Elliot wrinkles his nose. “True. Megan’s far from my favourite person—”
“That’s an understatement.”
“—but she’s not stupid. She’ll be so thrilled to meet LB she’ll forgive you anything. I mean, knowing her, we can expect her to turn this whole thing into her charity project, but who cares.”
“Phew, OK. I feel better now.”
“You better tell her before she finds out through the grapevine, though. I’m going downstairs to see if your dad will make us Sunday pancakes. I’m like Linda Evangelista—it’s just not worth getting out of bed for anything less than five pancakes stacked with maple syrup. Plus, I haven’t done my hair and feel a mess. Only pancakes will make it worthwhile.”
“I think for the supermodels in the nineties it was ten thousand dollars . . .”
“When it comes to your dad’s pancakes, same difference.” Elliot jumps back off the bed and heads downstairs.
I have a bad feeling about Megan’s message, but I try not to assume too much before I’ve spoken to her. I hit the FaceTime button under her contact page on my phone.
Within a few rings, she’s answered. She’s already in full makeup, her hair artfully sculpted into glossy waves round her face. Compared to me—no makeup and bed-head hair—she’s distinctly glamorous for a Sunday morning. The only thing marring her appearance is the grumpy look on her face. My stomach does a flip. Maybe my instincts weren’t too far off after all.
“Penny,” she says, her mouth a firm line.
“Hey, Megan,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. “What’s up? I got your message.”
“Yeah. So, what was your blog about?”
“My blog?”
“You know, the one about stage fright? What’s going on?”
“Oh.” I pause for a second. I hadn’t technically told Megan about meeting Posey—there hadn’t been a good moment. I didn’t mean to hide it from her, but also I hadn’t been in a rush to tell her. “When I was up visiting you, I met this girl, Posey . . .”
“You mean Posey Chang, the girl who’s playing the lead role.”
“Yeah . . . She was really upset and we bonded over anxiety, so I thought I’d try to help her out.”
“What, so are you, like, trying to ruin my life?”
I frown. “No. I’m just—”
“Just trying to make sure the person I’m the understudy for doesn’t drop out of the role that’s rightfully mine?”
“Well, it’s not rightfully yours if—”
Megan steamrollers right over me. “What are you thinking? I thought you were supposed to be my friend?”
“I am your friend, Megan, but I’m also now Posey’s friend. And anyway, I had something I wanted to ask you.”
“Whatever,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“It’s about Leah Brown. She’s coming to town next Saturday and wants to meet up at her studio. She said I could bring friends, so . . .”
Like a dark grey cloud splitting apart to reveal bright sunshine, a huge smile appears on Megan’s face. “Can I come? Seriously?”
I can’t help laughing at her change in demeanour. “I mean, if you aren’t ignoring me that is.”
“Oh my god, Penny, all is forgiven! I promise!”
“Well, don’t promise yet. I’m also inviting Posey along. Do you think you can be OK with that?”
The cloud passes over Megan’s face once again, anger like a flash of lightning in her eyes, but then it goes. By the time I’ve blinked, she looks serene again. “You’re just too nice,” she says, her voice all sugar. “But wait, isn’t Saturday your date with Callum?”
“I don’t think it’s technically a date . . . but yeah,” I say, a blush rising in my cheeks. I’d kind of put that to the back of my mind. “But that’s in the afternoon. I have the morning free. I was going to meet Posey at ten.”
“It’s definitely a date with Callum, Penny. Why don’t you text me the address of Leah’s studio and I can bring Posey, then we can just meet you there?”
“OK,” I say. “Just remember—it’s a surprise for Posey so don’t tell her where we’re going.”
“Brilliant! Can’t wait till Saturday. Oh my god, what do you wear when you’re about to meet your idol? I need to go shopping. You rock, Miss P.” She hangs up the phone.
I head downstairs, still feeling in a daze.
“How’d it go?” asks Elliot, already with a mouthful of pancake.
I blink several times. “I actually have no idea. But I think I managed to make everyone happy.”
Elliot fixes me with his most grown-up stare from beneath his tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses. “Penny, you know that’s impossible.”
“I know. But I still have to try. I just can’t help myself.”
Chapter Fourteen
The days disappear in a blink, a whirlwind of schoolwork, chats with Posey, and dinners with Sadie Lee and Bella. Since starting sixth form, my workload seems to have increased immensely—even the stress of GCSEs doesn’t compare to the looming pressure of A levels. I welcome the distraction, though. If I wasn’t nervous when I texted Callum, the thought of going on a real, actual date has sent my nerves into overdrive. Plus, I want everything to go well with Leah Brown, Posey, and Megan.