Mom xxx
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
Yes, Mom, thank you. I am aware that I am not missing.
I’m just showing you the inner workings of a teenager’s mind. Marianne probably thinks the same way I do.
Love, me xxx
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
Oh, I see! Well then, we will be sure to check all those spots.
If we’re going along those lines, then we should also check the store cupboard of the local supermarket.
Anna once sneaked in there, Helena, when she was in a mood and I wasn’t looking. She found their stock of Nutella and climbed in one of the boxes with all those jars.
The staff were really very lovely about the whole saga—as you can imagine I was in quite a state looking for her.
Very lucky that the kind man who worked behind the fish counter heard her talking to the jars in the box about her problems as she started eating from one, otherwise we might never have found her!
xxx
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
You know, Marianne is fond of marmalade!
I’ll try the supermarket next to my house.
Helena x
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
I’ll try the one next to Nick’s house.
Rebecca xxx
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
And I’ll try to pretend that Mom never told that story to anyone ever.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
Let’s be optimistic and keep our spirits up working as a team!
Thunderbirds are away!
Rebecca x
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
Wonderful, Rebecca! You really are the best help I could ever have asked for.
Although, I think you got that line slightly wrong. I believe it is . . .
Thunderbirds are up and away!
Helena x
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
Oh, of course, how silly of me! I always get these wrong, don’t I, Anna? How infuriating for you.
Thunderbirds are up and away!
Rebecca x
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: Places where Marianne might be
THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! It is one of the most famous lines of all time!!!!
HOW DID YOU NOT GET THAT RIGHT?!
I’m going to go put a cold compress on my head.
Love, me xxx
“Anna, I need you to be focused right now,” Danny demanded, looking perplexed as I came to sit down with my Nutella ice cream.
“Relax, Danny, she can eat ice cream and answer your questions at the same time,” Jess pointed out. “She hasn’t spent the last hour gorging herself on spaghetti like we have.”
“Yeah, Danny,” I said in a very serious tone. “I am one hundred percent focused on the matter in hand.”
I took a bite of my ice cream.
Five times in my life that I’ve eaten something and it has taken me by surprise:
1. When I ate a mussel because the sauce they were in smelled really good and then it was so gross I spat it out and it landed in this woman’s hair and we had to leave the restaurant.
2. When I tried a curry that I thought was mild, but it was spicy, so I reached for Dad’s drink, the nearest to me, and I poured the whole glass into my mouth without realizing it was wine and then I spat it out all over the table and we had to leave the restaurant.
3. When I tried lobster and it was disgusting but I felt bad as it was expensive, so I picked it up and made it do a funny dance to entertain Dad, but one of its pincers flew off during a high kick and it hit a man in the head and we had to leave the restaurant.
4. When I ate some black pudding and then Dad told me what it was and I was sick on the floor and we had to leave the restaurant.
5. When I tried the gelato in this ice-cream parlor in Rome and thought that my head was about to explode it was so good and then made the quick yet wise decision that I would have to move to Italy and forge a career in ice cream just so I could be near it.
“Wow, you wolfed that down pretty fast,” Jess observed, looking impressed as I started on my second scoop.
“Seriously, what do they put in this ice cream?” I asked, holding up the carton in wonder. “You guys all have to try some.”
“Yes, please!” Stephanie said, happily taking the spoon I passed her.
“Focus, please!” Danny repeated, rapping his knuckles on the table. “Anna, where do you think Marianne might be? Think.”
I took a deep breath and buried my head in my hands, eyes shut tightly to concentrate as much as possible.
“She could be anywhere,” Jess said, taking the spoon from Stephanie for her turn. “It’s not like she doesn’t have the means to just jump on a plane somewhere last minute.”
“I wish she’d just turn her phone on. Helena told me it’s been switched off this whole time,” I mumbled.
“Don’t worry, Anna. She’ll probably just be trying to get away from the press, and him, too,” Stephanie soothed. “She’ll get in touch soon enough.”
“So when was she last seen?” Danny asked.
“Helena said she was with her in their house when she got the text from Tom—”
“He did it by text?” Jess asked, her eyes widening. “Scoundrel!”
“What else did Helena say?” Danny persisted.
“Marianne ran upstairs and that was it,” I shrugged. “The door was shut. Helena came downstairs to call your dad, and by the time she was off the phone, Marianne’s room was empty.”
“Tom’s house!” Danny asked, his eyes lighting up. “She’ll have gone there! Perhaps to try and win him back?”
“He’s on tour,” I reminded him.
“It’s all over the Internet already,” Stephanie said, biting her lip. “It’s the main headline on most of the big sites.”
“What do they say? How do they even know?” I groaned, dropping my head back into my hands, wishing this wasn’t happening.
