Destiny Date by Melody James Read Free Book Online Page B

talkin’ about it, but it’s jus’ in their
head.
    Treacle hasn’t even opened her book. ‘And now I’m going to the prom with Jeff Simpson,’ she breathes dreamily.
    ‘Great.’ My thoughts switch back to the article I wrote earlier.
Don’t get stuck with a date! Go to the prom single. Love is for old people and fairy tales.
The words
ring hollow. Suddenly I’m imagining myself walking beneath the sparkly prom lights, my arm hooked through Sam’s. Misery skewers my heart.
    ‘Aren’t you looking forward to the prom?’ Treacle twists round and stares at me.
    ‘It’s just a school disco,’ I grunt.
    She clutches my arm. ‘Oh, Gemma. Are you worried that Sav and me will spend all our time with Jeff and Marcus? Because we won’t. We’ve talked about it and we’re going to
make sure we include you totally.’
    ‘Thanks,’ I mutter. I imagine trailing round after Treacle and Sav as they swoon over Jeff and Marcus, stopping occasionally to check I’m OK. I feel sick. ‘I’ll be
fine by myself. I can always hang out with Sally.’
    ‘But she’s going with Ryan.’
    The news hits me like a cannonball. ‘
What?
’
    ‘Haven’t you heard? He asked her at lunchtime.’
    ‘Oh, great.’ I’m less than enthusiastic. Why did I let Jessica meddle? Perhaps I shouldn’t go to the prom at all. I’ll be like a vegetarian sausage at a barbecue,
shrivelling virtuously on the grill while everyone scoffs burgers.
    ‘It’ll be fun, Gemma,’ Treacle promises. ‘I thought you were looking forward to it.’
    ‘I was,’ I admit. ‘But the closer it gets . . .’ I trail off. Should I tell her what’s really bugging me? That I’ve been secretly hoping I would be going to
the prom with Sam?
    ‘What?’ Treacle coaxes gently.
    ‘I just wanted to—’
    As I start my confession, the door bursts open.
    ‘Gemma!’ Ben swings on the handle, eyes bright. He’s in his Spider-man pyjamas, his face shiny, his hair damp. ‘Will you read me a bedtime story? Mum’s at yoga and
Dad wants to watch the football.’
    ‘Sure.’ I close my book and get to my feet. I’m kind of relieved he’s here. It’ll be easier talking about Sam once the prom is over. I’ll have to deal with
less pity.
    ‘Wait.’ Treacle grabs my hand. ‘What were you going to tell me?’
    ‘Nothing important,’ I lie.
    Treacle frowns. ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘Sure.’
    Ben starts kicking the bottom of my door. ‘Gem-
ma
,’ he whines.
    ‘Go and get into bed and I’ll be there in a minute.’
    He races down the hall. ‘I’m timing you.’
    I roll my eyes at Treacle. ‘He’ll be counting elephants.’
    He starts chanting in his room. ‘One elephant, two elephants, three elephants . . .’
    I pick up Treacle’s bag. She’d been so busy daydreaming she hadn’t even unzipped it. ‘You’d better go before he gets to sixty or he’ll never go to
sleep.’
    Treacle hugs me. ‘See you tomorrow, Gem.’ She pauses to give me a look and I know she’s worrying about me.
    ‘I’m OK, honest,’ I tell her.
    As she thumps downstairs, I head for Ben’s room.
    ‘Fifteen elephants!’ Ben exclaims as I sit on his bed. He’s tucked under the duvet. ‘That’s a record!’
    I reach for one of the books piled on his bedside table.
    ‘No!’ he shouts. ‘Make one up. A superhero story.’
    I grin. This is more fun than an English essay. I snuggle in beside him. ‘There was once a superhero called Elastic Ben.’
    ‘Is that me?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘What’s my superpower?’ Ben tugs his duvet up and peers over the top with round, dark eyes.
    ‘Guess,’ I prompt.
    ‘I’m elastic.’
    ‘Super-elastic.’ I nod. ‘One day, Elastic Ben was lounging around in his superhero apartment.’
    ‘Superheroes don’t have apartments,’ Ben argues.
    ‘Yes they do. They have big penthouse apartments with great views over Central Park.’
    ‘Is that in New York?’
    ‘Yes,’ I tell him. ‘It’s where Elastic Ben lives with his sister,