Read Online Paper Alice by Charlotte Calder - Free Book Online Page A

per cent. A bit like Baddo and me, I guess.
    Though Milly’s worth ten of Baddo, says an unbiased me.
    I cleared my text and started again. Going to sleep – new resolution – early nights! Speak tomorrow xx. Then I pushed send and determinedly switched it off. Turned off my lamp and lay there on my back, arms by my side like a carved figure on an old tomb, staring up into the darkness.
    With all the hilarity the trip to the station had gone in a flash and suddenly there we were, stopped at a red light, with the entrance to Central just across the intersection.
    â€˜OK,’ said Andy, unclicking his seatbelt, ‘I’ll jump out here.’
    â€˜Oh,’ I started, as Milly and I twisted around. ‘OK . . .’
    He started to open the door, but then leaned forward and put a hand on my shoulder.
    â€˜Hey,’ he said. ‘Thanks.’
    I looked at his hand. Then into the blue, quizzical eyes.
    â€˜Catch ya later,’ he added, getting out. ‘See ya, Milly.’
    â€˜Hey,’ said Milly, ‘don’t forget your bag!’
    â€˜Whoops.’ He leant in again and grabbed his backpack off the seat. The light, meanwhile, had changed; the car behind honked loudly.
    â€˜All right !’ cried Milly, whirling round and automatically raising a finger at the driver. ‘Chill!’
    Andy grinned at her.
    â€˜Scary!’
    Then he pulled his head out again and was off, merging with all the office workers crossing at the lights.
    We took off over the intersection, Milly craning her neck to catch another glimpse of him.
    â€˜Hey,’ she said, ‘ cute !’
    And suddenly – whether because of road rage, silly Milly and all that she’d put me through, or whatever – I was furious.
    â€˜ Mill ,’ I cried, ‘lay off!’
    She glanced round at me in surprise. I shoved my indicator down to change lanes, my heart thumping. Then yelled, ‘Shit!’ and swerved back again as a car right there in my blind spot blared its horn.
    â€˜He – he’s got a girlfriend,’ I went on in a morereasonable voice, after I’d straightened up. ‘He lives with her, in Summer Hill.’
    Small silence. Milly folded her arms.
    â€˜Mmm,’ she said airily, ‘don’t we know all about him!’
    My eyes slid sideways; I made a withering face.
    â€˜And what is that supposed to mean?’
    Milly smiled and shrugged, all infuriating innocence.
    The car in front stopped suddenly; I braked and we lurched forward in our belts. Never again, I thought, will I drive in the city in rush hour.
    â€˜I know something about all of them there,’ I said finally, taking refuge in my righteous anger, ‘because I was forced to stand there for hours in that kitchen like a complete dork while that dickhead Paul had his shower and then hunted around for your shoe!’
    From the corner of my eye I saw her pale slightly at the mention of his name; her face crumpled a bit.
    â€˜Yeah,’ she said, reaching over and squeezing my arm. ‘I know. I’m sorry, Al – I’m really, really grateful, honestly. And so,’ she added, all coochy-coo, ‘ees my li’l shoe!’
    I gave a short laugh. ‘Yeah, well I’m never doing it again! From now on,’ I added, only half-jokingly, ‘you’ve just got to be more selective about where you leave your shoes!’
    Now as I lay in bed I got a mental image of the object in question, being held out by the beastly Paul. And then felt prickly with embarrassment all over again at the memory of his housemates’ collective gaze on me, sharp and curious, and their obvious enjoyment of my predicament.
    I groaned and flounced onto my side, scrunching up into the foetal position again. That thing about stepping outside your comfort zone being good for you, I decided, was very debatable.
    I must’ve dreamt about my visit, because I awoke in the middle of the