Lula Does the Hula Read Online Free Page B

–’
    ‘Yes, the guy with the fingers. When is everyone going to forget about that?’
    ‘Um . . .’ mused Alex. ‘Like,
never
? Would you forget someone skating over someone else’s hand and slicing theirfingers off ? You, Tallulah Bird, the cause of Gianni Caruso in microsurgery for four hours –’
    ‘Okay, okay,’ I said. ‘Look, there’s the track through there. Nearly home. Gianni Caruso said . . .?’
    ‘He said that Jazz and Jack spent a lot of time together in Big Mama’s last term –’
    ‘That’s before anything happened between me and Jack.’
    ‘Exactly. Like I said –’
    ‘But –’
    ‘But nothing. What you
do
need to know is that Simon Smethy said to Jason and Jess that it was, like, totally weird that no one had seen Jack since you guys were kissing up at Frey’s that weekend.’
    ‘Simon Smethy!’ I shrieked. ‘I’ll kill him! I swear I will! He started the jinx rumour for real last time! He’s ruined my life once already! I –’
    ‘Calm down!’ yelled Alex. ‘Just calm down, Tatty. You’ll have a coronary or something.’
    I took a deep breath. ‘I’m calm. Very, very calm.’
    ‘Yeah,’ said Alex. I could hear she didn’t believe me. ‘So the thing is once Jason and Jess were done discussing the weirdness of Jack disappearing –’
    ‘HE HASN’T DISAPPEARED! HE’S IN THE CITY!’
    ‘Caaaalm, caaaaalm,’ hissed Alex. ‘Otherwise no more information.’
    ‘Caaaaalm,’ I agreed. ‘But if people are talk–’
    ‘Tatty! Don’t make me smack you on the head!’
    ‘What?
What?
’
    ‘I will handle this. Don’t you worry. Think of me as your micro-manager – putting fires out wherever they appear.’
    ‘Fires? How can you talk about fires? I –’
    ‘Enough! You’re sounding like a crazy person.’
    ‘Sorry, Alex. But you know how I feel about Simon Smethy.’
    ‘He blames you for what happened with his hair.’
    ‘That was nothing to do with me! Nothing! He –’
    ‘Forget that. We’ve got priorities because now school slut and rumour-mongerer-in-chief Jessica Hartley is all interested and curious about you and Jack. We’ve got to nip that in the bud.’
    ‘How?’ I hated how I sounded all needy and helpless.
    ‘Don’t know. Leave it with me.’
    At last we’d arrived back at my front gate. I bit my lip. ‘Alex,’ I said. ‘This term is not going to be totally about me, yeah?’
    ‘Yeah . . .’ said Alex, looking uncertain.
    ‘I’m not the only one with issues. Carrie’s got the twins who drive her nuts –’
    ‘Well, sure, but –’
    ‘Tam hasn’t had a boyfriend since Year Eight, and . . .’ I tilted my head to the side, considering. ‘And neither have you. What’s up with your love life, Alexandra?’
    Alex flushed. ‘Funny you should ask . . .’
    ‘I knew it!’ I punched the air and continued on down the path to the annexe. ‘You don’t binge on white tea like that unless there’s a boy involved.’
    ‘You know me too well,’ mourned Alex.
    ‘Who is he?’ I asked, stepping into the dark cool of the annexe.
    ‘Gavin Healey,’ announced Alex with no hesitation.
    I was surprised. ‘Ha! Well! Alex Thompson going for brawn, no brains. Riiight. Plus he’s in college. What is he? Nineteen?’
    ‘Oh, Lula, be quiet,’ said Alex, but she was grinning and embarrassed.
    ‘Wait!’ I hissed. ‘Has something happened already?’
    ‘Noo,’ denied Alex.
    ‘But something’s planned,’ I concluded. ‘Hey, I thought he was going out with Emily Saunders.’
    ‘She dumped him,’ said Alex. They were supposed to go off to Port Albert together on Friday night and she didn’t even bother to turn up.’
    ‘Harsh,’ I said.
    ‘So now he’s mine,’ said Alex, happily flopping into my armchair. ‘Hey, I’d better get back.’
    ‘No no no,’ I said. ‘Why the sudden interest in Gavin Healey? How did you even get talking to him?’
    ‘Oh . . .’ Alex flapped her hand dismissively. ‘I wasresearching a piece on