Boy Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page A

Whatever.” She shrugs. “But isn’t that Mills? She knows exactly who I am. And who’s that with her? It’s not the infamous Sophie?”
    I nod. I’ve told Clover a little bit about Sophie, namely that she’s a wannabe D4 and her favourite hobbies are moaning about everything and picking on people, me and Mills included.
    Clover squeezes my shoulder and leans in towards me. “I’m well able for a Sophie, Beanie. Bring it on.”
    As we walk towards the queue I feel sick. If it wasn’t for Clover I’d run away. I don’t know what to do with my hands, they’re shaking like jelly, so I shove them into the pockets of my jeans.
    Clover smooths down her tiny denim shorts and strides directly towards Mills and Sophie. She has amazingly toned legs; if I didn’t know better I’d say she spent hours in the gym every day. I follow behind her, feeling like Cinderella
before
her fairy godmother’s help.
    Clover spins round and winks at me. Everyone in the queue is staring at her, especially the boys. Only then do I feel a bubble of excitement in my stomach. With Clover as wing man I feel safe, proud, and even a tiny bit confident. People probably think we’re best friends or something, how cool is that?
    But we’re related, I think suddenly, not friends, and Clover is only here because of her
Goss
job. Then I sink back down to earth with a bump, all excitement gone. I begin to feel nervous and plain again.
    “Smile, Beanie,” Clover says. “Pretend you’re feeling on top of the world. That’s what I always do. Breathe in positive energy. Radiate confidence from your solar plexus.” She grins. “I read that in the magazine last week. Good, isn’t it?”
    “But what does it mean?”
    She giggles. “No idea.”
    Instead of breathing in positive energy I touch the back of Clover’s hair and say a little prayer. Whoever’s up there, if you’re listening, please give me just a smidgen of Clover’s confidence.
    Then I plaster a grin on my face and pretend I’m having the time of my life.

Chapter 5
    “Amy!” Mills waves at me, beaming. “You decided to come. Hi, Clover.” I hope Mills doesn’t spill the beans.
    Sophie looks at me suspiciously. “Why are you grinning like that, Amy?” she snaps. “You look mental.”
    Then her eyes linger on Clover as if she can’t quite place her. Sophie likes to place people. She’s very territorial.
    “Who’s she?” she asks Mills, staring at Clover openly. “How do you know her?” Like Clover, Sophie can also be appallingly direct.
    Mills opens her mouth to say something but Clover quickly cuts in, “I’m an old friend of Amy’s. From way back.”
    Mills throws me a look and I touch my finger to my lips. She shrugs and stays quiet.
    Clover says, “And who are
you
?” She looks Sophie up and down, taking in her Ugg boots, ironed and backcombed hair that stinks of almond-sweet hairspray, dark eyeliner and stripy vest top. Sophie’s baby pink bra straps are showing and the cups are pinching her breasts. I wonder if Clover’s noticed. Clover has a thing about badly fitting underwear.
    “Sophie. Amy’s
best
friend.” Her voice is as prickly as a rose bush.
    Clover’s having none of it. “Great,” she says smoothly. “Then you’ll let us bunk into the queue.” She turns to the boys directly behind Mills and Sophie. “I’m sure you won’t mind, lads, we’re just joining our friends.”
    “No problemo, girls.” A spotty ginger-haired guy with a thin, weasel-like face gives us a gappy smile. “Be my guest.” He waves a hand in front of him. As we squeeze in beside Sophie and Mills I feel a sharp tweak on my bum and swing round.
    “Did you just pinch me?” I demand, outraged.
    He winks at me cheekily. “What if I did?”
    Clover squares up her shoulders. She may be small, smaller than me in fact and I’m only five foot, but she has presence. She pokes his pigeon chest with a finger. “Have some respect. What are you,
two
? Only toddlers