The Rise and Rise of Tabitha Baird

by Arabella Weir

  I wanted to cry I was so happy.

  They’d done all this for me. I felt as if I could burst with happiness.

  ‘So, am I now officially your friend?’ Grace asked at lunchtime. Honestly, what a nerd. Who asks things like that? She is so extra. I was super glad Emz and A’isha weren’t around to hear this – they’d have just died – and anyway I know her better and sort of get that she says moronic things like that.

  ‘Yeah, okay, I guess you are, but FYI, cool people do not ask if they are people’s friends. That is lesson one, okay?’ I replied.

  I really like her but she’s going to have to learn not to keep saying lame things like that if she’s going to hang around with me and Emz and A’isha.

  ‘Maybe, but I don’t want to be so cool that I end up being too cool for school. That’s how you get a months’ worth of detentions,’ Grace said laughing.

  I smiled because she was right. I was back where I belonged and I had to make sure I never got into that kind of trouble again. I had to find a way to keep being super-cool but not so cool I get into major trouble.

  About the Author

  Arabella Weir is an actress, comedian and writer best known for The Fast Show. She makes regular appearances on TV and radio and is a frequent contributor to national newspapers. She has written several books for adults including the international bestseller, Does My Bum Look Big in This?

  This is her first book for children. She lives in North London with her two teenagers and maybe a dog … soon.

  Copyright

  First published in Great Britain in 2014

  by Piccadilly Press

  Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street,

  London, EC1V 0AT

  www.piccadillypress.co.uk

  Text copyright © Arabella Weir, 2014

  Cover illustration copyright © Emmanuelle Walker, 2014

  Interior illustrations copyright © Mina Bach, 2014

  The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN: 978–1–84812–420–2

  1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

  Printed and bound by Clays Ltd, St Ives Plc

  Piccadilly Press is part of the Bonnier Publishing Group

  www.bonnierpublishing.com

  Tabitha Baird and her friends Emz and A’isha reckon they’re definitely the coolest, baddest and most popular girls in their year. Until new girl Ali arrives. She’s so seriously goth, Tab calls her ‘Dark Ali’, and she doesn’t like it, or Tab, at all.

  At home Mum’s blog is taking off and she’s also got a new boyfriend (complete with a huge, not-trendy beard). But Mum’s not the only one with a new love life - Gran’s dog Basil is going to be a father and Gran wants custody of those puppies …

  piccadillypress.co.uk/teen

  Go online to discover:

  more authors you’ll love

  competitions

  sneak peeks inside books

  fun activities and downloads