Six Steps to a Girl Read Free Page B

to worry about us. I’ll look after Luke.”
    I opened my mouth to protest that I didn’t need looking after, but Chloe glared at me. I shut up. Whatever. What did it matter really?
    I would have taken a lot more interest if I’d known what Chloe was planning – and where it would lead.

 
4
The party
    I said ‘I’ll see you later’
and I give her some old chat.
But it’s not like that on the TV when it’s
cool for cats.
    ‘Cool For Cats’
Squeeze
    Mum ran through the arrangements for what felt like the millionth time. “Uncle Matt’s going to stop by at nine – just to make sure you’re OK. Then I’ll call before I go to bed – probably about eleven. Any problems call Matt or go down to the Wilsons at number forty-five. And for God’s sake, Chloe, remember to lock up at night. Two twists on the Chubb and don’t open the door unless you’re sure who it is.”
    I glanced at Chloe. She was taking all the fuss remarkably well, considering how moody she normally was. I guess she didn’t want any last-minute arguments stopping Mum from going.
    Mum picked up her overnight bag and took two steps closer to the front door.
    “Now, Luke, Chloe’s in charge for tonight. Whatever she tells you to do, you do.”
    I shrugged. “Sure.” Well that should get me nicely off the hook if Mum ever finds out about tonight.
    Mum took another step across the hall, then clutched her forehead. “Oh no.” She dropped her bag.
    “What?” Chloe said, with just the barest trace of impatience.
    “I haven’t shown you where the stopcock for the water is. Or the fuse box.”
    “ ’S’OK, Mum,” I said. “I know. Dad showed me.”
    She smiled sadly at me, then picked up her bag. “Are you really sure about this, you two?”
    “Yes.”
    “Course, Mum.” I leaned forwards and kissed her on the cheek. “Have a good time.”
    As the door closed behind her, Chloe punched the air.
    “Yesss!” she hissed. “Now, come on. We haven’t got long to get ready.”
    Chloe had worked on Mum for two days to convince her we’d be all right on our own. The reason was obvious – but Mum never guessed. We were going to have a party.
    It was Chloe’s thing really. She’d gone a bit mad since Dad died, going out all the time; pushing it with Mum in a way she never used to. I overheard her talking about the party to one of her friends, saying it was just what she needed to get her mind off Dad.
    Maybe.
    I’d mentioned it to a couple of mates, but to be honest, I wasn’t all that excited about the party itself. Only in whether Eve would turn up.
    My heart raced whenever I thought about it.
    Eve. Here in my house.
    And her boyfriend , said an annoying voice in my head.
    I told it to shut up.
    “Luke, are you listening to me?” Chloe shook my arm.
    “Yeah, right,” I said, quickly. “Tell me again.”
    “I need you down here to open the door when people bring stuff round this afternoon.”
    I screwed up my face. “Where are you going, then?” I said.
    Chloe rolled her eyes. “I told you. I’ve got to get ready.”
    Chloe’s idea of getting ready meant spending three hours on the phone to her friends discussing the clothes they were going to wear and the boys they wanted to get off with – and then soaking in the bath for an hour.
    During the afternoon I let in a number of blokes – most of them from Chloe’s class – each of them delivering a bottle of wine or vodka that they’d nicked out of their parents’ cupboards. They all asked to see Chloe, but with every arrival she’d just drift out into the landing, phone firmly clamped in her hand, wave down at them, then drift away again.
    Three of Chloe’s girlfriends arrived at about six. They were all carrying armfuls of clothes and an assortment of bags and boxes. They vanished into Chloe’s bedroom, where loud squeals soon rose up over the music.
    I stayed downstairs, wondering what the hell they were doing. I’d already cleaned my teeth, dragged a clean T-shirt