Book One
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Emily James is fifteen years old, depressed and the invisible girl everywhere she goes.
When she comes home from the mental hospital after six months, things are supposed to go smoothly.
And they do... for about thirty secon...
I turn to Leondre, shake him a bit and when he doesn't move or respond, I untangle myself from his arms, replacing me with a pillow Charlie hands me.
"You called them, right? They're all there?" I climb over the seats, earning hushed yells from Marianne so she doesn't wake Leondre (I threatened them all to a sparring competition and shots of green tonic water...)
"They're all there. You bought everything?"
"Of course. You sure he has no idea?" I giggle at Charlie peeking at Leondre.
"Nah, he won't. He once planned his own birthday party and didn't realise it." Charlie shakes his head, laughing quietly.
"Okay. I can't believe you got him to wear an actual smart shirt though."
"I can't believe we're pulling this off." Charlie whispers back.
"Pulling what off?" My dad asks, just waking up at the wrong point and-
Oh no, Oh shit!
Leondre's waking up. I dive over the seats, take the pillow and act as though I've just sat up.
"Dad, I'm tryna sleep here." Alex groans, shoving his face into the back of the seat again.
I yawn. "Do you mind not waking me up next time."
I lie back down into Leondre, who wraps his arms around me, letting sleep take him once more. I resort to texting Charlie, not wanting another heart attack.
Charlx: wow that was close, nice dive btw
me: Yeah well, something had to be done. Anyways, you have your suit, right?
Charlx: yeah, but why would I need it?
Me: because everyone's dressing up. Even my dad and Alex. And yes so are Blair and Marianne.
Charlx: hm... Still, I miss Chloe, why can't I just skype her?
Me: because it's your best mates birthday, what happened to mates before dates?
Charlx: ugh great, now I got a girl reciting the bro code at me...
Me: Shut up, you asked for it. Okay, I need to change, swap?
Charlx: You want me to... no way!
Me: Well either that, or he finds out, and it would be your fault, so...
Charlx: Fine.
I knew that would get him over the seats. I count from three to one, slip out of Leondre's hold, and Charlie replaces me. He looks so awkward it's sort of funny.
I go over to the back, find my bag and take out the dress I bought in France while they were all distracted with food, and Marianne and I needed a "girl talk" to which all the guys looked in different directions, pointed to some imaginary thing and about sprinted away. Well, at least it worked?
I change into the blue lace dress, steal one of Charlie's hoodies and slip it on, throwing the blue heels over the seats, jumping over and switching with Charlie.
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