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

sitting
on the floor next to the sofa. ‘Shoot.’
    ‘You have to think of
your three favourite animals,’ said Lucy. ‘Then remember them in order. Tell me
when you’ve got them.’
    We all sat and thought
for a few minutes.
    ‘OK, ready,’ I said.
    ‘And me,’ chorused
Nesta and TJ.
    ‘OK,’ said Lucy. ‘Say
them out loud and why you picked them. Nesta?’
    ‘Cats because they’re
elegant and independent. Leopards because they’re beautiful, and peacocks
because they’re stunning when they put their tails up and strut their stuff.’
    Lucy laughed.
    ‘What?’ asked Nesta.
‘What’s so funny?’
    ‘You’ll find out in a
minute,’ said Lucy. ‘OK, Iz?’
    ‘Um, dolphins because
they’re friendly and intelligent, orang-utans because when you look into their
eyes, you can tell they have these really wise old souls, and owls because
they’re meant to be wise, but if you ever take a good look at them, they’re
actually hysterically funny — they can turn their heads round almost three
hundred and sixty degrees.’
    Lucy burst out
laughing again.
    ‘
What?
’
I asked.
    ‘You’ll see in a
minute. TJ?’
    ‘Penguins because they’re
entertaining and have a funny walk, dogs because they’re intelligent, loyal and
playful, and meercats because they look after each other — they’re really
social animals.
    ‘OK.’ Lucy said,
grinning. ‘I’ll tell you what it all means now. Your first choice was how you
see yourself…’
    ‘That’s amazing,’ I
said. ‘TJ picked penguins because they’re entertaining, and you are, TJ. Dunno
about the funny walk, though. And Nesta picked cats because they’re elegant and
independent. It’s really true.’
    ‘And you said dolphins
because they’re friendly and intelligent,’ said Nesta, ‘That’s true as well.’
    ‘OK, what do the other
choices mean?’ asked Nesta.
    ‘Second one is how
others see you and the last one is how you really are.’
    ‘We see you as an
orang-utan…’ laughed Nesta, pointing at me.
    ‘Yeah, fat and hairy,’
I said.
    Nesta laughed again.
‘We’re going to have to work on your self-esteem, girl.’
    ‘But it’s more the
reason
why
you picked them that’s revealing, not the animal so much,’
said Lucy. ‘And Izzie said because when she looks at an orang-utan, she sees a
wise old soul. That’s
exactly
how I see you, Iz.’
    ‘And you really are a
peacock,’ said TJ, pointing at Nesta.
    Nesta’s face clouded.
‘Proud as a peacock. Oh dear.’
    ‘No,’ said Lucy. ‘You
didn’t say that. You said you liked peacocks because they’re stunning when they
strut their stuff. Nothing could be more true in your case.’
    ‘And others do see you
as beautiful,’ said TJ. ‘You said leopards for your second one because they’re
beautiful. Second one’s how others see you, right, Lucy?’
    Lucy nodded.
    Nesta started
strutting around the room. ‘Yeah. And you’re an owl, Izzie. Why did you say you
liked them?’
    ‘Because they can turn
their heads three hundred and sixty degrees.’ I tried to do it, but nope,
wouldn’t go.
    TJ pulled a face. ‘And
I’m a meercat.’
    ‘But all the ones you
chose, you said were because they’re playful, intelligent and loyal,’ said
Lucy. ‘That’s exactly how you are, TJ. Don’t you see - your choices reveal a
lot about your character.’
    ‘Kind of like how what
you wear reveals who you are as well,’ I said. ‘So what did you pick, Luce?’
    ‘Horse, ostrich, dog.
Horses because they’re gentle, ostriches because they’re funny and dogs because
they’re faithful and fun.’
    ‘Spot on,’ said TJ.
    ‘OK,’ said Nesta. ‘I’m
going to strut my stuff into the kitchen. Who wants what?’
    ‘Diet Coke,’ said TJ.
    ‘Same,’ said Lucy.
    ‘Izzie?’ asked Nesta.
    ‘How long are your
parents out for?’ I asked.
    ‘Until about
ten-thirty, I think,’ said Nesta. ‘They’ve gone to see a movie. Why?’
    I eyed the drinks
cabinet under the bookshelf