Now all I have to do to get my plan to work is ask Zach out. Yep, that’s all. Even though the thought makes me want to vomit with fear. I’ve never asked anyone out before. And there’s always the possibility Zach could say no. Which would be so humiliating I’d either die on the spot or have to leave school. Neither of which seem great options.
I’m trying to stay positive, though. After all, he tried to kiss me at the party, which is a pretty clear indication of liking someone, isn’t it? Even so, as much as I try and tell myself everything’s going to be all right, I’m really, really, really nervous. My hand is shaking trying to apply mascara.
It’s taken several hours of hard work, but I look pretty damn good, even if I do say so myself. It was worth getting up early this morning, even if the beautification has taken slightly longer than planned.
There’s a loud banging on the door, and I jump out of my skin. The mascara brush flies across my face, leaving a thick, dark streak.
“Suzy, what are you doing?” Mum says. “I didn’t realise you were still here. I thought you’d left for school ages ago. You’re late. Shift.”
“Okay, okay, I’m going,” I say, grabbing a tissue, and swiping at the black smear. Once it’s gone, I stand back, check my reflection one last time and smooth down my uniform.
Deep breath. It’s time to do this.
Although I run as fast as I can to school (not easy in Amber’s borrowed heels), I’m super-late for registration, which means I can’t speak to Zach before lessons start.
And then at first break, I have to see my tutor for a massive lecture about my lateness, as well as my lack of commitment and effort lately. Obviously I can’t tell her it’s because my entire life is in meltdown.
By the time lunch rolls round, I can’t eat anything because my stomach’s churning so hard with nerves, and I’m still no closer to finding Zach.
Having given Millie the slip by pretending I had a meeting with Mr Patterson about my English essay, I’m skulking round the school corridors hunting for him.
Where is he?
I’m retreating in despair from the music rooms – not that Zach plays an instrument as far as I know – when a voice coos at me from over by the lockers.
“Well, if it isn’t Suzy Puttock, all on her lonesome,” Jade says sarcastically. “Where’s your boyfriend? Oh, wait a minute. Silly me. Danny dumped you for… who was it again? Oh, yes. Me.”
I try to walk past, but Jade steps out and blocks my path. “I was wondering if you’d seen Danny anywhere?” she asks with false innocence. “I wanted to find out when we’re leaving for the Drifting concert tonight. You heard Danny won tickets for us, didn’t you? We’re getting the train to London after school.”
I glare fiercely and manage to spit out, “Haven’t seen him.”
“Oooh, is wittle Suzy upset? Are you missing your boyfwend?” Jade says in a stupid baby voice, faking concern.
“Leave me alone.”
“Aww, are you upset because Danny likes me now? Is ickle Suzy jealous?”
Behind Jade I can see Danny coming down the corridor. The sight of him, and Jade’s stupid simpering face, flips me over the edge. I shove Jade out of the way, but push a little harder than I’d intended.
Crying out, Jade flings herself dramatically against the wall. From the expression on her face, she’s trying really hard for tears.
“Danny, I’m so glad you’re here,” Jade whimpers.
“What did you do?” Danny asks me, sounding shocked.
“Nothing,” I say. “She’s faking.”
“You have to help, Danny,” Jade says, sniffing and making her voice sound shaky. “Did you see Suzy attack me?”
“You don’t honestly believe this, do you?” I ask.
“You did shove her,” Danny says awkwardly.
“She’s a lunatic,” Jade chips in.
“She’s not…” Danny says. “Look, I’m sure Suzy didn’t mean it.”
“Ow, my arm really hurts,” Jade says, fake tears beginning to glisten in her eyes. You have to give the girl credit; she’s putting on an Oscar-worthy performance.
“I didn’t even push you that hard,” I start, then realise I’m fighting a losing battle. “Oh, why am I even bothering?” I hiss, tossing my head and storming off down the hall.
A quick glance over my shoulder shows Danny’s comforting Jade, who’s milking her ‘injuries’ for all she’s worth. His eyes meet briefly with mine before they flick away, his attention fixed firmly on Jade.
