Signs of Love: Stupid Cupid by Melody James Read Free Book Online

rendezvous?’ Savannah spins like a terrier smelling a rabbit. ‘Planned a little early-morning kissing?’
    Treacle glares at her. ‘Actually we’re going to practise keepie-uppies.’
    Savannah sighs. ‘Is that all you do?’
    ‘So, Gem ,’ Treacle says, quickly turning the spotlight back on me. ‘Are you going to ask Marcus out?’
    Traitor! She knows I have no interest in Marcus as boyfriend material. I zap her with my invisible death ray as Savannah turns and grabs my arm.
    ‘Shall I soften him up for you?’ she offers. ‘I can give him the big sell. Tell him how nice you are. What a great girlfriend you’d make. How clever you
are—’
    I hold up my hands. ‘Whoa! I am not interested in Marcus.’
    ‘Then why the Facebook search?’
    ‘It was for a project.’ I try out the excuse I’d rehearsed with Treacle last night. ‘I’m collecting birthdays. For our class. I thought it would be cool if we
published a list in the webzine.’
    ‘Oh.’ Savannah looks disappointed, but not for long. ‘You’d make a great couple though.’ She’s off again, painting dream-pictures. ‘And if he
hasn’t asked you out yet, I can teach you a zillion ways to make sure he does.’
    ‘Really, Savannah. No.’
    ‘But why?’ She’s giving me pleading eyes. ‘Marcus is a sweetie. He’s so kind and thoughtful. And he’s not a cabbage-brain like Ryan or Josh. When he stops
being shy, he’s really smart and funny. You should definitely go out with him.’
    I’m surprised to hear Savannah reel off so many plus-points for Marcus. A glimmer of hope flashes through me. She knows what a nice guy Marcus is; all I have to do is convince her that
he’d make a far better boyfriend than LJ.
    A bunch of Year Elevens jostle past us. We’re nearing the school entrance and students throng round the gates. I see Jeff watching through the fence like a chimp waiting for the
banana-man. His eyes light up as he spots Treacle.
    I guess it’s feeding time at the zoo.
    Treacle hooks her arm though mine. ‘Will you be OK?’ Meaning: Will you be OK if I desert you for Jeff? My heart sinks as I realize I’m going to have to face the jeering
Facebook crowds de-Treacled. I bite my lip. Her eyes are glittering with hope. She’s silently screaming the unspoken fear that makes ninety-nine percent of all girlfriends try too hard:
girlfriends will wait, boyfriends might not.
    ‘I’ll be fine.’ I give her a reassuring smile. I’ve got Savannah and her aura of confidence will surround us like a high-voltage force-field. Any Facebook-related comment
will get fried on entry.
    Treacle gives me a quick hug. ‘You’re a star, Gem.’ She ducks into the crowds and is hanging off Jeff’s arm in three seconds flat. He passes her the football he’s
carrying and they head away towards the playing field.
    Butterflies flicker in my stomach as we head through the gates. Chelsea Leeson spots us and comes barrelling towards me. Ryan Edwards and Josh Carter are hot on her heels. I push my lips into
the grin of a dead girl and fix my eyes on the school entrance.
    ‘Marcus is over there, Gem!’ Chelsea points towards the bike shed where Marcus is standing with Ryan, shifting from one foot to another, his gaze fixed on his boots.
    ‘Thanks, Chelsea.’ Savannah answers for me, her tone breezy. ‘But unlike you, Gemma doesn’t need to chase boys. They come to her.’
    Chelsea flushes and stomps away, her mini-mob beetling after her.
    ‘Thanks, Sav.’ I squeeze her arm.
    ‘No probs.’ She flashes me a smile. ‘Just keep smil—’ She screeches to a halt as her gaze hits a stooping figure in the centre of the yard.
    LJ.
    The spring sunshine flashes off his hair gel. He’s surrounded by Year Ten girls all paying court like he’s Henry VIII. As we watch, he unpeels his shirt and starts counting his six
pack. I wait for one of his audience to swoon. But they stay standing, their eyes popping like steamrollered bubble-wrap.
    ‘I