Diary of a Lottery Winner's Daughter Page 14

  Chelsea made a strangled noise and I thought she was going to shout at me, but when I dared to look at her I saw she was laughing! She was trying to keep it in but it was too much for her and she collapsed sideways onto the sofa, laughing and laughing. At first I was offended and I hit her, but that just made her laugh even more and in the end I was laughing too, because it was so good to see Chelsea laughing again.

  I wanted to stop laughing because it was starting to hurt, but every time we tried to stop we’d look at each other and start all over again. I didn’t even know why we were laughing.

  ‘What are you laughing at, anyhow?’ I said, when we’d finally stopped.

  ‘You!’ she said and started laughing again. I hit her again, so she stopped enough to say,’ Sorry, it’s just you thinking it’s your fault because of the wishes thing. Please tell me you don’t still believe in that stuff any more!’

  ‘Of course I don’t!’I said as indignantly as possible.

  ‘You do though, don’t you? Oh, Charlotte! It hasn’t got anything to do with that silly gypsy machine. How could it? Promise me you’ll stop blaming yourself.’

  ‘If you promise to come home with me,’ I said,’ before Zoé’s dad comes and throws us out.’

  That brought her back down to earth with a bang. She stood up and peered out the window. ‘How did you get here? Are Mum and Dad out there?’

  I told her about Belinda giving me a lift. ‘You’ve got to ring Mum and tell her you’re okay, though. She’s going mad with worry.’

  Chelsea pulled her phone out of her pocket. ‘Can’t,’ she said, holding it up.’The battery died yesterday.’

  I wanted to shout at her that she should have rung Mum earlier, and that she hadn’t had any sleep last night because of her, and how she’d been crying; but I knew it wasn’t the time. I hadn’t even got her out of the caravan yet. She could still refuse to come with me.

  I got my phone out. ‘I’ll just let her know you’re safe.’I quickly texted: Found Chelsea we’re on way home. I hoped it was the truth. I switched the phone off in case Mum rang straight back. I felt bad because I knew Mum would need to talk to Chelsea before her mind was put at rest, but I didn’t want her to blow it by mentioning the police or anything that might put Chelsea off going home. I just needed to get Chelsea out to the car. Then I remembered something that might do the trick.

  ‘I saw Josh yesterday. Where’s your bag? Did you bring one?’

  ‘You what? Josh? Did he say anything?’

  ‘Yes, he did. Your bag, where is it?’

  Chelsea reached down the side of the sofa and pulled out her bag.

  ‘Got everything?’ I said.

  ‘Yes,’ said Chelsea impatiently. ‘What did he say?’

  I moved over to the door and opened it. ‘He said he’d lost his phone,’ I told her, moving outside. She followed desperate to hear more. ‘And that he didn’t have your number any more,’ I said, getting out the key Zoé had given me.

  ‘So that’s why he didn’t ring,’ said Chelsea. ‘I knew there had to be a good reason.’

  ‘He wanted me to give you his new number,’ I said, locking the caravan door.

  ‘So where is it?’ said Chelsea. ‘Give it to me. And lend me your phone.’

  I bit my tongue. Wasn’t it more important that she rang Mum? If I’d been expecting a new, reformed Chelsea I was going to be very disappointed. Some things never change.

  ‘It’s at home,’ I said, legging it down the path. ‘I’ll give it you when we get back.’

  Chelsea launched herself into the front seat, leaving me to tie up her loose ends. I rang the bell of the bungalow again and breathed a sigh of relief when Zoé opened the door. I wasn’t the only one. Zoé sighed with relief when she saw Chelsea in the back of the car. I handed Zoé the key.

  ‘Thanks,’ she said and I don’t think she was talking about the key, then she shut the door.

  I got into the back of the car. I thought the journey home would be one big, awkward silence with Chelsea sulking or being embarrassed in front of Belinda. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

  ‘Thanks for bringing Charlotte down here,’ Chelsea said to Belinda, all sweetness and light suddenly as if nothing traumatic had ever happened.

  ‘That’s okay,’ said Belinda. ‘I was worried about you.’

