Acting Friends by Sophie McKenzie Read Free Book Online Page B

you know what he said?’ I asked.
    Shaz bit her lip. For the first time since I’d met her, she looked uncertain . . . vulnerable, almost.
    ‘Because . . .’ she blew out her breath in a sigh.
    ‘Because he said the same things to me.’
    No. This was just another part of her wind-up.
    Another way for Shaz to make me feel bad.
    ‘Do you work hard at being this nasty?’ I snapped.
    ‘Or were you just born mean?’
    I turned and stalked away, back into the heart of the funfair room. How dare Shaz try and spoil my special moment with Frankie. She was just jealous that he paid me a bit of attention. I marched across the room, looking around for Emmi and Grace.
    Where were they?

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    I caught sight of Emmi at the edge of the hot dog stand. She was flicking back her hair, sipping her drink and chatting to someone hidden by the side of the stand. Hopefully that was Grace.
    I raced over. Emmi had her back to me, but as I drew close I could hear her speaking.
    ‘There was another party? Really?’
    A boy’s voice replied. ‘It’s kind of busy here at the moment, but maybe I could see you later?’
    I froze. That was Frankie.
    I stood, listening as Emmi, clearly smiling, said yes.
    ‘Shall we take our picture . . . as a keepsake of our first meeting?’ Frankie went on.
    My stomach seemed to fall out of me. He was saying exactly the same things to Emmi as he had to me. And to Shaz. Which meant she had been telling the truth.
    I felt numb. It wasn’t that I’d ever thought Frankie might ask me on a date. But the idea that someone I’d idolised . . . someone so attractive on the outside . . . could be so two-faced, was horrible.
    Emmi disappeared out of sight as Frankie drew her towards him for the photo. I leaned against the hot dog stand, my head spinning.
    ‘See?’ said Shaz miserably, behind me. ‘He’s doing the same thing with her now.’

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    I looked round. Shaz was standing, hands on hips.
    Her expression was angry, but I could see she was as upset as I was underneath.
    ‘I thought you didn’t like him,’ I said.
    Shaz gave an awkward shrug and I suddenly realised she’d been talking for effect before . . .
    that maybe she even fancied Frankie as much as I did.
    Just then Emmi appeared. When she saw me she squealed.
    ‘River, you’ll never guess who I’ve been talking to!’ she said.
    ‘Frankie Clarke?’ I raised my eyebrows.
    ‘Yes,’ Emmi’s eyes widened. ‘And he wants to see me later.’
    I exchanged a look with Shaz.
    ‘Actually, he might not have totally meant that.’ I squirmed as I spoke. I hated the idea that I was going to upset Emmi by telling her what Frankie had been doing.
    ‘What?’ Emmi frowned.
    ‘He’s going round saying he wants to see everyone later,’ Shaz said.
    I could feel my face reddening again. This was so embarrassing. I couldn’t believe Frankie had fooled me . . . us . . . so easily.
    Emmi glanced from me to Shaz, then back again.

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    ‘You mean he said it to you two as well?’ she asked.
    I nodded. Shaz sighed.
    ‘I thought he was cool,’ I said. ‘But he’s not.’
    ‘No,’ Shaz agreed. ‘He’s not.’
    Emmi shook her head, then said a rude word.
    ‘Where’s Grace?’ I asked.
    The three of us looked at each other. The same thought was clearly flashing through Emmi and Shaz’s mind as it was through mine. If Frankie had lied to the three of us, he could easily do the same to Grace.
    ‘We can’t let him upset Grace,’ I said. ‘She’ll be totally devastated.’
    ‘We have to find her,’ Shaz said.
    ‘Yes,’ Emmi added. ‘Come on.’

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9
    We spotted Grace within seconds. She was
    wandering past the go-karting area, peering between the knots of people cheering on the sidelines.
    ‘She’s looking for us,’ Emmi said.
    ‘Come on.’ We hurried after