Girls Out Late Read online

  Why did I ever mention it to him???

  ‘Well, maybe,’ I hedge. ‘After all, Magda’s dad got the tickets. It would be silly to waste it. And my dad doesn’t mind because – because he’ll drive us there and then drive us back so he can keep an eye on us all the time.’

  ‘How about if he drives you and me to the dance and then drives us back? Then he can keep an eye on us,’ says Russell.

  ‘I don’t think that’s quite the same.’

  ‘No, things aren’t quite the same,’ Russell says – and I don’t like the way he says it.

  He doesn’t suggest we go to the park. He doesn’t suggest we go anywhere. We sit in McDonald’s for half an uncomfortable hour and then Russell looks at his watch ostentatiously.

  ‘Gosh, is that the time? I’d better get back. I’ve got heaps of homework to do tonight.’

  ‘You’re mad at me, aren’t you?’ I mumble.

  ‘No, really. It’s OK. I understand,’ he says – sounding like he doesn’t understand at all.

  ‘I feel so mean letting you down.’

  ‘Well.’ Russell shrugs his shoulders. ‘Maybe I’ll find someone else to go to the dance with me.’

  I feel as if he’s slapped me in the face. I stand up, feeling sick.

  ‘Right,’ I say. ‘Well. See you.’

  ‘Yes. See you,’ says Russell.

  We both know what this means. We won’t see each other, Ever again.

  I try to tell myself that if he can be so mean and petty just because I can’t go to his dance then he’s really not worth bothering about.

  ‘He’s not worth it, worth it, worth it.’

  That’s right. I shall go to the Claudie concert with my two best girlfriends in all the world and we’ll have a great time.

  It’s no use. I wish I hadn’t said no to Russell. He is worth it. I care about him. I love him.

  I go straight home.

  I go straight home from school the next day too. There’s no point going to McDonald’s. Nadine and Magda are sisterly and supportive. It doesn’t really help.

  In afternoon Art the next day Mr Windsor is still into Myths and Legends. I draw a sad silly Psyche drooping miserably because she can’t see Cupid. Mr Windsor is very complimentary but for once this doesn’t mean much. He admires Nadine’s Circe too but barely glances at Magda’s Venus, mumbling ‘Very good’ and edging past quickly. Magda does her best to maintain her cool but her face is as red as her hair.

  She rushes out of class without waiting for us.

  ‘Don’t you rush off too, Ellie,’ says Nadine. ‘I need you to be there just in case . . . well, you know. If Liam’s there.’

  ‘Oh Naddie,’ I say, giving her a little pat.

  But it isn’t Liam who’s waiting at the gate. It’s Russell – and he’s talking to Magda.

  I feel dizzy. Maybe he’s always liked Magda. Everyone else does. Maybe he’s asking her out instead of me. Maybe he’s asking her to the dance!

  I grab Nadine’s arm.

  ‘It’s OK, Ellie,’ she says, peering over at the wall where Liam used to wait. ‘He’s not there.’

  ‘Russell is,’ I hiss urgently. ‘Only he’s chatting up Magda. Hang on to me tight, Nadine. I want to walk right past as if I haven’t even noticed them. Nadine, stop staring!’

  But I can’t help staring too. Magda’s smiling at Russell. She’s looking right into his eyes and he’s looking back eagerly, hungrily, like she’s the juiciest ice-lolly in the freezer and he wants to lick her all up.

  ‘I can’t believe it,’ I say. ‘How could he?’

  ‘How could she? She doesn’t even like him. She told me she was amazed you were so dotty about him. She said she thought he was a snotty little creep,’ says Nadine.

  ‘He’s not a snotty little creep!’ I say, outraged. Then I see him smile at Magda and my stomach turns over. ‘Yes he is!’

  ‘Look, take my arm, Ellie. Come on, we’ll whizz past them quick. You hold your head up high. Don’t say a word to Russell – or Magda. We’re not going to speak to her at all. And she’s supposed to be your friend!’

  Nadine leads me across the playground although my legs have turned to jelly. I wobble all over. I try to set my face in a mould but as we get close up everything threatens to melt and run.

  ‘Ellie?’

  It’s Russell – smiling at me!

  The nerve! I walk past, my head high.

  ‘Ellie!’

  It’s Magda, and she’s smiling too.

  My eyes sting. It’s bad enough that Russell could betray me, but I can’t bear it that my best friend Magda could do this to me, and so blatantly too.

  ‘Ellie, stop. Wait! I want to talk to you,’ Russell says, hurrying after me.

  ‘Well, she doesn’t want to talk to you,’ says Nadine, elbowing him out of the way.

  ‘Ellie? Nadine? What’s up with you two?’ says Magda, dodging round the other side.

  ‘What’s up with you?’ says Nadine. ‘How could you, Magda?’

  ‘How could I what? Here’s me doing my best to act like Cupid, helping these two idiots get it together again, and you act like I’ve done something dreadful!’

  I stop. Nadine stops. Magda stops. Russell hovers, while we three girls stare at each other.

  ‘What are you on about, Magda?’ says Nadine.

  ‘Russell stopped me as I came out of school and asked me how Ellie was and whether she was still mad at him. He’d hung around McDonald’s for hours yesterday and she didn’t show, so he wanted to know if she might be willing to make it up or had he blown it for ever. I said I thought she was still crazy about him and pretty miserable at the moment and that she’d be more than willing to make it up – but then you two sweep past with your noses in the air, not even speaking. I can’t work out why. I mean, don’t speak to Russell if you don’t want to, Ellie, but don’t take it out on me.’

  ‘Oh Mags,’ says Nadine. ‘You’ll never guess what Ellie thought!’

  ‘You thought it too!’ I say, weak with relief.

  ‘You thought what?’ says Magda.

  ‘Nothing!’ I say quickly, because Russell is in earshot. I turn to look at him. He looks at me. I feel like I’m the ice-lolly now. Melting.

  ‘Go on, you two. Go and enjoy your romantic reunion. Have a happy little snog in McDonald’s,’ says Magda.

  ‘French kiss over the French fries.’

  ‘Blush amongst the burgers.’

  ‘Cuddle over your Cokes.’

  ‘Sauce the ice-cream with your sweet talk.’

  ‘Froth the coffee with your feverish embraces.’

  ‘Shut up, you two,’ I say – but fondly.

  They’re such sweet friends. And so is Russell. When we get away by ourselves at last he says he’s really sorry he said he’d take someone else to the dance.

  ‘I just wanted to hurt you, Ellie. It was stupid. You didn’t believe it, did you?’

  ‘Of course I didn’t!’ I insist. ‘Oh Russell, I’m still so sorry I’ve let you down over the dance.’

  ‘Well, it’s not like it’s this super-cool ultra great social date. It’s just a school dance. It’ll probably be a totally sad embarrassing occasion, so maybe it’s just as well you’re not coming.’

  ‘Maybe we could go to some other dance together?’

  ‘Sure. That would be great. Though actually I can’t dance very well. I sort of fling my arms and legs around and look like a total prat. Maybe if you saw me you’d go off me instantly. Always assuming that you’re on me, of course.’

  ‘You’re the one who went off me. You were really mad at me last time.’

  ‘You were the one who didn’t turn up at McDonald’s. I waited hours.’

  ‘You didn’t suggest meeting there. I didn’t think you’d go. I didn’t think you wanted to see me again.’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘I do too. Want to see you.’

  ‘Oh, Ellie.’ Russell suddenly pulls me close, right there in the street.