"Replica10 - Ice Cold - Kaye, Marilyn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kaye Marilyn)

Amy hopped off the stool and ran into the foyer, where there was a mirror hanging on a wall. Looking at her reflection, she could see that her mother hadn't destroyed her hair. But she couldn't say she saw any great improvement either. It was the same straight brown hair, just shorter.

Standing behind her, Tasha spoke encouragingly. "It'll look better once it's dry. And you'd better hurry up. The party's at two."

The girls ran upstairs to Amy's room. "Have you ever been to Simone's house before?" Amy asked as she plugged her blow-dryer into a socket.

Tasha nodded. "Every year at exactly this same time. Simone's mother and my mother are on the same charity committee, so Mrs. Cusack always makes Simone invite me to her birthday parties. And my mother makes me go. I'm glad you were invited this year."

Amy switched on the dryer and aimed it at her head. "It's only because we were partners in a history project," she said, speaking loudly so Tasha could hear her over the noise. "I did almost all the work but I let her get half the credit. I guess this is my reward."

"It's a very cool house," Tasha told her. She spoke in a normal tone. Amy's supersensitive hearing meant that she could hear easily, even over the roar of the dryer. "They've got a massive patio and a huge pool, bigger than Jeanine's. And there's always amazing food. Oh, by the way, I'd better warn you. Jeanine and Linda will probably be at the party."

For once Amy thought she wouldn't mind encountering her enemy and her enemy's best friend. Because now that her hair was drying, she could see a real difference Ч and it was a very good difference.

Tasha could see it too. "Wow! You look great!"

With so much weight gone, Amy's shorter hair seemed to have a lot more life and body. It fell to just above her shoulders now, and it actually bounced. The new style made her face look rounder, less long and thin. She anticipated some real compliments at the party. Even Jeanine would have to notice, though it was unlikely she'd say anything nice.

Nancy was waiting anxiously at the bottom of the stairs. A huge smile of relief crossed her face when she saw Amy. "Well! Not bad, if I say so myself!"

Amy gave her mother a quick hug. "It's super, Mom, thanks! We'd better go, Mrs. Morgan's giving us a ride to the party. Can you pick us up?"

Nancy nodded. "Just call me when you want to leave. I'll be shopping with David, so you can call me on his cell phone."

"Is there something going on between your mom and Dr. Hopkins?" Tasha wanted to know as they ran next door.

"No, they're just friends," Amy said. She waved to the boy who was dribbling a basketball in the Morgans' driveway and wondered if her mother would ever feel about someone the way Amy felt about him.

With the ball in his hands, Eric came toward them. "Want to shoot some baskets?" he asked.

"No way," Tasha said.

"I wasn't talking to you," Eric said, but his kid sister wasn't offended. She ran into the house to get her mother.

"I can't either," Amy said. "We're going to Simone Cusack's birthday party." She struck a pose. "What do you think?"

Eric stared at her blankly. "About what?"

"About how I look!"

His expression remained blank. "You look fine. Like always."

"Eric! I just had five inches of hair cut off!"

"Oh! Right! I guess the sun was in my eyes. Gee, it's fantastic, you look really, really beautiful."

Amy sighed. "Eric, don't overdo it. It's okay, I'm not mad, you can't help being a guy."

Eric grinned. "Thanks for being so understanding. You sure you have to go to this party?"