What's a Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne Read Free Book Online

his white-blond hair. He knew exactly what I was talking about.
    â€œLook, it’s not a huge deal,” I continued, leaning over the desk and then realizing, in this outfit, that wasn’t the best idea. “I just find it strange, that’s all. Don’t you?”
    To be fair to Mike, his eyes stayed level with mine, despite my very low-cut top.
    â€œI don’t mean this the wrong way, Lottie,” he stammered. “But, well, you sound a little…bonkers.”
    I threw back my head and laughed. Bonkers. I hadn’t heard the word bonkers in ages. Why didn’t we all use it more? It’s such a bonkersly brilliant word. And, actually, it totally summed up how I felt. I WAS bonkers. I felt bonkers. But in this really special and useful way.
    I laughed while Mike stared at me with his mouth open, looking half-intrigued, half-terrified of what I was going to say next. I was done here. I’d made my point. It really wasn’t a huge deal, but I couldn’t let it go totally unnoticed. Not any more.
    I took off my big scarf, and instantly regretted it. The college central heating hadn’t been switched on yet and my tummy turned to a puffy plain of goose pimples.
    â€œAnyway, Mike, you can continue pretending you have no idea what I’m talking about. But next time…next time…don’t think I won’t call you out on it.”
    He didn’t reply, just kept his eyes determinedly locked on his textbook rather than my cleavage. But, as our teacher came in, I heard him mutter, “Totally, totally bonkers.”
    Everyone was at lunch. Amber, Evie, Evie’s not-quite-boyfriend Oli, Jane, Joel. Two baskets of chips lay in the middle of the table, with a liquidy pile of burger sauce. Joel had the worst habit of mixing mayonnaise with tomato ketchup wherever he went.
    â€œI am here,” I announced, instead of a straight hello. “And I have the most excellent of plans.”
    Everyone but Joel and Jane (who’d seen me in philosophy) stared in shock. An actual chip fell out of Amber’s mouth onto the table.
    â€œUmm, Lottie?” Evie asked. “Why are you dressed like Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver ?”
    I looked down at my ensemble. “Not seen the film.”
    Oli, a fellow film nerd, elaborated. “She’s asking why you look like a child prostitute.”
    â€œOh!” I grinned madly and tapped my nose. “It is part of the plan.” I pulled up a chair and sat right between Oli and Evie, just for laughs. They’d managed, after a year of nervously looking at each other, to have one whole kiss. Two weeks before, at this girl Anna’s house party. But both of them were so shy they were pretending it hadn’t happened. I yearned for their innocence. I’ve kissed soooo many boys. And that’s not the half of it.
    â€œI’m scared,” Amber said.
    â€œSeconded,” Evie said.
    â€œYou should have seen how weird she was in philosophy,” Joel added.
    â€œHUSH,” I said. “I told you…I have a plan.”
    â€œWell, what is it then?” Amber asked.
    I stood up again, for extra dramatic effect – pulling down my minuscule shorts.
    â€œI’m starting a project. Either for FemSoc, or the Spinster Club, or maybe even just for myself. It’s going to run for a month, I think. And, well, for an ENTIRE month I HAVE to call out EVERY SINGLE INCIDENCE of sexism I see.”
    I waited for applause, but they all just looked at me. Apart from Joel, who’d stopped listening entirely and buried his face into a greasy hamburger.
    â€œWELL?” I demanded.
    â€œEvery single sexist thing you see?” Evie was the first to speak.
    I nodded. “Everything. Even the sexist stuff against boys too.”
    Amber put her hand up.
    â€œYou don’t always have to put your hand up to speak,” I said.
    â€œYes I do,” she grinned. I have a habit