Read Online Following Flora by Natasha Farrant - Free Book Online

swept out, saying he was impossible, and pretending not to notice that everyone was laughing at her.
    â€œHow is Jake?” Mum asked me to change the subject.
    â€œForget about Jake!” Flora cried from the landing. “They haven’t even
kissed
yet!”
    â€œI’m glad to hear it!” Dad roared back at her.
    If you could die from blushing, I would be stone-cold dead.
    â€œActually,” I muttered, “I have a date with him this afternoon.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful!” Mum patted my hand. “And you mustn’t worry about the kissing.” She yawned. “There’s plenty of time for that.”
    And just like that, she fell asleep. Jas and I stared at her, amazed.
    â€œDo you think she’s all right?” Jas whispered.
    â€œShe looks quite peaceful,” I whispered back.
    â€œPlenty of time for kissing,”
Jas smirked.
    â€œShut up,” I said.
    Flora is so right not to want Zach to meet our family.
    Â 
    MONDAY, DECEMBER 9
    I couldn’t bring myself to write about my date with Jake yesterday. It was sort of—hurtful.  I stayed in my room all of Sunday, and thought about not going to school at all today, except unlike Zach’s mother Mum doesn’t believe in people missing school unless they are ill.
    Dodi pounced on me straight after registration, having already heard the most essential details.
    â€œTom and Colin went too?” she cried. “I don’t believe it!”
    â€œHow did you know?” I asked.
    â€œCressida saw you on line. She couldn’t believe it either. She says you went to see
X-Men
!”
    â€œI happen to like
X-Men
,” I lied. I couldn’t tell her the truth, either about the film, or about the fact that Jake hardly talked to me the whole time.
    Dodi said that the point wasn’t whether I liked it or not, the point was it just wasn’t the sort of film you took someone to on a first date, with or without a posse of your best friends.
    â€œI can’t believe Cressida is gossiping about me,” I said.
    â€œThe problem is that you’re too familiar,” Dodi said. “Jake sees you too much as a friend.”
    â€œThe problem,” I corrected her, “is that he obviously doesn’t want to go out with me anymore.”
    â€œYou have to make yourself more alluring,” Dodi decided.
    â€œHow?” I asked.
    â€œMore seductive.”
    â€œHOW?” I repeated.
    â€œPout, or flutter your eyelashes or something. Maybe giggle when he talks to you. Put on some more lip gloss. I haven’t seen you wear makeup once since your makeover.”
    â€œLip gloss makes my lips sticky,” I said. “And I refuse to giggle. Flora does it all the time with Zach and it’s really annoying.”
    Dodi rolled her eyes like I was the annoying one.
    â€œSmile,” she ordered.
    I grinned, baring my teeth.
    â€œNot at me!” she screeched. “At him! And
nicely
! Take off your glasses.”
    I put my glasses in my pocket and smiled more softly.
    â€œGood,” said Dodi. “You know, you really are so pretty when you try. And now I’m going to talk to Jake again.”
    â€œI’d really rather you didn’t,” I told her, but she was already gone.
    Â 

THE SAGA OF BLUEBELL AND JAKE
THE KISS (take 2)
    BLUE, accompanied by DODI, comes out of the school gate. JAKE is waiting on the pavement. Dodi nudges Blue, who removes her glasses. She is wearing lip gloss. Jake leaves TOM and COLIN and marches up to her, looking determined and still a little bit tanned and therefore quite handsome.
    JAKE
    (sounding as determined as he looks)
    Walk you home?
    Â 
    BLUE
    (beaming, trying not to look like this whole episode isn’t mortifying)
    Why thank you, kind sir.
    Â 
    Together, they head off toward the park. Blue steals a glance over her shoulder. Dodi pouts and blows kisses. Colin and Tom see her and snigger. Jake ignores them.