The It Girl in Rome by Katy Birchall

The It Girl in Rome by Katy Birchall

Author:Katy Birchall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin


16.

THE FIRE ESCAPE WAS ALL part of Brendan’s self-titled Genius Plan.

“I used it the other day,” he mentioned casually when we were all gathered in my room to hear how he planned on getting us out. “You can just climb right on down.”

“Why can’t we just quietly sneak out the front door?” Jess asked.

“Too risky. The teachers sit in the lounge reading and doing other boring stuff and they have a perfect view of the reception area. Plus I know for a fact that the hotel staff have been instructed to inform teachers if they see any students leave the building and to question said students before they go out.” He shrugged. “I guess they’re used to people trying to sneak out on school trips.”

“How do you know all this?” Stephanie asked him, her eyes peeking out below her bangs, wide with awe.

“I was chatting to the lady behind the reception desk,” he grinned. “I asked her out for a slice of pizza.”

“Oh yeah?” James laughed. “How well did that go down?”

“She had already eaten.”

“Sure.” Jess rolled her eyes.

I was going to ask why he would do that when he’s meant to be dating Sophie, but I didn’t want to annoy him while he was doing me a favor. Plus Sophie didn’t seem like she was all that enamored with him these days.

“I still don’t understand why you want to help us,” said Jess.

“For the same reason James does . . .” Brendan shrugged. James snapped his head up looking at Brendan intently as everyone else waited for James to explain.

“It’s fun to break the rules,” Brendan finished, laughing and answering for him.

I sighed, feeling strangely disappointed without knowing quite why. Maybe Connor had been right about the pair of them.

“Okay, so we just go down the fire escape. Easy.” Danny nodded.

“Slight snag is the big window in the lounge.” Brendan explained. “The fire escape goes right past it and if anyone sees the lot of you climbing down outside, game over. That’s where I come in.”

“What’s your plan?” I asked.

The plan, Brendan informed us, was simple and yet effective, requiring minimal effort but maximum results:

1. Brendan sneaks us to the fire escape without anyone seeing

2. We climb down the fire escape.

3. We stop before the lounge window.

4. Brendan and Sophie stage a huge, explosive fight in the reception area—

“Wait a minute!” I interrupted. “What was that last point?”

“Myself and Sophie stage a huge fight in the reception area and then—”

“Sophie?” Jess gaped. “There is no way you are getting Sophie involved in this.”

“I need her to help.” Brendan shrugged. “It’s realistic that I get in a fight with Sophie.”

“I reckon that makes sense.” James nodded.

“No way!” Jess shrieked. “Brendan was one thing—no offense, Brendan,” she added, but he didn’t look too bothered. “But Sophie Parker? We can’t trust Sophie Parker. She HATES us. She will tell everyone! She’d love to see us get in trouble! Plus you’ll never get her to agree. She said categorically at the beginning of the trip that she would never want to be on the same team as us.



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