Going for Gold by Annie Dalton Read Free Book Online

head pityingly. “No fun always being the understudy is it, sweetie?”
    “Actually, Lola’s my best friend, so please don’t talk about her like that,” I said angrily. The words just came out by themselves. I’m usually rubbish at standing up to people, but she’d crossed a line.
    Maia went white. “That so didn’t come out how I meant. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” She totally didn’t know where to look.
    I was already intrigued by this unusual angel girl. Now a tiny door in my heart that I hadn’t known was there, flew wide open.
    Maia might act sassy, but she had just shown me that she was every bit as scared and vulnerable as -well, me.
    I touched her arm. “It’s OK, really.” “Are you sure?” Enormous tears hung off the ends of her eyelashes, threatening to fall. “Totally sure, and I’d still love to meet up.”
    She was fiddling with something at her throat.
    With a twang of shock I recognised the ankh.Maia saw my face. “What? This?” She lifted the jewel-studded pendant, peering down almost in surprise. “No way! You thought I nicked it from the museum! That’s so hilarious!”
    My face was burning. “I didn’t really—” “Sweetie, this is fake. I bought it in Ambrosia before I came!”
    “I honestly didn’t—” I was beside myself with shame to think I’d virtually accused another angel of stealing.
    “Hey, it was a natural mistake, don’t stress it!” Maia had taken out her phone. She started walking away.
    “Come back with us!” I offered wildly. “You and Lola would totally hit it off, I know you would!” “Stuff to do, babe!” she called. “Later, OK!” “But how will I find you?” I shouted. “I’ll find you, OK!”
    Lola picked that moment to come flying out of the museum. She arrived on the pavement, looking frazzled.
    “Hi babe!” I greeted her. “Did you see that cool angel girl I was with?”
    She practically snapped my head off. “No I didn’t! Where the sassafras did you get to? I’ve been worried sick!”
    I scanned the crowded pavements, wanting to point out my fascinating new friend, but Maia must have been a fast walker because there was no sign of a sassy angel girl in a poppy red dress.

Chapter Seven
    B ack at the hostel Lola went right off the deep end.
    “You just disappeared, Melanie! I had NO idea what had happened! AND you forgot to keep your phone switched on!”
    “Jeez, Lollie, you sound like my mum!”
    “I don’t CARE! Suppose the PODS had got you.”
    “You really think the Powers of Darkness would let me make a phone call!”
    “That’s NOT the point!” Lola was so upset she’d given herself hiccups.
    “Don’t let’s fight,” I pleaded. “I don’t want us to fight.”
    I fetched us both a cool drink from our mini fridge, and we took them out on to the balcony. I made Lola hold her breath and block her ears and eventually her hiccups stopped and we were friends again.
    “You’re still coming tonight, aren’t you?” she asked anxiously.
    My soulmate had arranged to do a couple of sets with the band.
    I nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! Wouldn’t miss it, truly.”
    A voice in my head whispered: Ma/a might be there.
    Lola was just getting into her second number, when I heard a friendly BEEP from inside my bag. I felt a happy little buzz when I saw Maia’s text message. Wait 4 u downstairs. Maz.
    Far too excited to wonder how she got my number, I rushed off.
    At the bottom of the steps, I heard a stifled giggle and Maia sprang out. “Surrender innocent angel girl, I am your worst nightmare!”
    We both burst out laughing. We’d picked almost identical outfits again: floaty gypsy skirts with beaded tops. I was in apple blossom pinks and greens, and Maia was in glittery sophisticated black.
    “You should really go to the party looking like that,” I said admiringly.
    “No way! Can’t take those types of get togethers. They’re so totally bogus.”
    I felt a naughty thrill go up my spine. Maia was