  Chelsea didn’t seem to think there was anything out of the ordinary in that, but I couldn’t help wondering why a virtual stranger should worry about Chelsea. It became clear as we were pulling onto the motorway.

  ‘I ran away from home when I was your age,’ Belinda said.

  Chelsea stopped looking out the window and looked at Belinda. ‘Why?’ she asked her.

  ‘I was angry,’ said Belinda. ‘My dad had died and my mum got married again. I didn’t like my new step-father.’

  ‘Was he . . . horrid . . . to you?’ Chelsea was probably thinking he’d abused her or something.

  ‘No, Colin was a really nice man. If anything, he was nicer than my dad.’She paused, then carried on. ‘I think that was one of the reasons I was cross. Also, it seemed so unfair that Mum could just replace her husband so easily whereas I could never replace my dad. If I’d been younger it would have been better because Colin could have been a dad to me, but I was too old for that and I was just cross that mum was so happy. It was completely stupid, but try telling that to a sixteen-year-old,’ she said pointedly.

  ‘Where did you go?’ asked Chelsea.

  ‘We were living in Coventry and I went to London.’

  Oh God, don’t give Chelsea ideas, I thought.

  ‘How long did you stick it for?’

  ‘Forever. I never went home.’There was a shocked silence while we took this in. I wanted to tell Belinda to shut up.

  ‘It was the most stupid, most selfish thing I ever did and I truly wish I hadn’t done it. I wish I’d been as brave as you and faced the music at home. I’d have saved my mum years of heartbreak and myself from years of misery.’

  Chelsea looked uncomfortable at this outburst, but I could also see she was liking the idea that Belinda thought she was being brave.

  ‘I thought about going to London,’ said Chelsea,’ but I’ve heard the stories. I know what it’s like.’

  ‘No you don’t,’ said Belinda. ‘You can’t know unless you’ve lived it. I’m glad you weren’t as stupid as me. It took me years to rebuild my relationship with my mother.’

  ‘Did you know Belinda runs a clothes business?’ I piped up randomly from the back.

  Belinda took the hint and stopped lecturing, which is what Chelsea and I knew she’d been doing even though we didn’t doubt it was all true. I knew Chelsea hated being lectured to and might demand to be put down at the nearest bus stop and catch the next bus to London, just to make a point. They spent the rest of the journey talking about Belinda’s clothes business.

  I think Chelsea must have taken some of it on board though because, when we pulled up in the drive and the front door flew open and Mum came rushing out, Chelsea jumped out the car and let Mum hug all the breath out of her and the first thing she said was,’ I’m really sorry, Mum.’

  Wednesday 8th December

  After school today Annabel came round to my house and I took her next door to meet Belinda. In the end they decided that the best thing would be for Annabel to wear trousers to school. Annabel thought trousers made her bum look big, but Belinda found a pair which really suited her body shape and made her look slimmer. She also said she’d alter Annabel’s blazer to look more flattering. That was about it really. If it had been a book or a film or something, Annabel would have come out of Belinda’s flat looking amazing and gorgeous and Spencer would have taken one look at her and forgotten all about Emma Lilywhite. Unfortunately it’s real life, so Annabel still has her old glasses, though they’ve been mended now, and ginger hair which Belinda said wasn’t ginger at all but copper and totally stunning. Belinda also suggested, really subtly, that Annabel should wash it
more often.

  I walked Annabel back to her flat and we had a good laugh at ourselves on the way.

  ‘And there was me thinking we weren’t interested in clothes,’ said Annabel, swinging the bag Belinda had given her to put her new trousers in.

  ‘From this moment on we will never mention clothes again,’ I told her firmly.

  Saturday 18th December

  Everything had just settled down when Mum decided to go overboard on Christmas.

  When I got home from school yesterday there was the most enormous tree in the hall. It reached right up to the landing and smelt lovely. Mum decided we needed completely new decorations so I went shopping with her today.

  She’s organising a big party for Christmas Eve. She’s invited all our old friends from the estate and the new ones we’ve made here, like Belinda and Chris next door and the woman who runs the Health Spa shop. Iknow! I couldn’t believe it either.

