Six Steps to a Girl Read Free Page A

menu.”
    “They’re not – but Ben knows the barman. They make it up for him specially.”
    I decided that I hated Ben.
    “Anyway, I’d better go home and get ready,” Eve said. “Bye, Chloe.” She turned slightly sideways. I could tell she was looking at me. “Bye,” she said.
    I had to say something. I might not get this close to her again for days. I looked up. Eve was smiling at me, her lips slightly parted.
    I stared at her mouth, feeling my face redden. “Bye,” I squeaked.
    For God’s sake, look at her properly.
    I forced myself to look her straight in the eyes. They were almond-shaped, the palest blue I’d ever seen. But I could tell she wasn’t really seeing me. Like, she was right there, looking in my direction, but not . . . not noticing me.
    And then she was gone. As she glided through the school gates, Chloe swung her bag over her shoulder.
    “Did you have to behave like that?” she snapped.
    I swallowed. How much had she noticed? “What d’you mean?”
    “Hardly looking up at Eve, like that. Not saying anything. It was really rude.”
    My mouth fell open, but Chloe had already stomped off towards the gates.
    Over the next few days I seemed to see Eve everywhere – wandering down the corridor, chatting with her friends in the cafeteria, smiling mysteriously on her mobile.
    I dreamed of going up to her, but I didn’t have the nerve. Even if Eve didn’t think I was rude – or a complete retard – I had no idea what to say to her. So I watched her from a distance.
    If you’re thinking that seeing her must have got easier, let me tell you – it didn’t. Every time was like the first time.
    A slap in the face. A punch in the stomach. A kick in the head.
    She was the hottest person I’d ever met. But she had a boyfriend. And, even if she didn’t, what chance would I have had with her? No girl I knew had ever gone out with a boy in a lower year.
    I talked to other girls. I did my homework. I played football. I even spent a couple of hours looking through Dad’s singles collection, though I didn’t actually play any of the records. Part of me wanted to, but it was like, if I listened to them, I’d be saying everything between me and Dad was OK. That I forgave him for leaving me such a useless, heartless pile of crap.
    Nothing took my mind off Eve.
    February began. It was a cold day – exactly a month since Dad died, or so Mum said. Still dark when I got home from school. I’d been in my room. Then I got hungry and came down to the kitchen. As I reached the door, I overheard Mum on the phone.
    “It’s just so hard to tell,” she was saying. “He’s so withdrawn, just stays in his room all the time. Only comes out for meals.”
    Was she talking about me?
    “OK, OK, I’ll ask them,” Mum said. “I’ll let you know.”
    She hung up the phone, then called me and Chloe into the kitchen.
    We sat down at the table. Chloe’s face was covered in green gunk – some kind of face mask. A few weeks ago I would have made some jokey comment about how hideous she looked – or at least tried to make her laugh so that the dried mask cracked. But now, I couldn’t be bothered. My head was too full of Eve.
    “A group of us – girlfriends – want me to go away with them to this spa,” Mum said nervously. “Just for one night. A week on Saturday. I said I would ask you, see what you both thought.”
    I tried to look interested.
    Chloe’s eyes widened. “You mean leave us on our own?”
    Mum bit her lip. “I thought maybe you could both organise sleepovers but if—”
    “No way.” Chloe thumped her fist on the table. “I’m sixteen! I’m perfectly capable of staying here overnight by myself. Send Luke off to a friend, but I won’t go.”
    “Hey,” I said indignantly. “If she’s staying, so am I.”
    Mum looked at us both as if she was trying to make up her mind.
    “You should go, Mum.” Chloe’s voice was suddenly soft and gentle. “You deserve a break. And you don’t need