Read Online Starting Over by Cathy Hopkins - Free Book Online Page A

her. ‘Oh yes. Mr Bailey said that you’d done the scenery so far and —’
    â€˜Yeah. I have. Two years running. I’m going to study it at college, which is why I don’t appreciate newcomers waltzing in and taking my role. That’s my thing and I was really looking forward to designing the scenery.
The Boy Friend
was
my
choice of show, did Bailey tell you that? And now I can’t believe I won’t get to do the sets. I had so many ideas.’
    â€˜I didn’t want to do it. I
don’t
want to do it. It was all Mr Bailey’s idea. Please, you can do it, you really can. I don’t evenknow the story of
The Boy Friend.
He said we could work together.’
    â€˜No way. I’m not taking orders from someone in Year Eleven. Especially someone who’s never done it before.’
    â€˜I’ll do what you want. Really I will,’ I insisted. ‘Especially as you already have ideas of what to do. That’s great.’
    â€˜
Was
great, but Mr Bailey said I have to step aside and give someone else a chance. He knows what my ideas were and he’s not going to like it if I make you do them, is he?’
    â€˜I am so sorry,’ I said.
    â€˜Easy to say, isn’t it?’ she said as she turned on her heel and walked off. ‘You’ve ruined everything.’
    What a totally excellent morning. Not,
I thought as I headed back up to the school library, where I intended to hide for the rest of the lunch break.
So much for starting over, I thought. Today’s been even worse than yesterday and it’s not even over yet! I might get one of those advertising sandwich boards that people wear over their shoulders. The front could say,
New girl, No mates
and the back could say,
Sorry, sorry, sorry.

Chapter 6
Friends Wanted - Apply Here

    â€˜So what exactly do you want?’ asked Lewis on the Sunday after my first week, when we’d been talking about my role as a Molly No Mates over lunch.
    I handed him the tub of mango ice cream from the freezer and he doled it out into four bowls. ‘Not a lot. Someone to hang out with.’
    Mum frowned. ‘Hmmm. Think you’ll find you want more than that, India.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ said Lewis. ‘It’s like with relationships with girls. I want more than just someone to hang out with.’
    â€˜So what do you want then?’ I asked.
    â€˜A supermodel with enormous knockers who has a degree in quantum physics, cooks like a celebrity chef and adores me.’
    â€˜Yeah. Me too,’ said Dylan.
    Mum rolled her eyes up to the ceiling. ‘Lord, what have I raised?’ she asked herself.
    â€˜Got to aim high, India Jane,’ said Lewis. ‘You know the saying, if you aim for the top of the tree, you’ll get to the lower branches . . .’
    â€˜If you aim for the stars, you’ll reach the top of the tree,’ I said. I knew the quote well as it was one of Dad’s favourites.
    â€˜Make a list,’ said Mum. ‘It’s always good to be clear about what you want. Friendships that you make when you’re a teenager can last you a lifetime. They’re very important - your friends can be there through all the highs and lows that life can bring.’ She got up and handed me a piece of paper. ‘Come on. Write down what you want in a friend.’
    â€˜I don’t know, Mum. What did you ever want in a friend?’
    Mum looked thoughtful for a few moments. ‘Someone who lets me be myself. Actually your dad is my best friend, which is why I miss him so much. With all the travelling, I never really developed lasting friends outside of the family. I always had you lot to occupy my time, and then there was Sarah here if ever I wanted a girl to talk to . . . but she’s always out, on business. In fact, like you, India, I really need to make some new friends of my own.’
    It hadn’t occurred to me that Mum might be lonely as she was always