NOT ignore people who have won Grammys); and the second for missing an entire maths lesson because Grace spilled ketchup on my purse and I had to pop home to the hotel and ask Amy in housekeeping how I could get it out before it stained. Which, if you ask me, is a perfectly good reason to miss out on a few sums but whatever.
Still, I’m just as responsible as Cal. I proved it too last term when Mum grounded me FOREVER after I hid in Prince Gustav’s wardrobe in his hotel room. And then she grounded me again because I sneaked out one night with Sky to attend a fashion show when I was supposed to be doing my homework. That was the end of my social life for a while. Stuck here in the hotel, I spent the whole time helping everyone out, tagging along with all the different teams and learning the ropes, which was all excellent research for my vlog.
But it turns out it’s not that easy to gain followers on YouTube and now, thanks to Nancy Rose, everyone thinks I’m awful. There’s no chance people will want to hear a word I have to say.
‘How many hits has her vlog about me got now?’ I asked Mum. ‘You can refresh the page on my laptop.’
Mum turned to my desk, on which my laptop was sitting already open on Nancy Rose’s YouTube channel. She leaned over and clicked the refresh button.
‘Well?’ I sniffed, watching her. ‘How many?’
She examined the screen and then straightened, looking shocked.
‘Uh . . .’ She hesitated, before shutting my laptop firmly. ‘It doesn’t say.’
I groaned and slumped back on to my pillows. Mum was a terrible liar.
‘Flick, don’t let this get you down. We do, however, need to have a serious talk about your behaviour at the launch, but we can leave that until later.’
‘Can’t wait.’
‘And don’t worry about Nancy Rose’s silly vlog. By this evening, everyone will have forgotten about it.’
By the evening, the ‘silly vlog’ had gone viral and a mass of paparazzi had gathered outside the hotel.
I know this sounds crazy, but I think I actually prefer it when I’m wrong and Mum is right.
Flick, are you OK?
I keep trying to call
Sorry, Grace, I’m kind of in hiding today
I completely understand
That vlog is so mean! Clearly just lies. Cal, Olly and I all agree that Nancy Rose is the WORST. Is there anything we can do?
Nothing. Thanks, though
You want us to come over and cheer you up? We don’t have to talk about what happened
I’d rather be on my own for now.
I’ll see you guys at school.
Thanks for being the best friend ever, though
BTW, I’ve come up with a plan
A plan? For what?
It’s genius
What are you talking about? What plan?
A plan to take down Nancy Rose.
Want to hear it?
Um. OK
We lure her to a deserted warehouse
That’s a creepy start
We wait in the shadows for her to arrive
Getting weirder
And then when we’ve got her right where we want her . . .
I regret asking about this plan
WE THROW WATER BALLOONS AT HER MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Wait. THAT’S IT?! Water balloons?
That’s your genius plan?
I know, right! It’s so great. It’s got it all: mystery, suspense, a climactic water balloon attack! What do you think?
Uh . . . how long have you been working on this plan?
Since I saw the video, so six hours ago!
I’ve done a tactical breakdown diagram of everyone’s positions and everything. Why?
Grace, you won a school award for academic achievement
Yeah?
You’re top of every single class.
You’re the brightest person I know
??
And you’ve spent six hours coming up with a plan . . . to throw water balloons
What’s your point??
Never mind. I’ll call tomorrow
I’ll keep working on the genius plan.
What are your thoughts on Super Soakers?
Is that making things too complicated??
Night Grace xxx
By the time I got to school on Monday, I was ready for the day to be over. I never should have left my bed but Mum forced me to get up, giving me an unwelcome lecture at the same time all about proving to the haters that I’m not afraid of them.
Firstly, when did Mum start thinking she could pull off phrases