What a numpty. Why can’t Danny see she’s making it all up? I’m so tempted to go back and say something… but no. Even though I’m so angry my head’s on the verge of exploding, I can’t dwell on this right now. There are other things I need to focus on.
Like finding Zach.
Breathe and stay calm, Suze. Breathe and stay calm.
I repeat my mantra as I return to the footie field, which was actually the first place I checked, but there’s still no sign of him. Nor is he in the library, the common room, the canteen or the assembly hall. I’ve been rushing around so much my face feels bright red, and a quick visit to the toilets confirms my worst fears.
My hair has gone static like I’ve been zapped with a cattle prod, my carefully applied make-up has smeared itself down my now shiny cheeks and there are sweat marks under my armpits.
Ewww! Definitely not foxy.
I nick some deodorant from a Year Seven, smooth my hair as much as possible and wipe away most of the mascara. It’s the best I can do, because I really don’t have long left to complete my mission.
I’m on the verge of admitting defeat, when, as I emerge from the toilets, I spot a herd of boys slouching their way towards me. And unless I’m much mistaken, I recognise one of those boys as being Zach.
Result! I’ve finally found him.
Only… why did he have to be with so many people? And why did it have to be when I look so utterly minging? I really don’t need an audience for this… and oh no! Zach’s talking to Ryan of all people.
A less positive person would think this was doomed to failure and admit defeat, but as I remember Danny and Jade, I get all fired up. I’m not going to quit.
“Hi, Zach,” I say, slipping alongside him.
Only I kind of mumble it, and I don’t think he hears. He’s deep in conversation with Ryan about some defence strategy Man U has started using or something.
“Hi, Zach,” I repeat, but my voice still doesn’t seem to be working, and my greeting comes out as a high-pitched squeak.
Ryan glares in my direction. “What do you want?”
“Hey, Suzy,” Zach says. “What’s up?”
“Um, you know, not much,” I manage to reply, my voice cracking. I can’t read his face. Is he pleased to see me, or not?
“Cool. Did you want me?” Zach asks.
Do I want him? Well… yes. Who wouldn’t? He’s so deliciously sexy, and that white T-shirt he’s got underneath his open shirt and school tie shows off his chest and mmmm…
Oh, wait a minute. He didn’t mean ‘do you want me’ in that sense, did he? He’s only asking what I need him for. My cheeks turn red.
“So…?” Zach prompts.
“Um, well, it’s kind of private…” I glare meaningfully over at Ryan, who scowls back.
“Can you leave us to it, mate?” Zach says.
“Watch out for her. She’s a headcase,” Ryan warns Zach, twirling his finger by his temple. He says something when he catches up with the rest of the lads and there’s a huge roar of laughter.
“Ignore him,” Zach says. “So, how’s it going? I heard you and Danny broke up.”
“Um, yeah. The fact that he got off with Jade was kind of hard to ignore.”
“I get that,” Zach says.
In my head, the image of Danny and Jade kissing flashes into my head so vividly it’s like looking at a photograph.
I blink hard, and try to ignore how shaken it still makes me feel. I need to compos
e myself. I’m not here to discuss Danny. I’m here to ask Zach out.
“Um, I was, er, wondering if you’d like to—”
“Hey, Zach, you playing after school?” one of his friends yells.
NYARRRGGGGGGGH! This is impossible!
“Sure, I’ll see you then,” Zach shouts back. “Sorry, Suzy. What were you saying?”
“Oh, um, I was, um, wondering if, maybe, you’d, you know, like to go out with me sometime?” I finally blurt so fast the words are a jumble.
“Would I like to go out with you?” Zach repeats slowly.
Oh rats. He doesn’t want to. This is bad. Really bad. I hope I manage not to collapse with shame before he’s out of eyeshot.
“Uh, don’t worry,” I say, still speaking at a hundred miles an hour. “Didn’t mean it. I’ve got to go—”
“I’d be up for that,” he says.
