Playlist for a Broken Heart by Cathy Hopkins Read Free Book Online

give it a listen.’
    Tasmin was staring at me and it was beginning to make me feel uncomfortable. ‘It must have been tough for you,’ she finally said. ‘I’m . . . not usually so insensitive .
. . like I was yesterday.’ Clover rolled her eyes when she said this and Tasmin laughed. ‘OK, er . . . maybe I am. Clover says it’s because I’m an Aries – speak before
I think, leap before I look and all that. Clover’s Libran, ever the diplomat. I remember your house in London. It was amazing.’
    ‘It was.’
    ‘Like what?’ asked Clover.
    ‘A mansion, huge rooms, loads of bathrooms,’ said Tasmin.
    ‘It was . . . by the river. It was nice,’ I added.
    ‘Nice?’ said Tasmin. ‘Paige, you’re so reserved. Your house was awesome. When I was little, I used to dream of running away to come and live with you.’
    ‘Did you?’ I asked. This was news to me.
    ‘So what the hell happened?’ asked Tasmin as Clover joined her on her bed.
    I shrugged. ‘Not sure. Bad investment or . . . not bad, Dad wouldn’t do that. Something unexpected happened on the stock market. Some shares plummeted, and not just Dad’s. He
advised people as well and they lost money too. I can’t say I really understand it all.’
    ‘Yeah, Mum said it was something to do with stocks and shares,’ said Tasmin. ‘Apparently it’s like gambling. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Your dad lost. So, I
guess we’re stuck with each other for the time being and have to make the best of it, right?’
    ‘I’d like that,’ I said.
    Tasmin cracked up. ‘You are
so
posh and polite.’
    ‘Yeah,’ said Clover, ‘you could learn from her.’
    Tasmin biffed Clover on the arm. ‘Whose friend are you, matey?’
    Clover laughed. ‘Yours, but I’ll be Paige’s too.’
    ‘She’s teacher’s pet as well,’ said Tasmin. ‘Always sucking up to people.’
    ‘I am so not,’ said Clover.
    ‘You are too,’ said Tasmin. ‘Mum said you’ll be going to Queensmead, Paige. We go there. We won’t be in the same class but we’ll be in the same year. I can
show you around a bit.’
    Clover nodded. ‘I will too. Tell you who to avoid, who’s fit etc. There’s some decent boy talent in the sixth form, but not many. We prefer college students. They’re not
so juvenile.’
    ‘Though most boys are,’ said Tasmin. ‘Whatever age they are.’
    ‘What’s the school like?’
    Tasmin shrugged. ‘Big old boring building.’
    ‘She means what’s it like to go there,’ said Clover.
    ‘Oh. Usual stuff. Some good teachers, some old farts. Usual mix of people.’
    I laughed, then she looked pointedly at what I had on. ‘Do you always dress like that?’ I felt like saying to her, do
you
always dress like that? Today she was wearing a
skimpy tight dress that was way too short.
    ‘I like clothes that are practical I guess—’ I started.
    ‘Bo-oring,’ said Tasmin. ‘You could look really good if you made an effort.’
    ‘And there she goes with her big mouth again,’ said Clover. ‘Take no notice. Everyone has their own style.’
    Tasmin nodded. ‘You just haven’t found yours yet, have you?’
    Clover gave her a look. ‘I think you should shut up now, Tas, before you dig yourself in any deeper.’
    ‘It’s OK,’ I said. ‘My friend Allegra often said the same – that I hadn’t found my style yet – so I’m not offended.’
    Clover got up. ‘OK, Paige, so get your lippie on. Tasmin and I are going to take you into town and we can look in some shops and try on some different styles.’
    ‘And show you some of the boy talent in Bath,’ added Tasmin.
    I didn’t like to refuse, seeing as they were being so friendly, and I liked Clover from our short meeting. I obliged by smearing on a bit of lip gloss then set off with the girls to
explore my new city.
    We caught the bus to the centre of town and, as I gazed out of the window, I began to remember that there was more to Bath than just what was around where Tasmin