened. “She hasn’t told you?” Oh God! Me and my big mouth!
It was Sapphire’s turn to blush. “No, she hasn’t – but please don’t tell her that you told me – if she wanted me to know, she’d have told me by now.”
“I think she thought she wasn’t allowed to.” Julia said lamely.
Sapphire smiled. “You don’t need to make excuses for her, Julia. It doesn’t matter anyway – she doesn’t have to tell me everything she does – I didn’t tell her for ages that I was going to be in the school play last year.”
“I didn’t mean to cause any trouble between you.” Julia said miserably.
“You haven’t.” Sapphire assured her.
Amethyst appeared suddenly behind them both. She was with her new boyfriend, Aaron and she was looking radiant.
“Hey you guys.” She beamed at them both, who by comparison to her beaming smile seemed to have wilted.
“Oh, my God! What’s happened? You both look like you’re going to the gallows!”
Julia mumbled. “I ought to be.”
Sapphire grinned back at her sister. “Julia was just telling me something about the school magazine, that’s all.”
Amethyst looked uncomfortable. “Oh yeah?” She asked.
“Yeah.” Sapphire’s eyes gleamed mischievously.
“She told you about the gossip page, didn’t she?” Amethyst asked accusingly.
Sapphire’s eyes widened slightly. Amethyst groaned and closed her eyes. “I should have told you myself. I just wanted to get established first.”
Sapphire jumped up and hugged her sister. “I love it! I think you’re writing is brilliant – and I loved being mentioned in it the other week.”
“Aw, thanks Sis – do you really like it?” Amethyst might portray herself as the most confident of girls, but underneath it all she was a bag of nerves.
Aaron leaned over the table. “Can I get you a coke, Amma?”
She turned, her hand automatically reaching into her jeans pocket to pay for it herself. He put his hand on her arm. “I’m buying these.” He said firmly.
As she opened her mouth to argue, he pressed a finger gently against her lips.
“I’m allowed to treat my girlfriend to a glass of coke every now and then you know?” He smiled at her.
She grinned back and nodded. “I’d love one, thanks.” She said.
He sauntered off to the bar. Sapphire turned to Amethyst. “So we finally get to see the new boyfriend then.”
Amethyst gave her sister a withering look. “He’s been around to ours a few times now – Ruby and Topaz like him and he’s met Mum too – it’s just you – if you didn’t spend so much time holed up at Joe’s house, you might have crossed paths!”
Joe grinned across the table. “What can I say? It’s my animal magnetism – she can’t keep away from me!”
Amethyst laughed. “Idiot!” She said. Joe looked at Sapphire in mock outrage. “You’re not going to let her get away with that are you?”
“Are you kidding me?” She retorted. “The ammunition she’s got against me and the writer of the gossip sheet? She can say anything she likes to you!”
“Charming!” Joe laughed good-naturedly.
Amethyst excused herself and went to find Aaron.
“Well, the turn-out’s been good tonight.” Sapphire turned back to Julia.
“Yeah it’s not bad.” She nodded. “I was thinking of doing something for charity soon.”
“As in what?” Sapphire frowned.
“I dunno – something that’s fun and that can actually be done during the day, rather than everything always having to be a disco or something.”
Sapphire raised her eyebrows. “What about a Genie day.”
“A Genie day?”
Sapphire grinned. “Yeah – the guys have to be Genies and the girls get to be their Masters and they can have three wishes.”
A slow smile crept over Julia’s face. “You Martin girls have got a lot of great ideas! Thanks – that might just be the best idea we’ve come up with yet. Would you like to be on the committee?”
“Sure.” Sapphire agreed easily. “Anything.”
Chapter 14
Emily Myers was sat in the corner, alone. She was resting her chin on her hand while staring ahead, not really seeing anything; lost in her own miserable little world.
It wasn’t that she didn’t think Jenson was good – he was brilliant. He and the other guys that made up The Dudes had all been improving over the last couple of years and she was certain if they actually did go and audition for X Factor or Britain’s Got Talent, they would walk it. It was simply that when he was in the zone, there really was only the Dudes – and the pretty girls who made up 99% of the fan base.
And then she was an afterthought – oh yeah, I do have a girlfriend...
She jumped as Julia approached her.
“Hey Ems, why don’t you come and join us?”
Emily looked up and smiled wanly at her friend. “Oh, if you’re sure.” She grabbed her handbag and followed Julia back to their rowdy, friendly crowd.
“Hey guys.” She smiled all around and sat down, feeling almost immediately better.
She felt better still when Danny Brookes, a boy from her Technology class came by and sat down next to her.
“Hey Ems.” He said, eyeing her with interest. He wondered why she wasn’t sat in her usual spot – admiring her boyfriend. Maybe he was in with a chance after all...
“Hi Dan,” She said warmly. Danny was really nice. He made her laugh until her sides hurt in class with his smart comments and twinkly eyes. The teacher adored him on the quiet, even though he was at best like an annoying itch that you couldn’t quite reach and at worst was really quite disruptive.
“I haven’t done the homework.” He grinned at her disarmingly. “Have you?”
She looked at him exasperated. “Yes, of course I have!”
He grinned again. “Fancy helping me?”
She rolled her eyes. “I suppose I could.” She bit her lip. Did that count as cheating on your boyfriend?
“Great – wanna come over tomorrow?” His eyes were distractingly twinkling at her again.
She gazed back at him and shrugged. Well why not? She glanced over to the stage. The Dudes were having a break for a drink and Jenson hadn’t bothered to come and find her. She frowned as she spied him with his arm slung around some year 10 girl’s shoulder and whispering in her ear.
He didn’t seem to think that was cheating on her. She turned back to Daniel who was looking at her hopefully. “Sure – what time?” She said boldly.
Danny glanced up at the stage with a small frown before he turned back to her with a dazzling smile. “Would eleven o’clock be okay with you?”
“Eleven sounds great.” She said firmly.
Amethyst had been sat with her back to them both and neither would have any idea that she had heard every word.
She didn’t really know Emily, being a couple of years behind her in school, but she knew that she and Jenson had been an item for a while. Was the relationship on the rocks then?
She looked around the room surreptitiously. She glanced towards Emily who was deep in conversation with Danny now about the Technology homework and was paying no attention at all to Jenson – perhaps that was a good thing since he seemed to have his lips locked with Amy Pearson – well how outrageous was that when his girlfriend was only on the other side of the room?
She looked towards her sister. Sapphire was talking to Julia so neither of them was taking much notice of anything else around them.
Selina however was sat with her mouth slightly open and was staring at the stage and then kept glancing quickly towards Emily. So she had noticed too.
Amethyst got up and moved around the table to Selina.
“Would that be classed as malicious gossip or outing a cheating scumbag?”
Selina shook her head slowly. “I don’t know.” She said helplessly. “Why don’t you trip over right behind Emily or something on the way back to your chair so she turns around and catches him in the act?”
Amethyst grinned. “Good one.” She turned back. As she passed Emily’s chair she convincingly caught her heel in Emily’s bag strap and tumbled. Emily jumped up with a shriek.