Free The It Girl by Katy Birchall

me with a soft smile, and left.
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    â€œThat is”—Danny searched for something positive to comment when I had finished relating the events to them—“quite an evening.”
    â€œAnd then did you talk to your dad when the others had left?” Jess asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.
    â€œNo, I went straight to bed. I told him I didn’t want to speak to him.”
    â€œDid you talk to him this morning?” Danny asked, pushing the hair out of his eyes.
    â€œNo. Think I’m still in shock.”
    â€œWow,” Jess exhaled. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
    â€œMe neither.”
    â€œDoes this mean you’re going to be famous? Like Marianne is?” Jess asked, her forehead creasing.
    â€œNo!” I exclaimed, my throat tightening.
    â€œBut you might get some attention,” Danny reasoned, giving my knee an awkward pat. “We’ll look after you though.”
    â€œCourse.” Jess nodded. “Maybe the best way to think of it is just, your dad is getting married. To someone who happens to act. And she’s quite well known for acting. And her daughter is well known for going to parties. And they get photographed a lot.” Jess looked like she’d confused herself with what she was saying and fell silent.
    We sat there for a minute or so without speaking until the bell rang. Danny stood up and reached his hand out to help me up. “You know what I think?” he asked as he pulled me onto my feet. “I think this could be really cool.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œHonestly, Anna, I don’t think this is as bad as it seems. You’ve said before that you would have liked a sibling.”
    â€œDuh,” I snorted. “But not a FAMOUS one who wears leather jackets. I always pictured myself with a sister who knows all the lines to all the same films so we could act out the best parts, and then one day we would create our own comic strip about two sisters who save London from destruction. You know, someone to eat Nutella out of the jar with while watching movies.” I shrugged. “Normal sibling stuff.”
    Jess and Danny glanced at each other.
    â€œYou know what I mean,” I sighed. “This is disastrous. Marianne and I could not be worse opposites. She probably hasn’t even seen Lord of the Rings , let alone rehearsed the Mount Doom bit.”
    â€œWell, before you decide that this is the worst thing ever, let’s just wait and see what happens. When are you seeing them next?” Danny asked.
    â€œWe’re having dinner at Helena’s this evening.” I swallowed nervously. “That should be fun.”
    â€œDon’t worry about a thing,” Jess said, trying to sound jovial but failing badly. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”
    I don’t know why everyone continues to lie to me in this fashion.

9.
    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: Hello darling!
    I know we spoke on the phone earlier today, which was lovely, but I just wanted to check that you’re all right? You sounded a bit strained.
    Are you still worried about setting that silly girl on fire? You’re such a worrier. You get that from your father you know.
    I never worried so much at your age. I remember when I was twelve I joined an interpretive dance crew. That’s the sort of thing that would be perfect for you!
    Love Mom xxxx
    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: Mom
    Everything is fine. Really.
    Interpretive dance? I’ll pass, thank you. I’m already a big enough loser as it is. Interpretive dance would be a social death sentence.
    Also you should know that I mentioned this to Dad and he said you’ve never joined an interpretive dance crew in your life. He says that you probably mean the time you toured Britain as a Morris dancer.
    I hope that both of you know how