Free Mates, Dates and Cosmic Kisses by Cathy Hopkins Page A

late. Oh pants. Now I couldn’t do 1471 to get Mark’s number as Angus had called in between and got in the
way. Again .
    I quickly called Lucy, explained the situation and asked her to check if anyone had rung.
    A few minutes later, she came back to the phone. ‘Only a message from Nesta about five minutes ago.’
    ‘Oh no ,’ I said. ‘Mark said he’d try and call but I bet he gave up because he kept getting my voicemail when Nesta was on the line. Promise you’ll answer it
if it goes again?’
    ‘Course I will,’ she said. ‘And have you phoned Nesta?’
    ‘Not yet. Why?’
    ‘She really wants to talk to you,’ said Lucy.
    Oh dear. She was mad at me. I’d better phone soon and make it up with her. But first, I had to get my mobile back.
    I went into the sitting-room where Mum had settled on the sofa in front of the TV with a glass of wine.
    ‘Mum. Please will you take me back to Lucy’s to get my mobile?’
    ‘Izzie. It’s eight o’clock.’
    ‘It’ll only take twenty minutes.’
    She sighed. Never a good sign. ‘I’ve had a long day at work, I took you to your music lesson, I waited for you and I’m not going back there now. We have a phone
here.’
    ‘Well I’ll go on the bus.’
    ‘You will not, not on your own at this time of night.’
    ‘Then I’ll get a taxi.’
    ‘Izzie. Watch my lips. N. O. No. Anyway, who was that boy on the answering machine?’
    ‘No one.’
    ‘Well what did he want?’
    ‘Nothing,’ I said.
    This time, neither of us laughed.

 
    Chapter 9
Murphy’s Law
    At school on Friday , things really came to a head.
    I know Mum’s mad at me. Nothing unusual there. But now Lucy is too.
    ‘Have you called Nesta yet?’ she said when she handed over my mobile phone in the break.
    ‘Not yet,’ I said. ‘I did mean to . . . but . . .’
    ‘But what ?’ said Lucy crossly. ‘She’s phoned you a few times. And she’s ill. What’s the excuse this time? Mercury gone retrograde again so you
can’t pick up a phone?’
    I was stunned. This wasn’t like Lucy. She was all stiff and looked really upset.
    ‘I will phone her. I’ve had a lot going on. And actually , it’s not Mercury, it’s Pluto, it’s going through a really intense phase in my chart and . .
.’
    ‘Tell me about it,’ said Lucy, looking skywards. ‘Not only Pluto. You, Izzie. You’re so . . . so serious about everything these days. And you can’t keep
blaming the stars. In fact, I’m getting sick of you using your stupid horoscope as an excuse for everything anyone does, doesn’t do or thinks. You know what? You’re no fun any
more. And you’ve been neglecting me. And Nesta. You’re not the only one going through stuff. But lately it’s all been about you. And Mark. And if he’s phoned or not.
And Mercury or Venus . . .’
    She broke off. She looked near to tears. She turned away but I went and stood in front of her and put my hand on her arm.
    ‘Oh don’t cry, Lucy. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been a pain, haven’t I?’
    ‘Yes. You have .’
    ‘Look, I’ll phone Nesta this instant,’ I said and began dialling Nesta’s number. ‘And I’ll make it up to you. Honest I will. Lucy. Lucy? Still mates?
Please?’
    Lucy sighed. ‘Course,’ she said. ‘Still mates. Just lighten up a bit, will you?’
    At that moment the bell went for class.
    ‘I’ll phone Nesta at lunch. I will. I will. Promise.’
    ‘You better had,’ said Lucy and punched my arm.
    But at least she was smiling.
    When I got home that evening, I had a good think about everything Lucy had said. I knew she was right. I had lost myself somewhere along the way in the last few weeks. And to
tell the truth, I was beginning to get tired of staying in waiting for the phone and going slowly mental. I’d done everything I could think of to keep myself occupied. I’d colour
co-ordinated my wardrobe, I’d tidied all my books and CDs, I’d done all my homework, painted my nails, conditioned my hair,