Katie's Secret Admirer Read Online Free PDF Page A

grumpily. She was amazed to see Becky and Annabel exchange smiling but slightly long-suffering glances over her head (or so they thought). What did they think they were doing? She did that – with Becky to express secret amusement at Annabel’s weirder ways, or with Annabel when Becky was being particularly mouse-ish.
    Annabel looked at her smugly. “That was before we agreed to your party idea. If we’re giving up our Valentine’s evening to come to that, then you can at least dress nicely the day before. Mum, Katie wants to have a sleepover on Valentine’s Day. Can we?”
    Annabel sounded slightly bored and contemptuous of the idea – as though a sleepover was somehow babyish compared to the real party on the Friday! When Katie and Megan had thought of it, the whole idea had seemed so grown-up and sophisticated, and now Annabel was making her sound like a sulky little girl as she prattled on to Mum. “Katie doesn’t really want to come on Friday, so we’re having the sleepover for her. No boys allowed.” Annabel giggled.
    â€œIt’s not like that,” Katie burst out crossly. Even Mum’s understanding smile was rubbing her up the wrong way now. “Me and Megan were just getting sick of the way everyone’s obsessed with Valentine’s Day, that’s all. We thought it would be cool to do something totally different. You don’t have to come!”
    â€œWe want to,” Becky assured her. “It sounds good. Sleepovers are always fun. Please can we, Mum?”
    â€œJust you three and Megan, Saima and Fran?” Mum asked. The triplets nodded eagerly. “Fine by me, as long as you clear up.” Mum sounded quite happy with the plan, but Katie was left feeling as though her party had been hijacked – it wasn’t just a sleepover, it was a protest, and nobody was taking it seriously enough.
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    As the triplets walked to school on Tuesday morning, Katie’s cross mood seemed to have settled in to stay. The weather didn’t help. A horrible cold drizzle was falling, and it felt as if it was seeping right through to her bones. Katie shook off the little lake that had dribbled down inside her hood, and kicked irritably at a puddle.
    â€œHey!” Annabel snapped. “You’re splashing me, stop it!”
    Katie stalked on ahead – her feet were soaked now, too, and she just wanted to get inside.
    Finally they reached the school, and flung themselves into their classroom. There was a smell of wet day hanging about – soaked coats were steaming on the radiators, umbrellas were dripping all over the floor, and groups of damp people were huddled up on the desks shivering together.
    Megan and Fran were sitting together, looking worriedly at Fran’s homework diary, which had been in a not-quite-closed pocket on the front of her rucksack. Fran carefully turned the limp pages, and sighed.
    â€œIt might be OK if you put it on the radiator,” Megan suggested. “Oh, hi, you three! Isn’t it horrible out there?”
    â€œWe’re soaked,” Katie agreed, dumping her bag on one of the chairs and feeling better at the sight of Megan’s cheerful face and bouncy red curls – which were even bouncier than usual, as the wet weather seemed to have sent them a bit mad.
    â€œBecky, look!” moaned Fran worriedly. “Do you think Miss Fraser will let me have a new one?” She waved the soggy book at her friend, and the cover started to detach itself from the pages.
    â€œNope,” said Jack. He picked up the sad wet thing between finger and thumb and grinned. “You’ll have to wring it out and dry it with a hairdryer.” He winked at Robin who was watching from his desk.
    Becky was a bit more sympathetic. “Ignore him, Fran! I think Megan’s right, it’ll be fine if you leave it on the radiator for a while.”
    â€œYou should put it under a pile of books,”