  After I got Chelsea home, Mum, Dad and Chelsea sat down and had a big talk.

  Mum made it clear that Chelsea still had to pay the money back and she had to go back to school. I thought there was going to be a huge argument again and that Chelsea would run away again, but they worked it out. Mum said Chelsea didn’t have to go back to Avon Comp, she could go to the Sixth Form college instead. There was a course on beauty therapy that Mum thought would suit Chelsea down to the ground. If it didn’t she could pick another course, but she wasn’t leaving school at sixteen and ruining her chances of a good job.

  Chelsea’s now got a part-time job at the Health Spa shop to help pay Mum back.

  ‘It’s not the money,’ said Mum,’ it’s the principle’ - whatever that means - ‘and it won’t do Chelsea any harm to learn the meaning of money.’ I know that as far as Chelsea’s concerned the only meaning money has is in the spending, but I didn’t point that out to Mum. Anyhow, that’s how Mum got friendly with Bev from the Health Spa.

  I’ve invited Annabel and her mum to the party. When we were out shopping today, I saw a gorgeous charm bracelet and persuaded Mum to lend me the money so I could buy it for Annabel. I know she’ll love it. I bought some charms to go on it. There’s a little book, a heart with friends written on it, a penguin - because Annabel loves them - and a tiny bell that actually rings. She can buy more if she wants; they’re not too expensive.

  Grumps is coming, of course, and Uncle Ron and even Auntie Sheila, if she doesn’t get one of her headaches again.

  Spencer’s invited Alec and a couple of boys from his new school. I envy the way Spencer doesn’t seem to have a problem mixing his old life with his new one. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if I invited Lauren and Annabel.

  Josh is coming because he and Chelsea are going out together. I nearly pointed out to her that he might have a smile to die for, but she did find him snogging Sophie at the hot-tub party last summer, so perhaps he isn’t to be totally trusted. But Chelsea is so happy about it I decided to keep my mouth shut.

  Naturally, Pam and Gary are coming, but I’m pretty sure Lauren will find she’s absolutely just got to be somewhere else, so I’m not worried about that.

  Chelsea’s helping Mum with the party and is still trying to persuade her to get outside caterers in, but Mum says it would look like we were showing off if there were waiters wandering around. She has promised to buy all the food in from Marks and Spencer though.

  Chelsea’s been a lot easier to live with since she came back. I’d like to think she realises she was behaving like a spoilt brat but I know it’s really because she’s finally got her hands on Josh.

  Friday 24th December

  The most amazing thing happened tonight, although it wasn’t so much ‘the thing’ that was amazing as my reaction to it.

  The party was in full swing and Annabel and I decided to grab some food and take it up to my room. There was a new book I wanted to show her and I had to give her the present as well.

  Spencer was in charge of the music and he’d just put some really corny Christmas songs on. ‘Do they know it’s Christmas?’ was playing as we went up the stairs.

  ‘More to the point, do they care?’ said Annabel. I had to laugh. She was right; it might be a charity song to help the victims of famine in Africa, but why would they care about Christmas when they were starving? That was the thing I liked best about Annabel. She didn’t take anything for granted and always made me see things in a different way.

  We found Missy sitting on my bed, keeping out of the way of all the noise and feet downstairs. Annabel made a fuss of her while I found the book I wanted to show her.

  We’d just finished eating all the food when there was a knock on my bedroom door.

  The door opened and Lauren walked in. ‘Your mum said you were up here.’

  I just stared at her. She began to look a bit uncomfortable. Annabel got up and muttered something about going to check on her mum. Missy followed her out the door and I noticed her tail was twitching. She doesn’t like strangers.

  Lauren plonked herself down on the beanbag that Annabel had just left. I don’t think she’d even registered that Annabel was there and it made me angry. I realised I still hadn’t said anything but I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t spoken to Lauren for weeks.

  Lauren was shifting about in the beanbag trying to get comfortable. They’re meant for relaxing in and she was looking far from relaxed.

  ‘Look,’ said Lauren,’ I want to apologise. I’ve been really mean. I don’t know why.’

