Fifteen Going on Grown Up Read Online Free Page B

please Nat.”
    Without question her brother dashed off and a moment later all went quiet. Several people looked around questioningly, especially those who were dancing. Hally moved to the edge of the deck and raising her arms called for the attention of her guests.
    “Everyone sorry to interrupt your fun but I need to tell you all something that has happened. Without going into too much detail at the moment a couple of girls have started some trouble and my parents have had to call the police.”
    There was a general murmur and a few exclamations of “What!” and “No!”
    “So I think we should all try and get on with the party and let my parents and the police sort it out”
    Hally finished speaking and sent Nathan back to the stereo. A few friends came over to ask what was going on but Hally refused to explain fully. She wanted the police to deal with it before it hit the grapevine.
    A short while later mum came and found Hally in the garden. The party was in full swing and most of the guests were now dancing and having fun. The light was fading and as the moon came up big and full and glowing, the lanterns which Hally had lit a little earlier began to give off a warm romantic glow.
    “Well everything is sorted sweetheart, the police have spoken to the girls and taken them home.”
    “Are they going to speak to Dana?”
    Hally asked her mother.
    “They’re sending someone round…” and as Hally began to interrupt “…and they have informed control about the expected phone call. I gather from what I heard that they will wait until that has been made before they go to see her.”
    “Well I hope she gets the shock of her life.”
    Hally told her mum with a furious frown on her face. Then they both looked at each other and smiled.
    “Come on, let’s enjoy the rest of the party.”
    Mum told her and taking her arm pulled her into the middle of the deck and started to dance. Mum could dance well and kept up with the latest dances and before long several of Hally’s guests had joined in as well.
    The rest of the party went very well. The barbeque was a real hit and by the end of the evening everyone had had a most enjoyable time. As her guests began to leave in twos and threes the garden quietened down and by eleven thirty there was just Corrinne and Clia and Hally’s family. Nathan had decided he was hungry again so dad put some burgers and sausages on the barbeque and the little group pulled up chairs close together.
    “That was a great party.”
    Clia told Hally stifling a yawn behind her hand.
    “Absolutely marvellous.”
    Corrinne chipped in putting on her posher than posh voice. Everyone laughed. Mum and dad handed out food and (protesting loudly) hauled Nathan off to bed leaving the three girls to gossip and gossip they did. Between them they worked out who was now going out with whom and who had broken up, or had a row or just had a kiss and a cuddle.
    It was two in the morning when the three girls finally made their way to Hally’s room. They had talked themselves out and were quite ready to just go to sleep. As Hally turned out the light Clia mumbled.
    “Just think what your sixteenth will be like.”
    The other two giggled but soon all three were sleeping soundly and Hally was dreaming about her fifteenth birthday party.

Chapter 3

    Study Leave and Mocks

    As soon as everyone started arriving at school on Monday morning Hally was questioned about her party and what Dana had planned. Everyone seemed to know more about it than Hally herself and at one point the rumours had got so out of control that Hally overheard someone telling another that her house had been raided and six people had been arrested including her dad.
    By lunchtime Hally, Corrinne and Clia had given up trying to explain the truth and let the rumours spread as they wished. The only piece of information that the girls could glean from everything was that Dana had been questioned by the police on the night of the party but had