Free Girl Online by Zoe Sugg Page A

the glass, onto the street, and eventually out into the sea. I don’t need to hold on to any of it.
    I see an unread comment from Pegasus Girl on my latest blog post. I rush to open it.
    Hey, GO!
    So nice to hear from you! How did the concert go?
    I know EXACTLY how you feel about your friend. I’m going through kind of the same thing over here. A friend really wronged me, and I just don’t know if I can ever forgive her. But I think you have to offer people second chances. Even if younever become the best friends you once were, because now you’re older, wiser, and won’t make the same mistake twice, it’s better to have a friend than an enemy. Plus, you don’t need that kind of negativity in your life! Accept the apology, but also accept that you won’t be the friends you once were.
    PG xx
    I quickly type a reply.
    Thanks for your advice. How can I describe the concert? It was kind of a disaster. I had a panic attack in the audience and had to leave before BB had even finished his set.
    But the one good thing that came out of it was that it gave my friend the chance to apologize. I’m not sure that I can ever trust her again, but it feels like a weight has lifted now that I don’t have to look over my shoulder at every turn, wondering what she’s going to do next.
    I’m about to go to sleep, because tomorrow . . . I’m getting on a plane to Berlin! I’m nervous and excited all at once. I’m still using Wiki’s tips on how to combat anxiety. Ocean Strong is going to be on board! I’m also taking my mum’s favourite cardie with me to wrap up in.
    I’ll keep you up to date on everything that happens!
    GO xx
    I’m just about to log off when an email pops up on my screen. I wonder if it’s a notification saying Pegasus Girl has replied super quickly. I hate leaving an email unanswered, so I open it . . . but the email address isn’t one that I recognize.
    From: TheRealTruth
    To: Penny Porter
    Subject: Enjoy it while it lasts . . .
    ATTACHMENT: image_1051.jpg
    The email itself is blank, but I can see a small thumbnail of the image and immediately my stomach turns in on itself. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I double-click on the attachment and up pops a photograph of Noah and me.
    My mind begins to race. Is this a paparazzi shot? Or one of Noah’s crazy fans?
    But then I realize it’s the selfie that I took earlier in the car.
    The one on my phone.

Chapter Twelve
    My heart beats faster inside my chest and my pulse quickens, but I take a big, deep breath. I am not going to let some phone thief bully me into panicking about this. I know exactly who I can turn to in this situation. I gather my laptop in my arms and run down the flight of stairs that lead from my cosy attic room and knock frantically on Tom’s door.
    â€œYeah?” I’m surprised he can hear me knock over the thrumming bass of his favourite dubstep music, but he’s very attuned to any disturbance of his privacy.
    â€œIt’s me.” I push open the door and see my brother at his computer. He spends so much of his time there that I’m surprised there isn’t a permanent indent in his desk chair.
    â€œEverything OK, Pen-pen?” He takes off his head-phones.
    I bring my laptop over to him and show him the picture. “This was taken from my phone—the one that was stolen at the concert. Look at the subject line. I think someone wants to use it against me?”
    Tom’s body language shifts from relaxed to tense, like he’s gearing up for a fight. “OK, first of all, have you called your provider? They can shut down the phone remotely.”
    I nod. “Yeah, I did that about ten minutes after I lost it. But I haven’t done anything else . . . I guess I was still holding out hope that someone would find it and hand it in.”
    He grabs his phone and starts dialling a number.