Free Katie's Secret Admirer by Holly Webb Page A

then I decided it would be more fun to wear this. My grandmother sent it for my birthday. I hardly ever wear my Indian clothes, only for family parties and stuff, but they’re fun if you really feel like dressing up. And I did!”
    Annabel looked enviously at the gorgeous material, and the pretty little purple top that Saima was wearing underneath the sari – she looked like a model, and loads of the Year Seven boys kept shooting her admiring glances.
    â€œJosh came looking for you, by the way. I told him you’d be here soon.”
    â€œOh, OK.” Annabel looked round for Josh hopefully, but couldn’t spot him. “He’ll turn up,” she said, sounding more casual than she felt.
    Saima grinned at her – she knew perfectly well that Annabel was putting it on. “Anyway, you look great, too. And I can’t believe you got Katie to wear a dress!” Saima waved at Becky and Katie, who were talking to Fran.
    â€œOooh, I nearly forgot! You’ll never guess what’s been happening!” Annabel filled Saima in on the whole secret admirer thing. Katie had said she supposed she didn’t mind them telling Saima and Fran and David, as long as no one went on about it.
    â€œSo we have to look out for him, OK?”
    â€œDefinitely! This is so exciting!” Saima stared interestedly round the hall, as though she expected someone to appear with a sign saying “Katie’s Mystery Admirer”.
    Annabel gazed round, still hunting for Josh. “Listen, Saima, I’ve just got to go to the loo. Back in a sec, OK?”
    Saima shrugged and went to talk to David and Becky.
    Annabel made her way to the girls’ toilets which were outside the hall. She was walking back down the corridor when she spotted Josh. Unfortunately, he didn’t see her, which perhaps explained why he was sitting on one of the corridor windowsills with Amy Mannering.
    Josh had his arm around Amy and she was giggling as he whispered something to her. Just then Amy looked up and saw Annabel, who was frozen to the spot. Josh followed her gaze and smirked when he saw Annabel’s frosty glare.
    She looked down her nose disgustedly, and said, in a voice that was impressively un-trembly. “Congratulations, Josh – you’ve finally found your perfect match. She’s just as slimy as you are.”
    Then she stalked off back to the hall, refusing even to sniff until she’d got round the corner.
    She wasn’t sure quite what to say to the others, but it turned out she didn’t need to say anything. She walked up to Katie, who was chatting with Megan. Katie took one look at Annabel’s face and burst out, “Oh Bel! What did he do?”
    â€œHe was with Amy – Amy!” Annabel hissed.
    Katie put an arm round her, and Megan gave her a sympathetic look – then she turned round to see if the others were near. She reckoned Annabel could do with both her sisters right now. Becky caught her eye, took one look at Annabel, and skidded up looking worried. She threw her arms round Bel.
    â€œDon’t make me cry. I don’t want to give Josh the satisfaction. You were right about him, Katie – he’s a worm.”
    â€œMmmm – I’m really sorry, Bel, I wish I hadn’t been.”
    â€œI can’t believe it – he was so nice to me! He can’t have meant a word of it.”
    â€œUm, hi?” came a voice from behind them, and the girls looked round – whoever this was, their timing was awful.
    The tall good-looking boy smiled warmly. “Hey, Annabel … I was just wondering if you wanted to dance.”
    Annabel looked thoughtful – it was Dan Mitchell from Year Eight. He’d been Buttons in the play and had always seemed really nice. Not to mention very good-looking, and after all, the best way to show Josh she didn’t care about him and Amy would be to find somebody else.
    She smiled determinedly at Dan.