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

the slur. ‘But he looked really angry.’
    Treacle sits up. ‘Let’s not brand him a psycho-killer yet,’ she says sensibly.
    ‘OK.’ I sweep reality under the carpet. ‘Let’s pretend he’s a sweet, helpful, generous guy who wants me to help.’ I chew at my thumbnail. ‘But
what if I mess it up? This is my big chance to prove I can do some real journalism. What if I can’t? What if I just follow him around saying stuff so dumb I prove him right?’
    Treacle gulps down the last of her muffin. ‘But, Gemma, you rock as a writer! Cindy gave you the horoscopes and you’ve made them the talk of the school. You’re going to do the
same with this article.’
    I’m grateful, but unconvinced. ‘But I’m such a klutz around Will. He turns me into a quivering wreck. I’ll never be able to think straight with him snapping at me and
pointing out every tiny mistake.’
    ‘Fair enough.’ Treacle brushes the crumbs from her jersey into the palm of her hand and drops them into the bin beside her chair. ‘Let’s practise.’
    I frown. ‘Practise what?’
    ‘You made me role-play meeting Jeff’s parents.’ She stands up. ‘Let’s role-play you working with Will Bold.’
    ‘The Jeff role-play didn’t turn out too well,’ I remind her.
    ‘Yes, but once you’d demonstrated just how horrible it could be, I felt ready for anything. I still do. You’ve totally prepared me for Friday night.’ She straightens up.
‘There’s no way Jeff’s mother will be as awful as you.’
    ‘Hey!’ I object.
    She grins and hauls me to my feet. ‘Come on. I’ll be Will.’ She rolls her shoulders forward and drops her chin. ‘Right, Gemma,’ she growls, ‘I suppose
I’m stuck with you. We’d better start work.’
    ‘What do you want me to do, Will?’ I ask eagerly.
    Treacle breaks character, ‘No! no! You have to play it cool. You’re not a puppy trying to please. You’re a reporter looking for a story.’
    I nod, shaking out my arms in an attempt to loosen up. I remind myself of the advice I gave Savannah. Act aloof, as though he’s the last boy in the world you’d bother
with .
    ‘Let’s try it again.’ Treacle jerks me from my thoughts.
    I nod. ‘Ready.’
    ‘Have your brought your notebook?’
    I sniff carelessly. ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Pen?’
    ‘Will this do?’ I slide out a pencil I’d lodged in my curls when I was doing some homework earlier.
    ‘Neat trick.’ Treacle rubs her nose. ‘OK, start taking notes.’
    I hold out my pretend pad and real pencil and wait for dictation.
    Treacle starts. ‘So Slider’s holding three corners, selling one hundred, two hundred caps a day, slicing a piece off the top of every sale, and Juicy finds out, takes offence and
decides to make a hit . . .’ Treacle’s obviously been watching US cop shows again.
    I scratch my ear with my pencil. ‘So we’re tailing Juicy?’
    She looks at me, managing to pull off a perfect Will Bold sneer. ‘Juicy? Why would we tail Juicy? It’s Slider who’s got the brains.’
    ‘So we tail Slider?’ I ask, trying to keep up.
    ‘Why would we tail Slider? He’s just taken a hit. Are you listening to a word I’m saying?’
    I start to fluster. Her Will impersonation is too good. I feel like an idiot.
    ‘So who are we tailing?’
    ‘Who said anything about tailing?’
    The Xbox goes quiet. Ben’s hanging over the back of the sofa, watching. ‘Are you playing cops and robbers? Can I play?’
    Treacle slides him a look. ‘Sure, Shorty. But we’re reporters, not cops, and we’re about to bust a case wide open.’ Her gaze flicks back to me. ‘If my idiot
assistant can keep up.’
    Ben clambers over the sofa, lining up beside Treacle. ‘Yeah, Gem. Keep up.’
    My heartrate’s climbing. ‘I’m trying.’
    ‘Then read it back,’ Treacle orders.
    ‘Read what back?’
    ‘You were taking notes,’ Treacle reminds me with a Will-style snort.
    ‘Oh, yeah.’ I remember the imaginary notepad. ‘Slidey was making caps