Hopes and Dreams Read Online Free Page B

think he likes it too. We stay that way all the way back to the school, and by then I don’t think I will ever want to let go.
    15th December
    Dear Jodie,
    I know this isn’t quite what you wanted, but I happened to find one of your letters to Summer a while ago and I wanted to get in touch. I know she hasn’t written to you, but your letters mean the world to her, I promise. She reads and re-reads them, then folds them away and stores them in her desk. I think those little glimpses into life at dance school are like gold dust for her.
    Summer is OK … wobbling a little right now, I think, but the doctors say that the run up to Christmas is often a difficult time for someone who has anorexia. In case you are wondering, I did pass on your message when you called at half term, but things were a little hectic here (as usual) and Summer felt a bit anxious about meeting up. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Honey has messed up one time too many and the fallout here has been pretty full-on. Honey’s gone to stay with Dad in Sydney for a while, and that’s upset Summer loads, as you can imagine.
    So, yeah … all a bit chaotic here. A bit sad too. Still, we’re getting ready for Christmas and that’s cool, and Summer says she’d love to see you while you’re home, if you’d like to. I hope you can. I bet you’ll be able to cheer her up better than anybody.
    Anyhow, hope you don’t mind me writing … just wanted to fill you in on what’s happening with Summer. Let me know when you’re home, and when you might be free to meet up!
    See you soon,
    Skye
    oxox

5
    The Mad Hatter Cafe is bright with tinsel and fairy lights, a glittering oasis in the quiet dark of Kitnor High Street. There’s a bite of cold in the air, the threat of snow to come. My dad drops me off with a promise to return in an hour, and I watch his car drive away with a sinking feeling. Will meeting up with Summer really cheer her up, as Skye hopes, or will it make things worse? It can’t be easy, catching up with your old friend to listen to stories of the dance school life you were supposed to be leading, can it?
    I push open the door to the cafe and step into the warmth, and right away I see Summer and Skye sitting at a table in the corner. I wave and walk across to join them, slipping into a seat opposite Summer. The twins have drinks already, a diet Coke for Summer, a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows for Skye. The waitress comes over and I order a hot chocolate and a cupcake iced to look like a reindeer’s face, complete with red-nose cherry.
    ‘I’m not staying,’ Skye says, scooping up a spoonful of melted marshmallows. ‘I’m helping out with the costumes for the village pantomime … I need to be there in five minutes. I just wanted to say hi, that’s all …’
    ‘Hi,’ I say. ‘The costumes thing sounds great!’
    ‘It is,’ Skye says, draining her hot chocolate. ‘Look, I’d better go – have fun, you two!’
    She stands up, shrugging on a red wool coat with a black velvet collar, and sweeps out of the cafe with a grin and a wave. Suddenly, the easy chat is replaced by silence, shyness. I notice how frail Summer is looking, her skin so pale it looks translucent, blue shadows streaked beneath her eyes.
    ‘It’s good to see you,’ I say. ‘I’ve missed you like mad.’
    Summer smiles, but it’s a sad smile.
    ‘Sorry I haven’t written,’ she says. ‘I love your letters. They almost make me feel like I’m there … and then I remember that I’m not, and it makes me feel so sad.’
    I bite my lip. ‘I can imagine. It must be really hard. I wish you were there too; it’d be amazing! You’d absolutely love the place … it’s so pretty, a real Victorian mansion. The dorms are really cute. They’re all painted different pastel colours … ours is baby blue, but Grace hates it and she’s campaigning to be allowed to paint it pink …’
    I am gabbling, I know, but I feel anxious, awkward, keen to