Stereotype Read Online Free

.
     
     

Chapter Ten
     
    I know Sarah’s room almost as well as I know my own. Around her mirror she has a bunch of those cool fridge magnets, the ones that have great phrases on them like When I found Mr Right I didn’t realise his first name was Always . Fiona bought that one for her after she broke up with Kieran, her boyfriend of six months. None of us, including Sarah, were too broken-hearted when that relationship ended. In fact, as I recall, we went out to Planet Hollywood to celebrate.
    “Hey, guess what?” Sarah says.
    “You’re starting a band,” I reply.
    She looks disappointed at not getting to announce it. “Fiona told you, yeah?”
    “Yeah.”
    “So . . .”
    “So . . . what?”
    “So what do you think?” she demands.
    “Does it really matter what I think?” I ask.
    “Abi! Yeah, it does. You think it’s a stupid idea, don’t you?”
    Honesty is the best policy, but also helps you lose friends quicker than any other virtue.
    “No! I think it’ll be great,” I lie.
    “Really?” she beams.
    “Really. Come on, tell me more about it.”
    “You sure? I don’t want to bore you to death.”
    I don’t want her to bore me to death either, but she has this gigantic smile on her face and is bubbling with energy and excitement. I hope it’s not infectious.
    “Just tell me,” I say.
    “Well, I ran into Shane yesterday. You know Shane, right?”
    I shrug. “I don’t think so.”
    “You do . . . he remembers you, anyway. I used to work with him in Superquinn. He came over here a couple of times.”
    While I am still musing over whether I can recall Shane or not, Sarah continues.
    “Well, he’s still there, and I saw him yesterday, and we started talking about music and stuff. He called around when he finished work and we decided – we’re going to start a band.”
    “I hear he’s a guitar player, huh?”
    “Yep. And he writes songs, and sings, and – he’s just so talented, Abi, you would not believe it.”
    I grin. “You like him, don’t you?”
    She shrugs sheepishly. “Maybe a little. I don’t know. But it’s more just . . . oh, I don’t know. He likes all the same bands that I do, and we just – see music the same way. It’s amazing.”
    I can’t remember the last time she sounded this happy. I mean, she’s normally cheerful, but this – this I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.
    “That’s great,” I say honestly.
    “Yeah . . . it is.” She beams again and twirls around the room. “I can’t wait until we get started. Shane has a couple of friends who might be interested. And I’ve been writing new songs all day. It’s like – now I have a reason for writing them. It’s just – incredible.” She laughs. “So, any news with you?”
    Well, Sarah, although I’m delighted that you’ve found a purpose to your life, I’m just a teeny bit jealous of your happiness and will probably go home after this and play with sharp objects.
    I shrug. “Not really, no.”
     
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    This year at school has been full of irrelevant, pointless activities. I suppose if I had thrown myself into it I would have gotten more out of it, but as you know, I’m lazy. It was a nice idea back in September, the thought of me enthusiastically Getting Involved in as much as possible, but I never put it into practice.
    It’s almost over, though. I mean, it’s mid-March. We get our Easter holidays in a couple of weeks and then it’s just a matter of biding our time until the summer holidays. I can’t wait.
    Then, Fifth Year. Actual work. I’m not sure how I’ll cope, but I have a feeling it’ll involve a lot of chanting to myself, “Just another two years and you’re out of here.”
    It is Tuesday and we all have a morning of Irish dancing. Apparently some nutcase in the staff-room thought it would be a good idea to subject our year to this torture. Tragically, my tracksuit and runners are at home. I try to look distraught as I explain the situation to the