Page 15 of A Secret Cornish Wish
‘Subconsciously,’ Suzy says.
‘What?’ Mandy asks.
‘It’ssubconsciously. You saidunconsciously.’
‘OK,subconsciously. Whatever you’re doing, Frankie, it seems to be working.’
‘You don’t think I’ve messed everything up then with what I said?’ I ask anxiously.
‘Dunno.’ Mandy glances over my shoulder. ‘But we’re about to find out . . . ’
I turn around to see what she’s looking at, and to my horror see Rob walking across the grass towards us.
‘Act casual!’ Mandy instructs.
‘What do you mean, casual?’ I ask as the others all pretend to be talking about something or hurriedly eating their lunch again.
‘Hey, Rob,’ Eddie calls as Rob approaches. ‘How’s things?’
‘Good. Yourself?’
‘Yeah, great. Just chilling and having lunch, you know?’
Rob nods, but looks a little confused.
‘So, I just wanted to let you know I’ve spoken to Miss Kelly and she says it’s never been done before, but she can see no reason why I can’t compete with two different acts on Saturday. So if you’ll still have me, I’d really like to play guitar for you all.’
‘That’s amazing news!’ Eddie claps his hands in excitement. ‘We can have matching outfits! Can we have matching outfits, Suzy?’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ Suzy says calmly. ‘The mermaid tails are taking me longer than I thought they would.’
Rob looks worried. ‘I don’t want to put you out or anything. I’m sure I can find something of my own to wear.’
‘Nonsense!’ Eddie says. ‘You are now officially a Misfit Mermaid, Rob! Welcome to the gang. Ooh, it’s going to be completely amazing on Saturday night – I can feel it!’
‘You told them, then?’ Rob asks, looking across at me for the first time. ‘About the name for the group?’
‘And the rest,’ I hear Mandy mutter behind me.
‘Yes,’ I reply quickly, hoping Rob didn’t hear her. ‘And we all think it’s a great idea – don’t we?’
Suzy nods. ‘Yep – fab idea.’
‘I love it!’ Claire says enthusiastically.
‘The Misfit Mermaids it is, then.’ Rob grins. ‘And, yes, Frankie, I am.’
‘Sorry?’ I ask, not getting his reference.
‘You asked me last night was I enough of a misfit to be one of the mermaids? Or something like that?’ He smiles. ‘And I’m pleased to tell you that, yes, I definitely am.’
Rob sits with us for the remainder of our lunch break, then, as the bell sounds across the field to tell us it’s time to head back to our various classrooms, we gather up our things and begin to make our way back to the school building.
‘Are you rehearsing later?’ Robs asks as we both find ourselves hanging at the back of the group; the others have allowed us to drop back a little, and I can only imagine the nudges and whispers up ahead as we all meander across the grass in two distinct little packs.
‘No, not tonight. Eddie is letting us have a night off for once.’
‘Ah, right . . . ’ Rob hesitates. ‘It’s just I was wondering if you’d like to hang out with me for a bit?’
