The Time of Your Life by Isabella Cass Read Free Book Online

waiting for?' Cat yelled. She grabbed
a microphone and started to sing Pink's So What. She really looked the part, Holly thought, in her
black mini-skirt and biker boots and a tight purple
top. She'd even added red lipstick and piled her
hair into an Amy Winehouse-style beehive to complete
the rock-chick look. Holly jumped up and joined
her, improvising some dance steps, which Cat quickly
followed. Belle picked up the lead vocal, her
powerful voice resonating around the room. Soon
the boys joined in and they finished the song with a
rebel-rousing chorus.
    For the next two hours, The Undertow and
Nobody's Angels worked together, practising all the
old-favourite dance-floor-fillers they'd been asked to
perform at the wedding. They would also have a
chance to play some of their original songs, Felix
explained, when the oldsters left the reception and
the younger guests stayed on for an evening party. The
Undertow's sound was an original fusion of indie rock
and reggae, which the girls loved.
    They all got on brilliantly, and laughed and joked
together as they worked. The girls even gave the boys
the music for one of their own songs, the lively Latin
American number, Done Looking!, which Lettie Atkins
had written for them. Mason knew the song already, of
course, because he was in the school orchestra that
played the accompaniment at the talent competition,
and the other two soon picked it up and added a
quirky rock sound to the mambo beat.
    'Wow, that was great!' they all agreed as they
eventually sank to the floor, exhausted but elated by
their efforts.
    'Here's to The Under-Angels!' Holly laughed,
leading a toast with her bottle of water. She'd
completely forgotten her earlier doubts; now she
couldn't wait for the next rehearsal.
    'So where's the wedding?' Belle asked.
    'Walthamstow,' Felix replied. 'North London. It's my
sister, Carly, and her fiancé.'
    Holly gave a big smile. 'Walthamstow's where I live!'
Then she had what Belle would have called an
Awesome Idea. She would invite Cat and Belle to stay
at her house after the wedding reception. Mum had
met them at the gala showcase, and would love having
them all home for the night.
    'See you next week!' Holly called. She followed Cat
and Belle out of the rehearsal room and straight into a
three-person pile-up in the doorway as they almost
crashed into a boy who was careering down the
corridor after a football.
    With perfect timing, Belle stretched out an elegant
Jimmy-Choo-sandalled foot and stopped the ball.
    But the next moment her trademark poise and style
suddenly disappeared. 'Ooh, er . . . ' she stammered.
She tried placing her hand casually on her hip, slipped
and stumbled to one side.
    Whatever can be causing Belle to act so . . . well, like me? Holly wondered: shy, clumsy, tongue-tied – these were
not the words that usually leaped to mind when
describing Belle!
    Oh, that was why!
    The boy chasing the football was Jack 'Pirate Boy'
Thorne.
    'Er, is this a football?' Belle spluttered.
    'I hope so!' Jack laughed. 'I've been kicking it
around the football pitch for the last hour!'
    She giggled and stared at it.
    Cat's eyes were round with astonishment. Yep, Holly thought. Cat's definitely noticed Belle's major
coolness-malfunction too.
    'Hi, I'm Holly,' she said, holding out her hand.
'This is Cat, and this is Belle.'
    'Hey, good to meet you!' Jack gave a lopsided grin
as he shook hands and leaned back against the wall
in a leisurely slouch. 'Belle? As in Belle Madison?'
he asked.
    Oh, no! Holly was horrified. He's going to ask if her
dad is Dirk Madison, the famous American film
director, and Belle hates it when people bring up her
celebrity parents.
    But, 'You're the girl with the amazing voice, right?'
Jack asked. 'I've heard about you . . .'
    Oh, wow! This guy is good, Holly said to herself.
Really good! If Belle hadn't been completely hearts-flowers
smitten already, she would be now! Her greatest
dream in life was to be recognized for her singing
talents.
    'Oh,