Don’t You Forget About Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

brightly, though somewhat unconvincingly. ‘Come on, let me introduce you – you’re gonna love her!’ And before I can protest, Fiona has looped her arm through mine and is enthusiastically steering me outside.
    ‘Hi guys,’ she waves, tottering up to the group, which breaks apart at our appearance and eyes me suspiciously. But Fiona doesn’t seem to notice. ‘Tess, this is Lolly, Rara and Grizzle,’ she beams, flinging out her arms like a presenter on one of those shopping channels when they’re presenting some hideously fake-looking item and trying to convince you how wonderful it is.
    Funny that.
    There’s a murmur of hellos and lots of flicking of hair.
    ‘And this is Pippa!’ she gushes, with the verbal equivalent of a drum roll.
    Pippa leans in to kiss me on both cheeks, whilst her eyes run over me like radar scanners. ‘Tess, I’ve heard soooo much about you,’ she coos, giving me a smile that’s as fake as her friendliness. ‘How wonderful to finally meet you.’
    ‘You too,’ I smile. ‘I’ve heard so much about you too.’ (I swear if Fiona tells me the Prince Harry story one more time . . . )
    ‘Do you know Pippa’s a jewellery designer?’ continues Fiona. ‘Isn’t that amazing?’
    ‘Um . . . yes,’ I nod. ‘Amazing.’
    ‘Look, she made this ring!’ Fiona points to Pippa’s finger and something that looks as if it fell out of a cracker.
    ‘It’s an emerald,’ says Pippa nonchalantly. ‘Five carats. Flawless.’
    I look again in astonishment. That great big green piece of glass is real ?
    ‘I get all my stones from Raji,’ she continues blithely. ‘It was originally in an antique necklace but I reset it.’
    ‘Raji? Oh, is that the jeweller’s on the high street, near Putney Station?’
    ‘Rajasthan, in India,’ she says, looking at me as if I’m stupid.
    I feel my cheeks colour.
    ‘Though I’m thinking of taking a break from designing as it’s so exhausting .’ Heaving a sigh, she takes a sip of champagne.
    ‘I can only imagine,’ I nod, trying to imagine how tiring it must be making emerald rings all day – and failing. ‘All that flying, and backwards and forwards to India. I get knackered just walking across Hammersmith Bridge to the office.’
    Hearing the sarcasm in my voice, Fiona glances at me nervously, but Pippa is immune.
    ‘I know, right! Absolutely!’ she wide-eyes. ‘And air travel is so dehydrating for the skin. My facialist is forever telling me’ – she adopts a stern voice – ‘“Pippa, think about your pores!”’
    There’s a muttering of sympathy and someone gives her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
    ‘That’s why I’m thinking of setting up an animal sanctuary and working with rescue animals.’
    ‘Pips, you’re so incredible with animals,’ pipes up Grizzle. Or is it Lolly? I can’t tell them apart: they’re all blonde, skinny and wearing push-up bras.
    ‘We’ve got a rescue cat!’ enthuses Fiona, trying to join in. ‘She’s called Flea.’
    ‘Really? How cute,’ sniffs Pippa. ‘But I was thinking of something a bit less domestic .’ She gives a little derisory smile.
    I watch Fiona’s face fall. God, Pippa is such a horrible, condescending snob. I don’t understand why Fiona wants to be her friend. For some reason she’s impressed by her.
    ‘Mummy breeds llamas, and horses are in my blood, so flea-ridden old moggies aren’t exactly me.’ She gives a little titter and the rest of the gang join in like a load of braying donkeys.
    I feel a sudden flash of protectiveness. For both Flea and Fiona.
    ‘Oh I don’t know, I’m sure you can be very catty if you feel like it,’ I reply with an innocent smile.
    Abruptly the laughter stops and there are a few nervous giggles. I catch sight of Fiona’s horrified expression as Pippa turns and stares at me, as if seeing me for the first time. Narrowing her eyes, she asks sharply, ‘What exactly is it that you do again?’
    ‘Nothing nearly as fascinating as you—’