Angel Kiss - Laura Jane Cassidy [11]
‘Hello!’ she said in a cheery voice.
‘This is Jacki,’ said Colin. ‘She’s just moved here.’
‘Hi, Jacki, nice to meet you.’ She stood up and held out her hand. I noticed that her fingernails were painted neon pink.
‘Nice to meet you too,’ I said, shaking her hand. ‘I really like your dresses. They’re amazing.’
‘And your dress is adorable,’ she said.
‘Oh, thanks!’
‘I love vintage too. I use a lot of antique materials in my designs.’ Lydia sat back down on her swivel chair.
‘People come from all over to get dresses made here,’ said Colin. ‘She’s practically famous.’
‘Oh, stop!’ said Lydia with a giggle.
I liked Lydia immediately. She was wonderfully weird.
‘We could hear your music through the wall again,’ said Colin, picking up a piece of blue fabric from one of the chairs and fashioning it into a belt round his waist.
‘I can’t concentrate without loud music,’ Lydia explained. ‘I need it, but it drives my sister crazy.’
‘You need to get earphones,’ said Colin.
‘It’s not the same,’ said Lydia and I in unison, and we both laughed. ‘I play albums on repeat when I’m working on a design,’ Lydia added. ‘Each dress a different album. Lust for Life will forever be fused in my brain with metal sequins and lace.’
Colin was so lucky – I would have loved an aunt like Lydia. I couldn’t imagine her being best friends with Mary though. The two of them were completely different.
‘Anyway, what do you guys think?’ Lydia held up the dress. It was beautiful, turquoise with a purple lace hem and metal sequins on the bodice.
‘Wow. That’s the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen,’ I said.
‘Fabulous!’ said Colin.
‘It’s the same colour as your porcelain egg,’ I noticed.
‘Yes, it’s exactly the same colour,’ said Colin. ‘Where did you get that egg again?’
‘What egg?’ Lydia enquired, fixing the dress’s collar.
‘The porcelain egg in the cabinet. Jacki was admiring it.’
‘Oh, that thing. A friend gave it to me. A long time ago.’
‘Which friend was that?’ asked Colin.
‘Just an old friend – you don’t know her.’
‘It’s lovely,’ I said.
Lydia looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Yes, it is nice,’ she agreed.
‘Colin, are you in there?’ called Brigid from the doorway. ‘Jacki’s mum is heading home.’
‘I’d better go,’ I said. ‘I’ll be back to have a look around your shop sometime.’
‘Yes, definitely drop in,’ said Lydia. ‘We can listen to extra-loud music together.’
Colin walked me out to the shop door and even gave me a hug as we said our goodbyes.
I lay in bed that night smiling, pleased that I’d actually made a new friend. Colin was so cool and, as an added bonus, he knew Nick really well. I realized Nick had a girlfriend, but maybe they hadn’t been going out that long. Or maybe they’d been going out for ages and were headed for a break-up. A girl can dream.
Chapter 4
The following afternoon I sat on my bed, reading Mum’s copy of Vogue. I was flicking absent-mindedly through the pages when I came across an article called ‘Interpreting Your Dreams’. I sat up a little straighter, excited that I might finally get some insight into my one. I scanned through it and, sure enough, there was a bit about recurring nightmares.
‘These dreams are probably trying to tell you something. Dreams like these are often chilling and frightening, which makes you take notice of them.’
So my dream was trying to tell me something. What the hell was it trying to say?
‘Read my horoscope!’ said Mum, having spotted me with the magazine. She stirred her coffee and sat down at the table.
‘Mum, you know I think horoscopes are a load of rubbish,’ I reminded her.
‘Read it anyway – it’s a bit of fun. Go on …’ she said, poking me on the shoulder.
‘Fine.’ I put on my best mystical voice. ‘Love is on the horizon, and a long-term union may materialize in the near future. A certain someone could revolutionize important aspects of your life.’
Mum smiled to herself and I rolled my eyes.
‘I’ll read yours,’ she said, snatching the magazine before I could object. ‘A testing time awaits