The Pros And Cons Of Being In Love With The Lead Singer Of A Rock And Roll Band

Chapter Eight

“Here,” Liam said, throwing something on my bed. “For you. Hope you like it.”

“What is it?” I asked, surprised.

“I feel I kind of owe you. I asked your friend Emily what you would like. We picked that.” He shrugged and walked out of my room.

I walked over to my bed and opened the box. Inside was filmy blue material. I pulled it out and saw a beautiful turquoise dress of silky gauze.

“Oh, Liam, it’s beautiful!” I cried, holding it up against me.

“Glad you like it…” He walked back in my room. “Wear it to the dance. You’re going with Alex?”

I nodded, happily.

“Yeah, I thought so. It’s all over the school that you were kissing him in the fountain…” He looked at me, question marks in his eyes.

I laughed. “Yeah.”

“What?” His eyes widened. “Little Miss Perfect? Morgan Sydney, the straight-A student who never makes a mistake?”

“I didn’t make a mistake. It was the best decision I ever made in my life.” I grinned at Liam. “Even if I did get detention.”

“Detention?”

“Alex Carter is worth getting detention for,” I smiled.

“Too much info.”

I couldn’t stop smiling. “Thanks, Liam.”

“You’re welcome, sis.”

We kind of looked at each other and grinned, a little awkwardly.

*

It was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. It perfectly flattered my figure, making me look far better than I really was. It was so lovely, I cried as I looked at my reflection.

For the first time in my entire life, I was actually looking forward to going to a dance!

I went down stairs to show Mum and Dad my dress. Twirling and swirling in a sea of filmy fabric, I felt like a princess.

“It’s good to see you making some friends,” Dad remarked. “Alex Carter is a nice boy.”

“Is he the one who called for you the other night?” Mum asked, vaguely.

I nodded. “That’s the one.”

“Oh, yes. Nice boy.”

I smiled. “Yes, he is.”

“And he’s taking you to the dance on Saturday?” Mum repeated, staring at me incredulously.

I stopped smiling. When your own mother thinks it’s strange that a boy wants to go out with you, you know you’re weird.

And, OK, I am weird. But it might be nice to have some support from my parents. Just occasionally.

“Yes,” I said, defensively. “Is that OK?”

“Yes, it’s OK,” Dad said, quickly, glaring at Mum. “Isn’t it, darling?”

“Oh, yes,” Mum replied, turning round to walk to the kitchen and crashing into the door.

“You have to actually open the door, before you can walk through it,” I said, kindly.

“So you do,” she agreed.

I looked at Dad. He looked at me. I raised my eyebrows. He rolled his eyes. We waited until Mum was in the kitchen before bursting out laughing.

*

“So…” Emily said the next day, as we steered through flocks of Year Ten’s all trying to make their way to their various class rooms. “How’s it going? You look really happy, by the way.”

I smiled. “I know. Thanks for helping Liam pick the dress, Em.”

Emily’s face lit up. “He gave it to you!”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“I can’t wait for tomorrow night!” enthused Emily. “The end of school, and a dance, and a rock concert all in one. And a date…” She tailed off, looking shifty.

“Who asked you?” I said.

She grinned sheepishly. “Liam.”

“My brother?” I spluttered.

“We only know one Liam,” she reminded me.

“And you said yes?” I demanded, incredulously.

“So?” She was starting to get defensive now. “I like your brother. He’s cute.”

I rolled my eyes. “You should try sharing the same house as him. Seriously, Emily, he wet the bed up until he was eight years old!”

Emily laughed. “So did I,” she shrugged. “As long as he doesn’t do it now…”

“I can’t believe it…” I turned away. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. My brother and my best friend… I didn’t want to be mean, but… I couldn’t help feeling a lot of things were going to change. If my best friend was dating my brother, that would mean a lot of things wouldn’t be the same.

“Look, Morgan, I’m happy for you and Alex. Why can’t you be the same for me and Liam? Just because he’s your brother doesn’t mean you own him!”

“I’m not trying to own him. I’m just trying to get my head round the fact that you’d actually want to spend time voluntarily with a creep like my brother!” I said it lightly, trying to make a joke of it, hoping Emily would grin and laugh and things would go back to normal.

She didn’t.

Instead, she turned round and walked away from me.

I stood in the hallway, hundreds of people walking by me and knocking into me. It was as if I was a million miles away.

Was it my imagination… Or had my best friend just chosen a boy over me?

Wasn’t that the golden rule of friendship? Never to let a boy come between you?

I felt kind of sick.