Huh? Did he just say yes? I think he did! I’d just better make extra, extra sure.
“You would?” I say cautiously.
“Yup. We’ll grab some food, okay? Stick your address and mobile number into my locker, number 324, and I’ll call for you tomorrow night at seven.”
Zach jogs off before I’ve got time to reply. He didn’t even ask if I was free tomorrow. Of course I am, but he wasn’t to know that. Does that mean he thinks I don’t have a life? Because I could be going out with friends or something. Does it mean—
No! I am not going to obsess about this. It doesn’t matter. Because I, Suzy Puttock, have a date with Zach!
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Five hours, twenty-three minutes and twelve seconds later, it still hasn’t sunk in that Zach has agreed to go out with me. I’m pretending to do my homework but am still so stunned that Zach said yes I couldn’t concentrate on anything if I had a gun to my head.
I just can’t believe it’s actually going to happen.
I grab my mobile, in case he might have texted me when I wasn’t paying attention.
Nothing.
Oh well. Maybe I’m expecting too much. It’s not been that long since I saw him. I’m sure he’ll text tomorrow to let me know where we’re going. Not that I’m paranoid or anything, it’s just it would be nice to have some concrete proof we agreed to go out.
It seems even more unreal as nothing else has changed. Everything is going on around me as normal. Well, as normal as things get in the Puttock household. Like right now I’m sitting in the lounge with Dad and Harry, who are watching some programme on the kids’ channel, and Mum’s stitching names on eighty rose-scented bags for wedding favours. She’s been sewing for a week, and isn’t even halfway through yet.
If only they knew what happened to me today.
Although they probably wouldn’t care, or even get how momentous this is. I’m really excited, and it’s the only thing keeping me from dwelling on the thing-that-must-not-be-thought-about.
Which obviously I think about every five seconds. Because tonight’s the night of the concert.
So while I’m hip-hop-happy about Zach, I also feel hugely sucky about the fact my so-called friends have a hot date of their own, with The Drifting, and will have arrived in London by now.
Talk about mixed emotions.
I chew on my pen as I ponder exactly how I’m going to ask my parents about going out with a boy who – gasp – isn’t Danny. In this house, that’s going to warrant front-page news and a full-scale investigation.
“Hahahah!” Dad chortles loudly at a puppet panda on the screen. “Look at this! He’s catching custard pies in his mouth. Classic!”
“Is it all right if I go out tomorrow night?” I ask casually.
“Of course it is,” Mum says, dragging her attention away from her sewing. “As long as you’re back by ten. Are you going somewhere with Millie?”
“Um, not exactly.” I tap the pen against my teeth uneasily.
“Oh, are you and Danny doing something? It’s about time you made up,” says Mum.
“Er, no. We haven’t.”
Mum’s brow furrows. “That’s a shame. I’d have thought you’d have sorted things out by now.”
“Actually, Mum…”
“Wahahahaha!” roars Dad again. “Jen, have you seen this? You really must watch. It’s hilarious. Funniest thing I’ve seen in ages.”
Mum turns obligingly to the screen for a few moments, laughs weakly to humour my father, and then turns back to me.
“Actually, I’ve got a date,” I tell her.
“A date?” I’ve never seen Mum so shocked. “With who?”
“A guy from school.”
“Do I know him?”
“No you don’t, he hasn’t lived here that long,” I say, with exaggerated patience. Honestly, what’s with the interrogation? It’s only a date!
“I’m not sure I’m happy about this… What do you think, Chris?”
“Anything you say, Jen,” Dad agrees, not really listening.
“Oh, you’re hopeless,” Mum says. “Suzy, what happened with Danny? You’ve been together so long – do you really want to throw all that away?”
“I’m not throwing it away.”
“But have you really tried to make up with him?” Mum persists.
“Mum, can you please let it go?”
“It’s such a shame. After all, you’re childhood sweethearts, and he’s such a lovely boy.”
“So lovely he got off with someone else,” I finally snap.
Okay, I was wrong. Now I’ve never seen Mum look so shocked.
