All About the Hype by Paige Toon

Author:Paige Toon [Paige, Toon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471146114
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Chapter 14

‘How did it go last night?’ Agnes asks with a significant look.

We’re sitting in the cafe at the spa, both dressed in white dressing gowns and having our second mint tea of the day. I reach for a biscuit and shrug. ‘Fine.’

‘I know he’s my brother, but I won’t tell him anything we talk about.’

‘Does he confide in you about me?’ I ask candidly.

‘No,’ she replies with a shrug. ‘But I can tell he likes you. More than some of the other girls he’s gone out with.’

I sigh. ‘I like him, too.’ Really like him. ‘But I’m freaking out a bit. If we break up, I can’t see me staying in the band, and that seriously upsets me.’

‘God, can you imagine them having to go through that audition process again? Rock on.’

The thought makes me smile, but I’m morose a moment later.

‘Aw,’ she says. ‘Listen, don’t worry about it. Everything works out for a reason, right?’

I used to think so. But then my mum died and nothing anyone ever says will make me think her death was for the best.

I don’t say this out loud to Agnes. I just nod agreeably and say, ‘Sure,’ before moving the conversation on.

Agnes has been noticeably absent from most of the teen girl squad pictures that our famous classmates have posted online. I’ve been wondering if she minds.

She shakes her head and rolls her eyes when I ask.

‘No offence, but most of it’s bullshit. Margarita and Gina are all about the publicity.’

I’m a little hurt. Is that all Agnes thinks I am to them? A publicity stunt? I thought they liked me.

‘Sienna’s not like that, though,’ I say defensively. ‘She’s pretty cool. We’re going shopping this week, actually.’

‘When?’

‘Wednesday. I’m not doing my driving lessons after school any more so I have some more free time during the week.’

I say free, but I should be at home revising for my GCSEs, doing my online Driver’s Education course or practising my singing and keyboard skills, but jeez, a girl’s gotta have a break sometime.

‘Why have you stopped your driving lessons?’ Agnes asks with a frown.

‘I haven’t stopped them. But from this week I’m going to be doing them on the way to school instead.’ I’ve been practising on the driveway in my cool little car and I’m really starting to get the hang of the clutch now. Most teenagers here learn on an automatic, but Johnny was insistent I master ‘a stick’ – the American term for manual cars. Anyway, earlier he suggested I move my lessons to the morning so I can make the most of the journey to school. My driving instructor is an ex-Navy Seal, so Johnny just about trusts him to get me there safely. By the end of this week, I will have clocked up all six of my required hours, but Johnny wants me to keep going. The more practice I get, the better I’ll be when I actually get my provisional licence. I’m lucky he’s happy to pay for my lessons.

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