  I still couldn’t think what to say. Apart from,’ Yes, you have, now go away.’ But I didn’t, so Lauren carried on.

  ‘The thing is . . . I don’t know . . . I think I was cross with you for moving away. And then Stacy came.’ She paused, trying to find the right words. ‘It was all her fault really.’

  I wasn’t sure those were the right words. How could it be all Stacy’s fault? Lauren had been there too. She’d chosen to be mean as well.

  Lauren seemed to realise what she’d said.

  ‘No, I mean . . . of course it was my fault, but Stacy told me you were slagging me off when you were in maths together and that you weren’t sure you wanted to associate with people from the estate, now you were rich and everything, and then you went and bought her all those new clothes and I thought you were trying to buy her friendship and wanted to be friends with her instead of me.’Lauren stopped to draw breath.

  I shut my mouth because it was hanging open.

  ‘And you believed her?’ I asked, with as much outrage as I could.

  ‘She’s very persuasive,’ said Lauren. ‘Then I went shopping with her and she nicked some stuff. I thought we were going to get caught.’

  ‘So you believe me now? About me buying those things for her so she didn’t steal them?’

  ‘I knew it was true,’ shrieked Lauren.’She swore you insisted on getting them for her. She said you wanted to show off about how much money you had.’

  I wanted to shout at her. Why hadn’t she listened to me, not Stacy? Then none of this would have happened.

  Lauren carried on,’ I’ve really missed being friends with you. Stacy isn’t the same. She’s only interested in boys and make-up and stuff, and what people are wearing. When she came over for the night, all she wanted to do was go on Facebook all the time. And when I suggested a film she only wanted to watch horror movies which I hate. Please, Charlotte, can we be friends again? Best friends, best friends whatever, best friends forever.’

  A vision of Spencer pretending to stick his fingers down his throat and throw up popped into my head. It was only a few months ago that we’d made that pact, but it felt like a lifetime away and now it sounded really silly.

  ‘Okay,’ I said.

  Lauren shrieked and threw her arms round me. ‘Really? Do you mean it?’

  A part of me wanted to tell Lauren that I didn’t want to be her friend any more because she’d hurt me too much. I wanted to hurt her back. But another part of me wanted nothing more than to be frien
ds like we used to be. Lauren was so familiar she was almost like a sister. And I knew, from having Chelsea as a sister, that even though you don’t necessarily like them all the time, you can’t help loving them.

  There was just one thing I needed to know.

  ‘What about Stacy?’ I said. ‘I don’t want her hanging around. I can’t stand her.’

  Lauren was fiddling with the ornaments on my mantelpiece.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry about that,’ she said. ‘Stacy won’t even be at school next term. She’s moving back to London. Her mum doesn’t like it here.’

  I wanted to shout and scream. Lauren didn’t want to be friends with me again because she’d missed me! She just didn’t want to be alone when her precious Stacy went back to London. I was about to tell her I’d changed my mind and she could go to hell, but she’d picked up the present I’d bought for Annabel which I’d left on the mantelpiece and had been about to give to Annabel when Lauren had come in. She was reading the label tied to it. I’d written: To the best friend a girl could have.

  ‘Is this for me?’ said Lauren.

  She had to be joking! I grabbed the present out of her hand. Lauren looked startled. I guess I had what Spencer calls ‘the rabid tiger’look on my face. She took a step backwards.

  ‘Can’t you read?’ I said. ‘It says - To the best friend a girl could have - and the last time I looked that wasn’t you.’

  ‘So who is it for then?’ said Lauren.

  ‘I bought this for Annabel,’ I told her.

  She looked confused for a moment. ‘What, Annabel as in the fat geeky girl? Why?’

  ‘In case you haven’t noticed,’ I said through gritted teeth,’ things haven’t been too easy for me just lately and Annabel, who isn’t fat by the way or in any way geeky, has been there for me when I needed her.’ I finished pointedly.

  Lauren looked guilty, but only for a nanosecond. ‘Things can’t have been that bad,’ she said. ‘I mean your mum won the lottery for God’s sake! How hard can that be?’