Girls Out Late Read online

  ‘He said that?’ I ask enviously. ‘Those exact words?’

  ‘Yep. And he went on, “You don’t want to waste your feelings on a boring old teacher like me.” So I dared pluck up the courage to tell him he was the least boring man I’d ever met, and he said I was a very sweet girl to say so, but by next week or the week after I’ll be totally fed up with him and I’ll just look back on this as a fleeting crush. I said I didn’t think so – and then I asked him to tell me why he wasn’t interested. Was it just because of the school thing or didn’t he like me at all? And he said he liked me a lot, but probably not in the way I meant. He said I was way way way too young to be involved with a guy in his twenties and certainly he’d never be unprofessional enough to have any liaison with any pupil, even in the sixth form, and then he said, “And my girlfriend wouldn’t be too happy about it anyway.”’

  ‘He’s got a girlfriend?’

  ‘They live together. It’s actually her flat. She’s in advertising and I think she must make a lot of money. He showed me this photo of her. It’s not fair, she’s gorgeous, this black girl with a face like Naomi Campbell and the most amazing long hair. She’s called Miranda and when he says her name his face goes all soft and it’s obvious he’s crazy about her.’

  Magda sighs.

  Nadine sighs.

  I sigh.

  ‘He suggested I stay and meet her. He even asked me to have supper with them but I couldn’t face it. So I made out I really did have this date with a boy from Halmer High and then I apologized for making such an idiot of myself. He said, “Don’t worry about it, Magda. We’ll both forget this ever happened.” But how can I forget? How can I ever face him? Every time we have Art I’ll have to skulk in the toilets for the whole double lesson.’

  The bell goes and we go back into school – and there’s Mr Windsor coming along the corridor towards us!

  ‘Oh no!’ says Magda. ‘Quick, hide me!’

  We can’t drape ourselves around her or squash her up small in our schoolbags so there’s obviously no way we can hide her. I link into her arm on one side, Nadine does the other, and we carry on walking up the corridor. Mr Windsor saunters along like he hasn’t a care in the world. When he draws near he gives us all his normal cheery smile.

  ‘Hi Ellie. Hi Magda. Hi Nadine,’ he says, and then he strolls off.

  ‘Phew!’ says Magda, breathing upwards so sharply she ruffles her fringe.

  ‘What style!’ says Nadine. ‘He acted like it never happened.

  ‘Maybe it didn’t,’ says Magda. ‘Maybe last night was just a mad delusion on my part. Perhaps I dreamt it all.’

  ‘I wish my evening was only a dream,’ Nadine says sadly.

  ‘But you acted wonderfully. You looked after Vicky and you stood up to Liam and showed him just what you thought of him,’ I say, giving her a hug.

  ‘You don’t think I am all cold and boring, do you?’ Nadine says.

  ‘Of course not!’

  ‘And boys will like kissing me?’

  ‘Nadine! You just wait and see. I’m sure you’ll meet someone very special really soon,’ I say. ‘I predict it!’

  ‘Predict someone special for me too, Ellie,’ says Magda, sighing.

  ‘OK, someone special for both of you. Now cheer up, right? Big smiles!’

  Magda bares her teeth at me.

  ‘It’s all right for you, Ellie. You’ve got Russell,’ says Nadine.

  ‘Yeah, right, I’ve got Russell. But he’s nowhere near as important to me as you two,’ I say – and I mean every word.

  But when I meet up with Russell in McDonald’s after school I forget all about Magda and Nadine. Russell’s bought me a little present! It’s in a little black box. A jewellery box???

  I open it, my heart hammering.

  ‘Don’t worry, it’s not a seriously heavy commitment present. It’s not like a ring or anything,’ Russell says quickly.

  It’s two little pearly daisy-shaped hairslides, very delicate and utterly delightful.

  ‘I hope you like them,’ Russell says. ‘I thought they’d look good in all your lovely curly hair. But don’t feel you have to wear them if you don’t want to.’

  ‘I do want to! They’re wonderful.’

  ‘You honestly like them? I spent ages looking at all this hair stuff. The girl in the shop kept giving me these weird looks like she thought I was shopping for myself and rushed off to Madame Jo Jo’s of an evening. Here, shall I help you fix them? I just love your hair, Ellie, it’s so springy.’

  ‘Kind of exploding mattress springy – but I’m ever so glad you like it. I’ve always hated there being so much of it, all frizzy curls. I’ve always wished I had hair like Nadine’s, smooth and glossy and gorgeous, but of course mine couldn’t ever go like that. I could try having it very short like Magda. Do you think it would suit me?’

  ‘You don’t want to look like Magda or Nadine. You want to look like you,’ says Russell firmly, clipping the slides into place. ‘There! They really suit you, Ellie. Will you wear them to the centenary dance?’

  ‘You bet! In fact I’ve got this pearly-grey silky top, I could wear that. It’s sort of slinky.’

  ‘Sounds great! I got the extra ticket today. My dad coughed up the cash. He’s mellowing considerably. I’ve told him all about you. Well, I made out my Art teacher is a mate of your Art teacher and they were both comparing notes on the brilliance of their pet pupils, etc., etc. I thought it would go down better than saying we met here. Dad has a seriously weird problem about me hanging out at McDonald’s. Anyway, we’re all set for the dance on the 29th.’

  ‘The 29th,’ I repeat.

  Why is that date so familiar? Why do I suddenly feel anxious?

  ‘The 29th,’ I say yet again. ‘That’s not a Friday, is it?’

  ‘Yes. Why?’

  Oh God. I know why.

  ‘I’m supposed to be going to a Claudie Coleman concert on the 29th!’

  ‘Oh Ellie! Can’t you go another night?’

  ‘I think she’s only doing the one gig.’

  ‘Claudie Coleman – the singer with the red hair? Yeah, I like her too. But she’s always doing concerts. Couldn’t you go another time? Please, Ellie.’

  ‘Well, it’s just . . . You see, Magda’s dad got the tickets specially.’

  ‘Magda again.’

  ‘Don’t say it like that, Russell, please. Look, I can’t really back out now and let her down.’

  ‘I bet Nadine’s going too.’

  ‘Yes, she is.’

  ‘So, Magda and Nadine can go together. It’s not like you’re leaving one on her own.’

  ‘Yes, but, well, we were all three going to have this girls’ night out.’

  ‘Oh. So they’re more important than me and my dance?’

  ‘No! No, of course not.’ I’m starting to panic. I was so happy just seconds ago, loving my beautiful pearly hairslides, thrilled to bits that Russell had bought them specially for me. Now I feel the slides are digging directly into my head and I can’t think straight.

  I take Russell’s hand, though I’m extremely conscious of all the kids milling round us in McDonald’s.

  ‘Russell. You’re much more important. You know that.’

  ‘Then come to the dance with me, Ellie. I’ve spent the whole day showing off to everyone that you’re coming. I’ll look such an idiot if I have to say you’d sooner go off to some concert with a couple of girlfriends.’

  ‘It’s not just any old concert. I’ve loved Claudie for ages and I’ve never had the chance to hear her sing live before. And Nadine and Magda aren’t any old girlfriends either. They’re my best ever friends.’

  ‘But I’m your boyfriend, aren’t I?’

  ‘Well . . . yes, of course.’

  ‘And you’re my girlfriend and I need you to come to this dance with me. Please, Ellie.’

  ‘OK, OK! Of course I’ll come. I’m sure Nadine and Magda will understand.’

  Russell gives me a quick k