“Run-in with Leon,” Willow explained. “He’s such a skank.”
“What did he do?”
“Asked me if I want to go out with him, as long as I show off my boobs.”
Mischa laughed. “The man’s got a point. You would be really cute if you just put a bit of effort into your appearance.”
“Mischa!” Georgia said. “I think you’re missing the point. Leon is disgusting.”
She shrugged. “I’m just saying, it wouldn’t hurt her to show a bit of flesh sometimes.”
“Some of us dress to be comfortable, not to be stared at by random guys,” I said. “And if dressing in short skirts with my cleavage showing attracts people like Leon, I’d rather not.”
“He didn’t … say anything else, did he?” Georgia asked.
I shook my head. “We walked away before he could get any more offensive.”
Georgia was usually tough, but Leon was the one person who really made her nervous. I couldn’t blame her for feeling that way. He had
given her more than enough reasons to be afraid. The worst was when he followed her home from a club one night. She’d called me as she walked along the dark streets, and I’ve honestly never got out of bed so fast. I threw on some clothes and sped out to meet her. By the time I got there, she was trembling, and Leon only backed off when he realised she wouldn’t be making the rest of the journey alone. Even though he’d never actually hurt her, there was something threatening about the way he looked at her. I wasn’t sure I could handle it if he started stalking me too.
“Maybe we should … keep this between us,” Georgia suggested. “I don’t want Mum and Dad to worry. You know what they’re like.”
“I do. But I also said I’d tell them if anything happened with Leon.”
“Nothing happened,” Mischa said, rolling her eyes. “He’s male. He said he thinks you’d look hot with your knockers out. Big deal. Most guys think those things.”
“Most guys keep it to themselves,” Willow said. “I think it’s known as common decency. You’ve probably never heard of it, seeing as how you’re usually the one flashing your boobs at anyone who asks.”
I had to fight to stop a snort of laughter slipping out. She was absolutely right, but it was never a good thing when Mischa and Willow started bickering, so I pulled Willow away and we walked on ahead. Only then did I start giggling. Behind us, I could hear Mischa swearing.
“I never understood why your sister likes her,” Willow said. “She’s such a bitch!”
“I know, I don’t get it either. I think it’s partly because Georgia has always been in the popular crowd, and Mischa is definitely one of the more … admired girls here.”
“What’s to admire?”
“How about her long legs, shiny hair, pretty face and oodles of money?”
Willow made a face. “Still doesn’t make up for her being a superficial slapper.”
“That’s true. Are you coming to her party at the weekend?”
“Isabelle, that might have been the stupidest question you’ve ever asked. Do you think she’d even let me through the door?”
“Maybe I won’t go either. Elliott can take care of Georgia, and I can do something substantially more fun with Jesse.”
“No,” Willow said, shaking her head. “You have to go. If only to rub it in that you got Jesse and she didn’t!”
I grinned. “Is it wrong that I feel smug about that?”
“Not at all. In fact, if I were you, I’d be rubbing it in a lot more!”
“I’m not that kind of girl, and you know it. But maybe, just this once, I could make an exception!”
Chapter Nine – I Hope She Can’t Read Minds
Jesse