Free My Dating Disasters Diary by Liz Rettig Page B

toilets, that the government has increased the
school leaving age to twenty-five, and that in an effort to
improve the school ethos all pupils will have to curtsey or
bow to teachers if we meet them in the corridors. Yeah,
right. Like I'm really stupid enough to believe any
of it.
    Mr Smith has just come on the tannoy to tell us that the
rumour school is closing today at eleven a.m. is not true
and anyone found truanting will be severely dealt with.
Since corporal punishment is now allowed in all state
schools at the discretion of the head teacher, this is likely
to be a very painful experience.
    Passed Michael as I was on my way to the shops with
Liz to buy some chocolate. As usual he was surrounded
by nice-looking fourth-year girls, who were all trying to
pull him, judging by their constant superglue-fixed
smiles and tilted heads. He spotted me so I waved a quick
'Hi' to him and hurried on as the queue would be building
up. But to my surprise he broke free from his group of
admirers and caught up with me.
    'Hi, Kelly Ann. Look, could I have a quick word with
you?'
    'Sorry, Mike, not now – I'm in a bit of a hurry.
Chocolate starvation has set in and you know what the
queues are like.'
    However, he turned to Liz and gave her a dazzling
smile. 'Maybe you could go ahead and keep Kelly Ann's
place for her. Or' – he took some change from his pocket
and handed it to her – 'if we don't make it by the time
you're served, just buy her a Cadbury's Creme Egg.' He
turned to me. 'That's what you usually like, isn't it?'
    I nodded, puzzled. Liz took the money, then, giving
me a look that said she'd expect me to fill her in later on
what Mike was up to, every single detail , she ran on ahead.
    I said, 'How do you know I like Cadbury's Creme
Eggs?'
    'You told me one time. Don't you remember?'
    I shook my head, then shrugged. 'No, not really, but
anyway, what did you want to talk to me about?'
    He paused for a moment and seemed for once to look
a bit unsure of himself, but then he went on, 'Look, Kelly
Ann, I was just wondering if you wanted to meet up after
school today. We could go to the café for a Coke and
maybe have a pizza later. What do you think?'
    I stared at his gorgeous face, puzzled. 'What for?'
    'Well, I don't know. I mean, it's just that I really like
talking to you. You're different from most girls.
Interesting. And, well, fun.'
    'Are you asking me for a date?' I asked incredulously.
    He smiled. 'Well, yeah, I suppose so. Yeah, I am. So can
I see you after school today?'
    'But why would you want to date someone like me?
    You could have anyone.'
    'Don't want just anyone. You're, well, special. You're
not like most girls I meet – always giggling and talking
rubbish. I feel you really listen to what I have to say. That
you're interested in me as . . . well' – he reddened – 'as a
person, I suppose. That's why you're the only girl I ever
sent a Valentine's card to. Bit cheesy, I know.' He grinned.
'Did you never guess who it was from?'
    For a moment I almost fell for it. How embarrassing.
God, Michael really was a good actor. But then I
remembered it was April 1st. Aha! Like I'm really going
to fall for that one. I smiled back. 'Sorry, Mike, I'm busy
today.'
    'OK, well, fair enough. I suppose it is kinda short
notice. What about tomorrow then?' he said, still giving
me his nice-guy Colgate grin.
    'Busy tomorrow too.'
    His smile wavered a bit. Maybe he realized his April
fool wasn't working. But he persisted anyway. 'So, is
there any time you've got free when we could meet up?
Maybe next week?'
    'Nah, sorry. Fact is, I don't think of you in that way .
    You're way too ugly for me.'
    He flushed. Hmm, so it's OK for him to play jokes on people but he can't take it when it's the other way about. 'I'm
not ugly.'
    'Course you're not,' I said, mock soothingly. 'You're
just not my type, that's all. Not, um, blond enough. Yeah,
I only date blonds, I'm afraid.'
    'You don't want to go out with me because of the
colour of my hair?