Starting Over by Cathy Hopkins Page A

It’s up to Sarah.’
    I looked over at Aunt Sarah, who had retired to the window seat at the back of the kitchen and was reading the paper. She glanced up when she heard her name.
    â€˜Can we have a pet, Aunt Sarah? I’ll look after it, I promise.’
    â€˜Feel free to say no,’ said Mum. ‘We’ve taken over this house enough as it is.’
    Aunt Sarah smiled. ‘I like it. This house was meant to be full of people. And I love animals. We always had a house full of cats when we were growing up, remember, Fleur? We never had a pet here because I’m away so much and Kate would have forgotten to feed it. So let me think about it, hey? I’ll get back to you.’
    I wasn’t sure if I was being fobbed off as Aunt Sarah is very clever and uses her ‘I’ll get back to you’ line often as a diplomatic way out of things. I’ve heard her do it a few times with people to do with her business.
    Our discussion was cut short by the phone ringing. It turned out to be Ruby. She was desperate for my advice and begged that I go round that afternoon. Although yesterday I would have killed for the same invite, today I wanted to stay home and be with Dad and the family.
    â€˜My dad’s just got back and I’ve got schoolwork too so I’d really —’ I started.
    â€˜Oh. Well if you have more important things to do, fine,’ Ruby interrupted. ‘No matter. Laters.’
    And she hung up! When I tried to call back, the answeringmachine was on and I still didn’t have her mobile number. I felt awful and spent the rest of the day and a sleepless night agonising about whether I’d blown my one chance at having a friend at school.
    She was waiting for me at the gate when I arrived at school the next morning. I began articulating apologies and excuses in my head as she waved and approached me.
    She linked her arm through mine to walk into school. ‘Oh. My. Go-ooood! Thank
goodness
you’re here, India Jane.’
    â€˜Me? Listen, Ruby, I’m so sorry about yesterday,’ I said. ‘You really must give me your mobile as I would have come over yesterday . . .’
    â€˜Yesterday? Why?’
    â€˜You phoned, remember?’
    â€˜Oh that? That was then. Loads has happened since then. My life is over,’ she declared. ‘And honestly, that Nicole, supposed to be my mate, she
would
pick today of all days to be sick, like when I
really
need her.’
    â€˜So what’s wrong?’
    â€˜Oh don’t ask. I can’t talk about it. It’s way too painful . . .’
    â€˜No. I meant with Nicole.’
    â€˜Oh her. Flu.’ She sighed dramatically. I wondered what I was supposed to do or say, when she turned and looked me directly in the eyes. ‘His name is Nick Carson.’
    And so the floodgates opened about some student who she’d been on a date with at the weekend but who hadn’t called her since.
    * * *
    Over the next few days, Ruby sought me out every lunchtime to listen to her rollercoaster ride with Nick. By the time Nicole returned to school, it was accepted that I was to be included in their breaktime hang-outs. I didn’t push it. In fact, on the first day that Nicole was back, when I saw her with Ruby in their favourite spot near the radiator on the corridor to the art room, I headed off into the canteen.
    I spotted Dylan at a corner table. He didn’t notice me. He was surrounded by a group of girls and boys and was making them all laugh. I had no worries for him any more. He was already one of the most popular boys in his class. I bought a tuna mayo sandwich and bottle of water, and tried to look as if I was happy to be on my own as I had my lunch, but I still felt conspicuous. Instead of sitting there looking lonely, I decided to go to the library to read over
The Boy Friend
again. The next day was to be the second meeting about the show and although I’d read the script through