Turning Point by Barbara Spencer

friendly smile at Scott, Jameson wrapped his arm around Hilary’s shoulders, planting a brotherly kiss on her cheek.
    Okay, so it was only Jay, and he saluted all girls this way. It was part and parcel of his character, over-the-top excitability that gathered people around him in droves. It was only when Hilary became involved that Scott felt a twinge of jealousy, rather like indigestion circling his guts, wishing he could be as casual.
    â€˜The problem with you, Hilary…’ Jameson began.
    â€˜Oh! So now I have a problem,’ Hilary retorted, a spot of pink erupting on both cheeks. Even after nine months in an English school, she still found it difficult to relax and let the ragging wash over her.
    â€˜My dear girl, we all have problems. Scott, as you well know, has about two zillion…’
    â€˜Hey – I protest!’
    Travers grinned. ‘Jay’s spot on. Everything with you is so serious.’
    â€˜Hang on a minute.’ Jameson regarded Scott, a bewildered expression on his face. ‘
Is this a doppelganger I see before me?
You’re not supposed to be here. You said you were back Saturday. What happened?’
    â€˜I…’ began Scott.
    â€˜So, what’s my problem?’ Hilary interrupted, smiling gamely.
    â€˜
Darling girl.
’ Jameson beamed down at her, instantly diverted. ‘When a guy asks if you’ve missed him, not only is it impolite
not
to respond – after all, common sense will tell you that he wouldn’t have asked the question in the first place if he hadn’t missed
you –
but when someone like Scott who openly adores you…’
    â€˜Watch it!’
    â€˜Deny it, and go to hell,’ Jameson retorted, a wicked glint in his eye.
    â€˜I’m not going to hell.’ Scott suddenly grinned, his grey eyes leaping into life.
    â€˜You must let him down gently,’ Jameson continued his lecture. ‘Pointing out that it was good to see your mother, is not the way to go about it.’
    Hilary glared around the circle of friends. ‘Honestly, you lot, why I ever became friends with you in the first place…’
    â€˜Because we’re the nicest guys in the class.’ Mary, her dark hair now shoulder-length tiptoed up behind Travers, placing her hands across his eyes.
    He knocked them away and, wrapping his arms round her, dropped a kiss on her hair.
    Mary smiled at Hilary. ‘Don’t take any notice of Jay, he obviously ate sugar for breakfast.’
    â€˜I did not,’ Jameson said, switching his manner to lordly, ‘I will have you know…’
    â€˜New girlfriend!’ Scott exclaimed, remembering that Jay mostly got out of hand when he’d met someone new. ‘A new girlfriend – I bet you. Someone he met at half-term. So who is it? Come on, Jay…’
    Mary kicked him on the ankle, surreptitiously jerking her thumb.
    Scott caught the direction and his eyes widened. He swallowed down the words ‘tell us all about her’.
    â€˜So let me tell you my news,’ said Hilary quickly, picking up on Mary’s gesture. ‘You’ll never guess…’
    â€˜Hang on a minute, you lot. Get in line.’ Jameson darted to where Jenny was standing next to Hilary, head bent, pointedly scrabbling about in her bag trying to give the impression she hadn’t been listening. Jameson grabbed her hand, raising it in a victory salute. ‘This, in case you have never met her before, is Jenny – my new girlfriend. Jenny, meet my friends.’ He gave a mock bow, ignoring Jenny’s discomfort, her face scarlet.
    â€˜For the last time, Jay, I am
not
your girl-friend,’ she retorted in a flustered tone. ‘We happened to spend last weekend together, that’s all.’
    â€˜Whoa!’ Travers backed away, his hands up in the air as if fending her off. ‘Come off it, Jenny. You can’t go round spending weekends with guys and then say