The It Girl by Katy Birchall Page A

events. I decided that the reason for Brendan Dakers noticing and talking to me could be any of the following:
    1. He mistook me for someone cool and popular. By the time he realized that I was actually one of the big nerds that he’s not supposed to socialize with, it was too late and he had to see the conversation through to the end (unlikely because he found me on my butt).
    2. He ate some bad shrimp or something and was sick and disorientated.
    3. He took pity on the fact that I fell on my butt.
    4. He likes Marianne—who does not fall on her butt—and wants me to introduce him to her.
    5. He’s just a nice person?
    6. He believes that I actually am an It Girl.
    Points 3 and 4 seemed the most likely. I asked Jess and Danny their opinion at lunch as we sat at our table, desperately trying to ignore the pointed looks of everyone around us. “Maybe he was just being human.” Danny shrugged, moving his vegetables around his plate. “People like Brendan Dakers do have the ability to be nice.”
    â€œBut then why does he hang out with Sophie Parker and Josie Graham?” Jess asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at their table.
    â€œHe did stick up for me that time in class when Sophie was yelling at me about setting Josie on fire,” I added.
    â€œHe said it was funny,” Jess pointed out. “Not exactly backing you up. I don’t know; it seems a bit odd to me that the day he decides to talk to you happens to be two days after your celebrity status appears in the papers.”
    â€œOr it just happens to be the day I walk into a pillar right in front of him. If it had been anyone else, he still would have helped them up, right?”
    â€œMaybe.” Jess shrugged. “It’s not like Brendan Dakers has ever been horrible. He just chooses to spend his time with people who are. Maybe he thought you were someone else at first?”
    â€œYeah, I thought that.” I nodded.
    â€œI think you’re both thinking about it way too much,” Danny said, looking at us in exasperation. “Does it even matter?”
    â€œUm . . . yes?” Jess and I chorused.
    â€œIt’s not every day the most popular and best-looking boy in school talks to me, Danny.” I sighed. “Normally I would be very happy right now. Sadly, my dad has ruined my life, so occurrences like Brendan Dakers talking to me are kind of overshadowed by the likelihood that everyone is going to be wetting their pants laughing at the fact that the papers suggested I might be the next newsworthy socialite. I bet Sophie and Josie are on their way to humiliate me right now.”
    â€œUm, first of all, Anna,” Jess jumped in. “Just let Ms. Queen Bee and her evil minion try it. They’ll have me to answer to.”
    â€œYeah, me too!” Danny chimed in. “What?!” he asked, outraged at Jess’s look of disbelieving pity.
    I gave him what I hoped was a sympathetic and supportive smile.
    â€œAnd secondly ,” Jess carried on, “it’s not that bad. Being an It Girl could be very cool. Couldn’t it , Danny?”
    â€œPlease don’t call me an It Girl,” I groaned, resting my forehead on my arms in front of me.
    â€œIt’s, um, very cool,” Danny mumbled through his lunch, looking at Jess perplexed. “Yeah, think of all the great things about it.”
    â€œLike what?” I muffled, not raising my head.
    â€œUh . . . ,” Danny began, looking at the ceiling for inspiration.
    â€œFirst, you’re probably going to get lots of free stuff,” Jess interrupted, poking Danny. “Celebrities always get free stuff. Clothes, shoes, accessories.”
    â€œYou can say important stuff to the press!” Danny said desperately, scowling at Jess and rubbing his ribs. “You could speak out for those in need and bring attention to important charities.”
    â€œLike going to