“Oh. Oh, Suzy. I’m so sorry. Are you sure? That doesn’t sound like something Danny would do.”
“Of course I’m sure,” I say. “I saw him. With my very own eyes. And now I’ve got a date with Zach and—”
“Would you two keep it down?” Dad says. “I’m trying to watch this.”
“I’ve got a date with Zach and I really want to go,” I continue, slapping my folder shut and ignoring Dad. “He said he’d call for me, so you could meet him – quickly – if you really have to, as long as you don’t let Dad anywhere near him.”
“I suppose it’s all right,” Mum frowns. “But I still think it’s a shame…”
She’s interrupted by Amber bounding excitedly into the room. “When Mark’s back from work he’s going to give me a hand finishing off the menus and place cards – does anyone else want to help?”
“I’m busy,” Dad says, shooting out of his seat so fast someone could have shoved a firework up his bum. “I’m going to see Joe down the road about a, er, car thingy. Very important man stuff,” he calls as he darts from the room.
“And I can’t either,” Mum says, looking genuinely distraught. “There’s a concert on at Aunt Lou’s home that I promised I’d go and watch with her.”
“Oh no,” Amber wails. “According to my planning schedule, it all has to be done by tonight. Harry, you’ll help, won’t you?”
“Bog off,” Harry says, crunching her crisps loudly.
“Suzy?” Amber says hopefully.
“Sure, what the heck,” I tell her. “It’s not like I have anything else to do on a Friday night. Not like I have a life. Not like I could be at the concert of my favourite band watching them perform or…”
“Excellent!” Amber chirps. “Mark’ll be back about eight. I’ll give you a shout when we’re getting started.”
It’s only after she’s gone that I realise what I’ve signed myself up to. An evening of wedding mush with the smoochiest couple in living history.
While my friends are rocking out with The Drifting, I’m going to be helping Amber and Mark make wedding stationery.
As if I have no control over them, my eyes swivel towards the clock on the mantelpiece. I have got to stop watching the time, otherwise I’m going to spend the whole evening obsessing over when they’ll be arriving and queuing and finding their seats and—
No. That is not what I want. I must busy my mind with other things.
So, in a never-before-seen fit of organisati
on, for the first time ever my homework’s finished on Friday rather than being forgotten about until Monday morning and copied from whoever’s nearest in registration.
Then I go upstairs and sort out my underwear drawer.
Then I arrange the clothes in my wardrobe by colour.
And then I tidy my desk.
By the time I’ve finished, my bedroom has never been so organised.
It’s freaky. I’d almost forgotten that the carpet was blue in here. It’s actually quite nice.
And I’ve found the H&M voucher Amber gave me for my birthday, which I thought I’d lost.
So that’s something, I guess.
But it’s nothing compared to seeing The Drifting. I’d surrender my voucher in a heartbeat if I got to go to the gig instead.
With nothing else left to sort, tidy or clean, I try and read through a magazine, but throw it at the wall when I come across a five-page interview special with – you guessed it – The Drifting. I put on some music instead, but Radio One has a special broadcast from the concert, with a reporter talking to fans about how excited they are. I hit the power button so hard it falls off.
I slump onto my bed and stare up at the ceiling while my imagination tortures me with how much fun Danny, Millie and Jamie are having with Jade.
With The Drifting.
Without me.
It’s almost a relief when Amber calls me downstairs, where she’s set up a wedding craft station in the dining room.
“Hi there, Suzy.” Mark beams at me from his seat at the table. “Thanks for helping with all this. I never knew there was so much planning involved in weddings. Good job Amber’s got it all under control, eh?”
“Mmm,” I say, trying to sound convincing. In my opinion, Amber’s got less control than knickers with broken elastic.
“Here are the menus…” Amber says, spreading a pile of cards and shaking open a bag of pink marabou feathers across the table. “And look at these amazing chihuahua stickers I managed to find. These need to be stuck on, as well as the feathers, and then onto all of the place cards, which also need writing.”
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