Read Online The Boyfriend Bet by Josie Eccles - Free Book Online Page A

in the hall and
Peter was stomping down the stairs. I noticed he was wearing his football
trainers but Mum didn’t say anything.
    “Just got to write Charley a note,” Mum said.“For
sunglasses.” Mum bounced back through to the lounge for a pen and some paper.
    “And the hat!” I demanded. Simon looked even more
confused than he did when Mum first announced she was going to write me a note
to wear sunglasses. He must be regretting moving house to find an insane family
living next door. Mum just smiled a little too sweetly at me and actually went
and wrote me a note!
     Mum thrust the note in my hand and then grabbed
Peter. Simon was already outside. “Do I look alright, I mean, half decent?”
    “No.” I said blankly.
     Mum was scowling at me as she was manhandling Peter
through the front door. “Now behave, don’t say anything embarrassing.” Mum was
hissing at him.
    Sunglasses and hat on, I reluctantly grabbed my jacket
and bag and left the house, firmly clutching my note for dear life. Yes, I did
feel like a complete fool walking to school with my hat and shades. I must have
looked ever so dodgy, maybe even more stalkerish than normal.
    I was right about being late. I hate that feeling as you
walk into the much too silent school. Everyone was either already in classes or
assembly. I was supposed to be in assembly so on the plus side I thought I
could sign in late and give boring assembly a miss.
    No such luck! Mr Harrison walked through the school
office just as I was signing in and demanded that I take a seat at the back of
the hall. My protests of how I really didn’t want to disrupt assembly fell on
deaf ears and he actually escorted me into the assembly hall.
    And worst luck ever, Mrs Davenport was taking assembly
today and it really is bad luck because she hardly ever takes assembly. I
wondered if we were all in trouble or something. It was also unusually quiet,
probably because everyone was too scared of Mrs Davenport singling them out
because she loves doing that. There was none of the usual whispering or
fidgeting which didn’t help me at all because as soon as Mr Harrison had
pointed a seat out at the back for me, all I could hear was the heavy double doors
slam shut behind us.
    “Miss Wallis, how nice of you to join us,” Mrs Davenport
smiled sweetly as she looked at her watch. It seemed like hundreds of heads
turned to look at me, hiding at the back with sunglasses and hat still firmly
intact. It’s a wonder Mrs Davenport could even recognize me but of course she
did, the old witch.
    “Lose the hat and the ridiculous glasses.” The old bag
continued her onslaught against me. Thankfully she then carried on with her
talk, whatever it was. She was lecturing everyone about something or other but
then again, isn’t she always?
    “Charley Wallis, are you deaf or just stupid?” Mrs
Davenport was peering over at me again and I could hear a low hum of laughter.
“I think I said lose the hat and the glasses.”
    “I have a note.” I said this so quietly I doubted if
anybody even heard me.
    “Pardon?” Mrs Davenport raised her voice.
    “I have a note.” I repeated ever so slightly louder this
time.
    “Bring it up here.” She signalled for me to come right
away. “I am intrigued.”
    Nooooo! There was nothing for it but to take the note up
to her in front of everybody. I was surely going to be torn to shreds. I walked
in the most awkward way to the front. I was so stupid that in my rush to leave
the house I hadn’t even read the note to see what Mum’s made up circumstances
were that justified me wearing a hat and dark glasses at school all day. What
if she questioned me about it and I knew nothing about it...oh my god, help me
now!
    I swear I could have cried there and then, my stomach was
churning as I saw all eyes upon me. “Give it to me,” Mrs Davenport demanded,
her arm outstretched, waiting for me to place it in her hand. She practically
snatched it out of my grasp and unfolded