‘You bring it out in me.’ She smiled mischievously. ‘It’s like having a little sister to lead astray.’
‘I can’t.’
‘All right then.’ She sighed. ‘It’s a shame that it’s happening this week and not next week when you’re free. Never mind, you can go next year.’
I groaned. Next year was so far away! And how often does the world’s biggest pop star invite you to go with her to Fashion Week? NEVER. It was all so unfair, but there was no chance I would get away with it – there would be photos all over the Internet as soon as I stepped anywhere with Skylar. But this was a chance of a lifetime. It was surely worth it. What was the worst Mum could do?
‘OK.’
Skylar looked at me blankly. ‘OK, what?’
‘OK, I’ll come to Fashion Week with you tomorrow.’
A smile spread across her face. ‘Really?’
‘Yes. But it will have to be after I’m back from school, so just an evening show. And I’ll have to make Mum think I’m upstairs doing my homework so she doesn’t check on me.’
‘Yes! Tomorrow night is Lewis Blume’s show, and I have him on speed dial so I’ll call and get you on the guest list. This is so exciting!’ she cried, wriggling her pedicured toes and disturbing grumpy Fritz. He was not one to pander to celebrities. ‘Although, how are you going to sneak out the hotel without being seen?’
I nestled snugly back into my chair and admired my shiny new nails.
‘Leave that to me.’
Since meeting Skylar, school seemed duller than ever.
I kept getting told off in lessons for not paying attention. Most of the time I was daydreaming about appearing on Ethan’s vlog and how jealous Ella and Grace would be when they found out. I had eventually told the girls that Skylar and I had spoken once or twice, which made me even more popular at school than I already was. I was constantly surrounded by people on the way to lessons and at break times. I happily told them that Skylar was very nice but I hadn’t given anyone any more details yet, despite Grace questioning me every second of the day. I wasn’t sure why, maybe because I was secretly terrified that it was all some kind of humiliating joke and Skylar was going to turn around and be like, ‘You thoughtwewere friends? Ew!’
It could happen.
All I told them was that I’d bumped into her in reception a few times and she seemed nice, which was enough for Grace and some of the other girls to scamper after me at every chance they got and ask whether or not I’d be seeing Skylar again, how long she was staying for, if she was going to the Christmas Ball, whether or not I’d be allowed to go to one of her gigs and take some friends with me and if so, who I would be taking.
‘Do you think she’d mind if you asked her for some autographs?’ Grace asked eagerly at the end of maths, as I gathered my books off the desk.
‘She’s really busy with Fashion Week. She doesn’t have the time.’
‘Oh, right.’ Grace nodded, looking disappointed. ‘Maybe after Fashion Week then.’
‘Maybe. She’s got a jam-packed schedule. Anyway, why don’t you get Ella and we can go to lunch?’
‘OK!’ she said, before rushing off to stand outside Ella’s classroom and wait for her.
I got to my locker, relieved to have some peace, and saw Oliver standing next to it.
‘Hey.’ He smiled as I approached. ‘I thought my sister might be with you. I picked up one of her books by accident this morning, and she must have taken mine.’
He held up a plain black notepad and then opened it to show me a page covered in cutouts of Ethan Duke’s face with red hearts scribbled around them.
‘This page was a bit of a giveaway.’
‘Right.’ I laughed. ‘You want me to give it to her?’
‘I’m surprised she’s left your side for a second. You’re all she talks about these days. Well –’ he hesitated, passing me the notepad – ‘you, Ethan Duke and Skylar Chase.’
I saw him glance over my shoulder and turned to see Ella swanning towards us, with Grace one step behind.
‘Hey, Oliver,’ Ella said, fluttering her thick, mascara-covered eyelashes.
‘Hey. Excited about tonight?’
