“So….” Conrad leant against the doorpost as Fran and Caitlin went down the front step. “This thing with these weird guys… this whole debacle is because of them, right?”
Both girls turned back.
“That’s right,” said Fran.
Part of Conrad’s top lip disappeared behind a tooth and his eyes glazed over. He nodded slowly to himself.
“Conrad…” Caitlin began warily.
“Yes, dear?”
Caitlin’s eyes narrowed. Conrad smirked and stepped back inside.
“Bye, now!” he said with a cheery little wave, and he shut the door. Caitlin wilted with a groan, clutching at her head.
“Ugh. Why are all my brothers so infuriatingly weird?”
“Brookie isn’t,” Fran objected.
“Maybe not, but Bertie more than makes up for that. Come on: we’d best get back, or we might find the house in ashes.”
The drive back was distinctly more cheerful than the drive out. Caitlin produced some chocolate and even put some music on. Initially, Fran thought it was the radio, but then she realised than none of the music was in English.
“What is this?” she asked.
“K-pop, but these songs are in Chinese,” Caitlin replied.
Fran raised her eyebrows.
“Brookie says he hates it, but he’ll quite happily listen to TVXQ and T-ara,” Caitlin continued with a mischievous little grin. “I can lend you a few CDs, if you’d like. Granted, the Engrish is hilariously bad in some songs, but most of the groups have pretty catchy tracks and there are some great solo artists around, as well.”
“Like PSY?” Fran suggested.
Caitlin’s lips pursed into a straight line. Fran took it that Caitlin wasn’t a particularly big fan of PSY. She took another bite of chocolate and decided that it was best to leave it be.
The sun was shining brightly as they pulled up by the house, although Caitlin was swearing her head off at the children in the way of the car. Two of them were on rollerblades, and one of them had a hamster in her hands that she was chasing the others around with.
“I hope to God that Tessa’s wearing gloves,” Caitlin muttered as the engine died.
Tessa appeared by the driver’s door the instant that Caitlin opened it.
“Cait! Look at the hamster!”
Caitlin flinched away with disgust. “Tessa! Put the hamster back in its cage this instant!”
“I can’t,” said Tessa glibly. “May’s jet-hosing the cage, so Bertie told me to look after the hamster until the cage is dry and clean.”
For a moment, Caitlin looked as though she might explode, but then she shook her head and got out of the car. Tessa placed the hamster on the bonnet.
“You are not hugging me with muck all over your hands,” Caitlin warned her. Tessa pouted. “And pick the hamster up before it leaves a little brown present on my car.”
Fran turned her laughter into a hacking cough and headed indoors. She found Brookie and Bruno on the first floor with a game of Backgammon, although play seemed to have ground to a halt because Brookie was on the phone.
YOU ARE READING
Plan B
Teen FictionPlan A might have been just as dangerous as the police insisted it was safe. It involved being locked away, out of sight and communication, and didn't solve the problem that Fran's stalkers seemed to have access to police files and data. Plan B th...