“Well.” Stephanie gulped. “There are these rumors.”
“What rumors?” I looked up.
“That he’s met someone else,” she said hurriedly. “But they’re just rumors.”
“He’s meant to be moving in with her,” I said, completely aghast. “He can’t have met someone else.”
“None of that matters right now,” Danny announced in a sensible manner. “It’s probably just lies. You know the way it is.”
“Danny’s right,” Jess said. “Probably a load of garbage.”
“They were right about the wedding details,” I said.
James suddenly appeared by our booth holding a magazine. He slid in next to Jess, who offer
ed him the spoon for some ice cream.
“Hey,” he said, “any luck on finding Marianne?”
“Not yet,” Stephanie sighed. “She’s still missing.”
“I think there’s something we can do,” he said, slapping the magazine down on the table in front of us.
“What am I looking at?”
“Tom Kyzer is on tour. Guess where he’s playing tomorrow night?” We all blinked back at him, clueless. “Rome. He’s playing here in Rome.”
“Are you serious?” Everyone leaned forward to look closer at the magazine as I desperately smoothed out the glossy pages to have a proper look. “This is all in Italian.”
“You can get the idea,” he said with a shrug. “I checked it against his website to be sure. It’s certain. He’s playing at this giant venue called Atlantico. Bob Dylan once played there.”
Danny, who had been peering at the magazine curiously, pulled away. “You think Marianne has come here to Rome?”
“Maybe!” James shrugged. “Or if not, then Tom might have an idea where she could be.”
“James!” I gasped. “You’re a genius! He must be able to tell me something.”
“Right! How are we going to sneak out and get there?” Jess asked, excitedly.
“Hang on.” My eyes scanned their faces. “You guys can’t come with me.”
“Why not?” Jess said indignantly, hands on hips.
“If we’re caught, you’ll get into big trouble,” I pointed out. “Plus it’s going to be really difficult to do—we’ll have to somehow sneak out of the hotel tomorrow night and then sneak back in.”
“We can do that,” Danny said, lifting his chin defiantly. “It’s not like we haven’t snuck into places before.”
“Look, I really don’t think—”
“Anna, shush,” Jess interrupted, laughing. “You’re never going to get away with the whole scheme without us. Have you met you?”
“You’re not doing this on your own,” James added firmly. “We’re in, whether you like it or not.”
Danny and Stephanie both nodded vigorously before holding hands and beaming at each other.
“You two are gross, by the way,” Jess observed.
“Tomorrow night, then.” I took a deep breath. “All we need to do is worm our way into one of the biggest music venues in Rome and talk to a rock star who has dumped my future stepsister over text.” I bit my lip nervously. “And, weirdly, the bit I’m most scared about? Trying to get out of the hotel without Mrs. Ginnwell noticing.”
“Sneaking away from teachers?” James grinned at me. “It’s a piece of cake.”
15.
“LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT,” Connor said, once I’d finally managed to get through to him on the phone. “You’re all planning on sneaking out, strolling into a massive music venue, and asking Tom Kyzer if he can help you track down the girl he has just broken up with.”
“Yes.”
“And . . . did you just say Brendan Dakers is helping?”
“That is correct. He’s a recent addition.”
There was a pause. “Are you serious?”
“Yes!” I sighed, anxious for him to agree it was a good idea and not fuel the worries I’d already had myself. “I know it sounds crazy but—”
“Just a bit. Anna, how are you even planning on getting backstage? There will be bouncers.”
“James reckons that they’ll recognize me. It’s plausible—I have been in the papers here a lot the past few days. I’ll just tell them that Tom is expecting me.”
“I’m not sure about this.”
I ran a hand through my hair. I was nervous enough as it was and I didn’t have long until the plan had to kick into gear.
“How’s the drawing?” I asked, deciding to change the subject.
“It’s going well . . . ,” he said, sounding a bit brighter. “I can’t wait for you to see what I’ve done. I’ve really gone for it with some of the characters. Of course,” he added softly, “I would have loved your input. You’re brilliant at that sort of thing.”
“Don’t be silly.” I smiled at the phone. “I’m not creative at all. You’re the one with all the talent.”
“I do wish you were back here, Anna.”
I beamed.
“But I’m really sorry. I have to go now,” he said. I gripped the receiver, not wanting our conversation to be over quite yet. I needed to feel comforted and my stomach was still doing somersaults. “I’ve got loads to finish tonight.”
“Okay,” I said, swallowing my disappointment. “No worries. I’m really looking forward to seeing all your new characters. They sound amazing.”
“Listen, don’t do anything rash. I know what show-offs James and Brendan can be. I don’t want you getting in trouble because of some stupid idea they had—especially that joker Brendan. I’m worried because I care.”
“I know.”
