Cathy Hopkins - [Mates, Dates 06] by Dates Mates, Mad Mistakes (Html) Read Free Book Online Page A

name?’
    ‘Izzie.’
    ‘So, no vodka, no
lager. What does Izzie like to drink?’
    Actually Ribena Lite
is my favourite at the moment but I didn’t think it sounded very sophisticated.
‘Er…’
    Luckily I was saved
from answering as my mobile rang. ‘S’cuse me a sec.’ I walked a few paces away
to take the call. It was Mum. She sounded harassed.
    ‘Where are you?’
    ‘On my way home.’
    ‘Why isn’t your dad
bringing you? I just called there and he said you were making your own way
back.’
    ‘I’ll be back before
it’s dark.’
    ‘Where exactly are
you?’
    ‘Just going into Camden
tube station,’ I fibbed.
    ‘I’ll pick you up at
East Finchley, then.‘
    I switched off the
phone and went back to Josh. He looked highly amused. ‘Mum and Dad wondering
where their little girl is?’
    ‘No. But I got to go.
Er… things to do.’
    ‘Sure.’ He shrugged
and got up to go back to his friends. ‘See you around, kid.’
    Kid
, I thought as I walked away. What a
cheek. Then I turned to sneak another look at him. He turned back at exactly
the same time and laughed when he saw me glancing round. Ha, I thought as I set
off for the tube.
    Caught you looking!
     
    TJ’s Tips for
Being Streetwise
     
    ·         Always
keep a taxi number handy for times of emergency or times you can’t reach
someone you know. If you have a mobile, save the number in your ‘phone book’.
    ·         Keep
your keys in your pocket in case someone ever steals your bag — that way at
least you can get in your front door.
    ·         It’s
a good idea to have a bag that you can wear diagonally over your body, so
it’s harder for someone to grab it and run.
    ·         Don’t
walk in dark, secluded places. Use routes home that are well lit and where
there are still people about, even if it means walking further.
    ·         Don’t
make eye contact with strangers.
    ·         If
you ever feel you’re being followed, get to a populated area as fast as
possible and keep your mobile within reach but out of sight.
    ·         Never
hesitate to call and ask someone to pick you up if you’ve been stranded.
    ·         If a
stranger ever asks if you want a lift, always say no and that your dad is on
his way and will be there any second. Then immediately phone the person you
know who lives nearest.
    ·         If
ever travelling on the tube or train, always travel in a compartment with
people in it. If they get off at a stop, leaving the carriage empty, get off
with them and get into a carriage with people in it.
    ·         If
ever you are mugged, don’t fight. Hand over your phone, watch or purse, then
leg it.
    ·         Walk
confidently - head up and briskly.
     
     
     
     
     
C h a p t e r   6
    Zombie
     
    Contents - Prev / Next
     
    ‘I’ve got a quiz to
try out on you,’ said Lucy, flopping on the sofa. ‘It’s just your kind of
thing, Izzie - sort of a psychological test.’
    We were all over at
Nesta’s the following evening. We spent the first twenty minutes swopping news
and I’d filled them in on bumping into Josh again and the ongoing war with Mum.
She was back to her usual mad self when she picked me up from the tube station
the night before. Apparently when she phoned Dad to ask why I wasn’t home yet,
he mentioned that he knew about the belly button stud. She wasn’t happy. Oh no.
She spent the whole journey home going on about how he’s too laid back when it
comes to disciplining me, he’s not the one who has to lay down the rules, the
one who worries when I’m out late, wonders where I am and what I’m getting up
to. I tried telling her that I could handle myself, but she wasn’t really
listening. No wonder Dad doesn’t want to get involved. She gets so worked up
over nothing.
    It was good to get out
of the house and over to Nesta’s to see the girls and have some normal company.
    ‘OK,’ I said,