Mumnesia by Katie Dale Read Free Book Online Page B

RU? Hope UR feeling Bettr
    I feel a twinge of guilt that she thinks I’m ill –
we don’t usually keep any secrets from each other –
but it’s late now and it’d take ages to explain about
skipping school and my magic wish and Mum turning into Shazza,
and to be honest, I just want to make the most of the time
I’ve got left with Shazza; after all, she’ll be gone
tomorrow. I’ll tell Kimmy all about it then!
    Suddenly Zak’s picture pops up on my phone as he updates
his profile. He looks even more gorgeous than ever – if
that’s possible. If only
he’d
accept my friend
request . . . but of course he probably has absolutely no idea
who I am.
    ‘Ooh, who’s that?’ Shazza says, peering over
my shoulder.
    ‘That’s Zak.’ I smile. ‘The fittest
guy at school.’
    ‘He does a lot of sport?’
    ‘No,
fit
– you know,
good-looking.’
    ‘Oh right!’ She flops down next to me on the bed.
‘So is he your
boyfriend
?’ She winks.
    ‘I wish!’ I laugh. ‘Besides, Mum thinks
he’s too old for me. He’s just turned
fourteen.’
    ‘Pah!’ Shazza laughs. ‘Trev’s, like,
fourteen and a
half
.’
    #JawDrop. So not only did Mum have a boyfriend when she was my
age, he was more than two years older than her! Hypocrite!
    ‘So . . . have you asked Zak out?’ Shazza
asks.
    ‘As if!’ I laugh. ‘I’ve never even
spoken to him!’
    ‘What? Why
not
?’
    ‘Because . . . whenever he’s nearby my throat just
completely dries up and my legs turn to jelly!’
    ‘Must be love!’ Shazza swoons.
    ‘It’s hopeless!’ I sigh, gazing at his
picture again. ‘He has no idea I even exist!’
    ‘Then make him notice you!’ Shazza sits up.
‘You just need a bit more confidence, Lucy – you have
to take your destiny into your own hands! Worked for me. I got
fed up of waiting for Trev to ask me out, so finally I just went
up and asked
him
out.’
    ‘You did not!’ I can’t believe Mum was ever
this feisty.
    ‘Did so!’ She grins.
    ‘I could never do that!’ I gasp. ‘Just the
thought of it makes me dizzy!’
    ‘Well, you have to do
something
to get
Zak’s attention!’
    ‘Actually –’ I hesitate – ‘there
is this Black and White Ball . . .’
    Shazza’s eyes light up. ‘Awesome! And I know
exactly
what you should wear!’ She grabs one of the
shopping bags and pulls out the sparkly white dress I tried on
earlier. I can’t believe it!
    ‘OMG! Shazza, no way!’
    ‘Way!’ She beams.
    ‘Thank you
so
much!’ I squeal.
‘It’s
perfect
for the ball!’ Then my
heart sinks. ‘But Mum’ll never let me keep it.
She’ll return it to the shop tomorrow.’
    ‘In that case . . . whoops!’ Shazza rips the label
off and tears it into tiny pieces. ‘She can’t return
it now!’
    I gasp. ‘
Shazza!
It was so expensive!’
    ‘So what? Lucy, you’re my daughter and this ball
is majorly important. I mean, Zak could be, like,
The One
!
If this dress gets him to notice you, it could change your whole
entire life!’
    I can’t believe it. My mother finally understands me.
Tears filling my eyes, I throw my arms around her. ‘Thank
you!’
    ‘You’re welcome!’ She laughs. ‘And
thank
you
for wishing me here, Luce. I’m so psyched
I got to meet you!’
    ‘Me too.’ I beam. ‘Today’s been
uber-amazing.’
    But tomorrow Mum will be back. She’ll return my phone.
She’ll say I can’t go to the ball, and she DEFINITELY
won’t let me date Zak.
    And worst of all, Shazza will be gone.

20 SHAZZA
    I can’t sleep. My nose-stud might
look cool but it’s really irritating me, so I take it out
– but every time I close my eyes I see horrible zombies!
And strange shadows keep flitting over the ceiling. And
it’s so
noisy
. Cars are still driving past, even
though it’s really late! And I can’t get comfy
– this bed feels weird and this nightdress smells funny,
but the main problem is . . . I don’t have Zebby. I
haven’t slept a