Girl, 15: Flirting for England

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Book: Read Girl, 15: Flirting for England for Free Online
Authors: Sue Limb
pale pink padded jacket.
    ‘ Nul points for the clothes,’ said Jess. ‘She looks like a prawn.’
    Flora started laughing hysterically.
    ‘It’s going to take all night!’ she said. ‘I’m asleep already.’
    ‘We’re all asleep,’ said Jess. ‘This is just a terrible nightmare.’ Come on, come on, Edouard , she thought.
    ‘Er – Justine Barraclough!’ called Mrs Bailey. Justine fought her way through the crowd and took possession of the human prawn. A tall, dark, handsome boy appeared.
    ‘I bet that’s Edouard!’ hissed Flora. ‘He’s gorgeous!’
    Jess’s heart started to race, and she got ready to claim her Prince Charming.
    ‘Jodie Gordon!’ called Mrs Bailey. Oh no! It wasn’t Edouard – it was Gerard! Gerard whose photo had looked a bit weird, with sticking-out ears and thin lips!
    ‘How amazing!’ whispered Flora. ‘He’s nothing like his photo!’
    ‘He should definitely sack his PR department!’ said Jess. ‘That photo did him absolutely no favours. He’s such a babe!’
    Jodie barged forward and grabbed the gorgeous Gerard. He grinned and kissed her on both cheeks. Wow! Jess felt a thrill of excitement. That’s what Edouard was going to do to her, any minute now, when it was his turn.
    Several other kids got off, and the crowd started to thin. Once an English host had claimed their guest, of course, they drove off home to a hot chocolate and bed. A short dark girl appeared, blinking in the swirling headlights of departing cars.
    ‘I think that’s Marie-Louise!’ said Flora. The teachers consulted their lists. Mrs Bailey looked up.
    ‘Flora Barclay!’ she called.
    ‘Bingo!’ said Jess.
    Flora left her side and went forward. Jess watched as Marie-Louise kissed Flora on both cheeks, smiled and started talking straight away. She hoped Edouard would be confident like that. She waited. Her mum joined her.
    ‘With any luck,’ murmured Mum, ‘they’ll have left him behind at a service station.’
    There was hardly anybody left now. Jess began to panic. How embarrassing to be the last! And nobody would be able to see the magnificent Edouard and envy her. A small, scruffy, nerdy boy appeared in the bus doorway, wearing glasses. A kind of young French version of Harry Potter, only without the magical charisma. He must be the bus driver’s kid or something – come along for the ride, thought Jess with a grin.
    ‘Jess Jordan!’ called Mrs Bailey.
    ‘No!’ breathed Jess. ‘It can’t be! He’s just a kid.’ She didn’t move. Her mum pushed her forward.
    ‘Go on!’ she whispered. ‘Go and get him! The poor little thing looks shattered.’
    Jess stumbled forward, as if in a dream. The French teacher placed a friendly hand on her arm and steered her towards the small boy. He’d climbed down the steps now, and he hardly came up to Jess’s nose. Forget Harry Potter! He was a Hobbit.
    And what’s with the glasses? she thought. It was sort of cheating to take your glasses off for a photo. Though Jess’s mum did it all the time. In Mum’s case it was a pathetic attempt to appear young and trendy. In Edouard’s case it was treachery.
    ‘Jess!’ said Mrs Bailey. ‘This is Edouard, your French partner.’
    ‘Hello!’ said Jess. Edouard held out his hand in an awkward, formal kind of way.
    ‘Hello!’ he said. His voice was kind of squeaky .
    Unbelievable , thought Jess. He’s a child, a mere child. I can forget all thoughts of flirting. Babysitting would be more appropriate.
    At this point, Jess’s mum came forward, shook Edouard warmly by the hand and led him away to the car, talking away nineteen to the dozen in fluent French. Jess had been dreading the thought of her mum showing off her language skills, but as it had turned out, it had saved the day.
    Jess followed them to the car, her heart sinking. Edouard was so small he could hardly carry his bag. Oh well. They needn’t have worried about the limited space available in the spare room. You could have

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