Chapter 18 Part 1 How scary can a few numbers be? -18

unbelievable I stared at the quiet phone for a while, disbelieving what I had just done, why would I? Erica Parnell knew it was me, didn't she? Anytime, She can call again.Maybe she's dialing right now, maybe she's mad... I quickly unplugged the phone cord and hid the phone under a cushion.Now she can't catch me.I am safe. "Whose phone?" Suzie asked as she walked into the room. "No one," I trembled a little, "wrong number...Listen, let's stop drinking at home, let's go out and drink!" "Oh," said Suzy, "good!" "That would be much more interesting." I kept talking, trying to draw her away from the phone. "We could go to a pretty nice bar, have some cocktails, and then go to Terrazza."

I thought to myself, from now on, I will refuse to answer any calls; or, answer the calls with a foreign accent; or, better yet, change the phone number and don’t register it in the phone book. "What's the matter?" Finny appeared at the door. "Nothing," I heard myself answer, "let's go out and have some 'tij' before we go to dinner." Omg! This is unbelievable.How did I become like them? By the time we got to Terrazza, I was much calmer.Of course, Erica Parnell would have thought there was a problem with the phone line that had interrupted the call.It would never occur to her that I hung up the phone on purpose.After all, we are all educated adults, aren't we? Adults don't do this kind of thing.

I beg God, please don't let me meet her! But if I do, I have to be very calm and say to her, "The last time you called me, the sudden disconnection was so weird, yes Right?” Or, I could just preemptively blame her for hanging up on me (in a joking tone, of course). The Terrazza restaurant was full of guests, buzzing and smoky.Once we sat down at the table and flipped through the giant silver menu, I felt more relaxed.I love eating out.Besides, after living such a frugal life for a while, you should reward yourself well.It's not easy sticking to such a demanding schedule, but I've survived anyway, and I'm doing pretty well! I'll check my spending again on Saturday - I'm pretty sure I've at least lowered it seventy percent.

"What shall we drink?" Suzie said, "Tahin, you decide." "Oh look!" Finny suddenly screamed. "Isn't that Eddie Lazerby? I've got to go over and say hello." She jumped up and ran towards a bald man in a blazer ten tables away from us.I really don't know how she found him in such a crowded place. "Susie!" another voice called, and we all looked up.A blonde in a pastel pink suit is walking towards us.She stretched her arms in a hug. "Tahin is here too!" "Hello, Tori," Taxin said, standing up, "How is Mungo?"

"He's over there!" said Tori. "You must go and say hello!" Why is this happening? Finney and Tasin spend most of their time in central Perthshire, but whenever they arrive in London they are surrounded by friends they haven't seen in a long time. "Eddie wants me to say hello," Finny announced back to the table. "Tori! How are you? How's Mungo?" "Oh, he's fine," said Tori. "Did you hear that Casper's back in town now, too!" "Impossible!" Everyone exclaimed at the same time, and I almost joined in.Nobody introduced me to Tori - but that's the way of life.You have to blend in with them naturally and become one of them.One minute you're a total stranger, and the next you're yelling with them, "Have you heard from Venetia and Sebastian?"

"Hey, we have to order," Suzie said. "Tori, we'll go over to say hello in a minute." "Okay, see you later." Tori said and walked away. "Susie!" cried another voice, and a girl in a black skirt hurried towards us. "And Finny!" "Milla!" they called in unison. "How are you? How is Benji?" Oh my gosh! This is literally endless.I sat there, staring at the menu, pretending to be interested in the appetizers, but deep down I felt like a total loser who was ignored, while annoying Finney and Tachin were social celebrity.It's not fair! I'm going to go from table to table calling friends; I'm also meeting old friends from my childhood. (Though, to be honest, the only person I've known for a long time is Tom from the house next door, and he's probably in the oak kitchen in Reigate right now!)

But what if? I put down the menu and scanned the restaurant hopefully.God, just this once, let me find someone I know! It doesn't have to be someone I like, even someone I don't know well - just make me jump right there and scream, fuss:" We must have lunch sometime." Anyone, as long as there is... Just then, with an uncanny tremor, just a few tables away, I spotted a familiar face! It was Luke Brandon, sitting at a table with two well-dressed older men at the table. Yes, he wasn't technically an old friend of mine - but, I knew him, didn't I? And I had no choice, I wanted too much to be around the dinner table like everyone else.

"Ah, that's Luke!" I screamed (quietly so he couldn't hear). "I have to go over and say hello to him!" Everyone else looked at me in surprise, I tossed my hair, stood up, and hurried over, feeling suddenly excited.I can do that too! I can make friends at Terrazza too.I am Glamor Girl! When I was only a few steps away from his table, I slowed down and wondered what should I say? Well... I just need to be polite.Say hello to him and - ah, what a genius I am! I can thank him again for the £20. Damn, I did give him the money back, didn't I? I paid it back, I paid it back.I gave him a check and sent him a nice card with a puppy on it.That’s right! Now, take it easy and play it by ear!

"Hi!" I said as soon as I was within earshot of him.However, the surrounding voices were too noisy for him to hear.No wonder Finney's friends had such high-pitched voices.It takes about 65 decibels for someone to hear you. "Hi!" I greeted again, louder, but there was still no response.Luke was talking eagerly with the old man, while the old woman on the side listened intently.They didn't even look up. It's kind of embarrassing! I'm standing there all alone and the person I'm trying to say hello to doesn't even notice me! How come other people don't seem to have this problem? Why can't he just jump up and yell "Did you hear about Frant's investment?" It's not fair! What am I supposed to do now? Sneak away? Or pretend to go to the bathroom?

A waiter walks past me with a tray and pushes me hopelessly toward where Luke is sitting.Just then, Luke looked up.He stared at me blankly, as if he didn't know me at all.I feel a tinge of displeasure, but now, I have no way out. "Hi, Luke!" I said with a smile on my face, "I just thought I...should say hello!" "Hello!" he said at last after a moment's silence, "Papa, Mama, this is Rebecca Bloomwood. Rebecca, this is my parents." Oh God! What have I done? I interrupted an intimate family gathering.leave, hurry! "Hello!" I forced a smile and said, "Then, I won't hinder..."

"How did you meet Luke?" asked Mrs. Brandon.