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Jessica,
    You said that pride comes before a fall. How did you know I was going to fall off my chair? Are you really psychic?
    Ryan
    I squash back a smile and click Reply.
    Star-ling,
    I don’t have to be psychic to know that you’re the sort of kid who drops off chairs. Leos love to show off. It’s part of their charm,
     but it also leads to accidents. Be careful, pussycat. Keep your paws firmly on the ground in future.
    Jessica
    I move on to the next fan mail.
    Dear Ms Jupiter,
    I’m not sure how to begin, so let me start with a confession. I’ve fallen for a girl who works on the webzine. I’m not used to talking
     to girls and I was hoping you might be able to advise me. I can tell from your horoscopes that you are a bright, sensitive woman of the world, so I’m hoping you can give me a few tips on
     how to woo this most wonderful girl. If it’s any help, my star sign’s Gemini.
    Yours truly,
    Lovelorn
    ‘Gemma?’
    I hardly hear Sam calling me.
    ‘What?’ I stare at my screen, heart racing with excitement. This email
has
to be from David. He’s a Gemini. He must be asking how he can get Barbara’s
attention.
    ‘Are you going on the Paris trip?’ Sam’s question buzzes at the edge of my whirling thoughts.
    ‘Why would Gemma be coming on our trip?’ Cindy sounds indignant. ‘It’s Year Tens only. Barbara and I have been looking forward to it for weeks.’
    Will answers. ‘Madame Papillon has invited some Year Nines to fill up the places. Are you scared she’s going to ask you to babysit?’
    I have a light bulb moment. Cindy just said Barbara is going on this trip. What better place to fall in love than Paris? ‘David?’ I lean round my monitor. ‘Are you
going?’
    David drags his gaze away from his screen. ‘To Paris? I haven’t decided yet.’
    Barbara shifts to the edge of her chair, her pen twitching in her hand.
    I leap in. ‘You
must
go,’ I blurt. ‘Think what a great experience it would be.’
    David frowns thoughtfully. ‘I suppose it would be interesting to see the Métro. And the Channel Tunnel.’
    ‘Precisely,’ Cindy chimes in. ‘The more Year Tens, the better.’
    You mean more Year Tens, fewer Year Nines.
I ignore her and press on. ‘I bet you could pick up some great comic books.’
    Jeff looks up. ‘I’ve been researching the shops.’ His eyes are shining. ‘There are some great bookstores with whole floors full of graphic novels.’
    ‘France is the home of Tintin,’ I add.
    David grins widely. ‘
Tintin
was my first graphic novel.’ He glances at Phil. ‘OK. I’m going.’ I fight the smile that wants to burst all over my face.
    Barbara’s staring down at her work, her cheeks pink.
    ‘So are
you
going, Gemma?’ Sam asks again.
    ‘Yeah.’ I’m busy wondering how I should answer David’s email.
    ‘Who cares if Gemma’s going?’ Cindy moves to block Sam’s view. ‘She’ll be in the Year Nine group anyway.’ She taps his screen with the end of her pen.
‘Do you really think your first line is punchy enough, Sam?’
    As he looks back at his screen, I start typing.
    Dear Lovelorn,
    Follow your heart, Star-ling. You’re a Gemini! True love is written in your stars. The girl of your dreams may be inexperienced in love, so approach
     her gently. Make sure she knows exactly how you feel. Admire her. Compliment her. Don’t let shyness stop you. If she works on a webzine, she must long to be a writer. So woo her with
     words. How could she resist when the stars are on your side?
    Yours ardently,
    Jessica
    I tip back in my seat and imagine David and Barbara under the Paris moon. Then I remember in a flash that I’m going too! I can’t wait to smell the boulangeries and
the fresh coffee, and see the elegant women clicking along the smart pavements in high heels, wafting Chanel. I vow to capture it all in a feature article that will share my Parisian experience
with all our readers. I’ll make it so good, Cindy will
have
to publish it.
    Finally,