And I did know. After we’d hung up, I thought about how Connor had always been there for me when everyone else was either trying to be my friend because of my newly found fame or just plain laughing at the ridiculous situations my famous self had gotten into. Like hanging upside down in a waterfall—or singing to a hall of people who really didn’t want to hear me sing. I wondered if this were another of those situations? If I should even be going ahead with it.
Connor’s worry about Brendan was a fair one. James had had to convince a VERY skeptical audience the next morning that his involvement was a good idea.
We’d all been sitting on the Spanish Steps while Miss Lawler got ready to tell us about the official plans for the day.
“What a wonderful moment, eh, boys and girls?” she asked, looking up from her clipboard and interrupting our in-depth discussion about what I should say to Tom Kyzer. “Just be quiet for one second and look around you. It’s not about the steps themselves—it’s about the atmosphere, the people around you, the beautiful fountain at the bottom of these steps, the Trinità dei Monti Church at the top, the sun shining, the blue skies, being with your friends.” She inhaled deeply. “There won’t be many moments in life as glorious as this one. Take it all in.”
My eyes scanned all the people bustling around us, sitting in groups and chattering over the sound of the splashing, trickling water from the fountain. I closed my eyes and felt the sun on my face.
“Anna is really taking it all in.” I heard Jess snicker.
“Shut up.” I smiled without opening my eyes, leaning my head on her shoulder. She leaned hers on top of mine. Jess was right about Connor missing out, I thought. There’s no way I would want to have missed this.
That was when James leaned in and dropped the bombshell about Brendan’s role in that evening’s sneaking-away-from-the-teachers plan.
“But how do we know that he won’t snitch on us? Are we sure he’s up to it?” Jess asked, searching the mass of heads in front of us and spotting Brendan hitting one of his friends with his flip-flop before bursting out laughing as though it was the funniest thing he’d ever done.
“He’s the best at stuff like this,” James insisted.
“Breaking the rules?” Stephanie asked.
“Exactly.”
“Are you sure? I don’t remember Brendan ever being in trouble,” I said, thinking of all those times I was in detention last year. It had just been me and Connor.
“That’s because he’s never been caught,” James replied coolly.
“What’s his plan?” I asked, now watching Brendan wave his flip-flop in Sophie’s face, who was going, “Ewwww, Brendan, gross! Go annoy someone else!”
“No idea,” James chuckled. “But I have no doubt he’ll think of something that will get us safely out of the vicinity without Mrs. Ginnwell suspecting a thing.”
“I hope you’re right about this, James,” Jess said.
“I am,” he said firmly. “You’re all just going to have to trust me.”
* * *
Hi, you have reached Nick Huntley’s phone. Please leave your
name, number, and any message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.
*BEEP*
“Hi, Nick, it’s Rebecca! You remember me, the mother of your only child? I remind you only because you haven’t replied to any of my messages. Why aren’t you answering your phone? Can’t you hear the phone ringing anymore? It wouldn’t surprise me at all considering your age. Would you like me to ask my friend Colin about hearing aids? He’s been wearing one a few years now so I’m sure he can recommend a good set. If, however, you’re heading down the route of ‘selective hearing’ and CHOOSING not to pick up the phone, I’ll be very angry indeed, Nicholas. I expect that sort of thing from Dog, not you. I’ll call back in a minute once I’ve spoken to Colin and I hope you will have grown up in the meantime.”
* * *
Hi, you have reached Nick Huntley’s phone. Please leave your name, number, and any message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.
*BEEP*
“Hello, darling, it’s me, Helena. I’ve been thinking, do you think Marianne could be at the aquarium? She has always been fond of penguins. I’ll give them a call now to check and let you know what they say.”
* * *
Hi, you have reached Nick Huntley’s phone. Please leave your name, number, and any message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.
*BEEP*
“Nick, it’s Rebecca again. Do you know, I was so distracted by your childish behavior or possible lack of hearing that I completely forgot to tell you why I was calling in the first place! I was going to ask you whether you think Marianne could be at Stonehenge. I remember her once saying she was interested in old architecture and that’s just about the oldest architecture I can think of. I’m about to give my friend Stanley a call. He lives near Wiltshire so I’ll ask him if he can drive over and check. I’ll let you know what he says.”
* * *
Hi, you have reached Nick Huntley’s phone. Please leave your name, number, and any message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.
*BEEP*
“Hi, darling, it’s me again. The man at the aquarium was VERY rude just now. When I asked him if he had seen Marianne Montaine lurking anywhere in the vicinity, he told me he had no time for prank callers, especially when he was in the middle of a cuttlefish emergency, and then hung up! I intend to file a formal complaint! I will call them back and ask for the name of the manager and don’t try and stop me. I will let you know what they say.”
The It Girl in Rome Page 9