Geek Girl (Geek Girl, #1)(67)

jump a little bit and then – to cover it up – cunningly pretend I’m checking out the bounciness of the sofa.

“As part of our fashion special,” Jane continues as if she hasn’t noticed that I’m bouncing up and down on national television, “we have with us this morning Harriet Manners, the fifteen-year-old schoolgirl who made headlines across the world as the newest face of fashion powerhouse Baylee. How are you, Harriet?”

“I’m fantastic, thanks, Jane,” Yuka says in my ear.

“I’m fantastic, thanks, Jane,” I repeat like a robot.

“And we also have Nick Hidaka, the sixteen-year-old male face of the brand. How are you, Nick?”

“I’m barely awake, thanks, Jane.” And then he grins at her so that his dimples pop in and out. “But I’ll do my very best.”

Are you kidding me? And I’m the one being spoon-fed lines?

Jane blinks a few times. “Amazing. Now, Nick, am I right in thinking that this wouldn’t be your first big campaign? You’ve done Armani, Gucci, Hilfiger…”

“Apparently so.”

“…And now Baylee. I remember there was a bit of controversy when you were first cast. Tell me, what’s it like to work with your Aunty Yuka? Extra pressure or is it nice keeping it in the family?”

Nick laughs. “Well, let’s just say if I screw it up, it’s going to make for an uncomfortable Christmas dinner.”

What?

My whole head has gone numb. Yuka is Nick’s aunt? Nick is Yuka’s nephew? They’re related? They’re family? The same blood runs through their… well, you get the picture.

And nobody told me?

“…you’ve caused a bit of a commotion yourself already, Harriet.” Patrick’s leaning forward and I suddenly realise that while I’m silently freaking out, he’s trying to engage me in conversation.

“Listen, Harriet,” Yuka hisses in my ear. “Or at least pretend to.”

“Ahmmm,” I mumble, smiling at as many people as possible.

“Fifteen years old, plucked from obscurity less than a week ago.” Jane looks at her notes. “You caught legendary designer Yuka Ito’s eye straight away, I hear. Gosh. That doesn’t happen that often, does it? Isn’t that just a fairytale?”

I look at her blankly.

“Yes, Jane,” Yuka whispers. “It’s a fairytale come true for any girl.”

“Yes, Jane,” I say obediently. “It’s a fairytale come true for any girl.”

“And Yuka’s even designing a special outfit for you in her next show.”

This is news to me. I stare at Jane.

“She is,” Yuka says and I repeat. “I’m extremely lucky.”

“Truly amazing.” Jane shakes her head as if she wants to jump across the sofa and slap me jealously across the face. “Who wouldn’t want that at fifteen?” She laughs gaily. “Who am I kidding: who wouldn’t want that at any age? And it says here you’re her new muse. Wow. Tell me, Harriet, have you always wanted to model?”

“Ever since I was a child,” Yuka says clearly in my ear. “I used to dress up in my mother’s clothes and twirl around my bedroom in front of the mirror. I have always been captivated by fashion.”

“Ever since I was a child,” I say dutifully. “I used to dress up… in… my… m-m-m—” I swallow. Dad gave all my mum’s clothes to the charity shop when she died. There was nothing to dress up in. And when Annabel came along, the only thing available would have been a suit.

I briefly imagine a skinny little red-headed girl twirling around in a huge pinstripe suit complete with tie and clunky office shoes and have to stifle a giggle.

“Harriet,” Yuka snaps. “Say it.”

“…in my mother’s clothes and twirl around the bedroom in front of the mirror,” I continue, trying to straighten my face out and not cry at the same time. “I have always been captivated by fashion.”

“And how have you managed to balance it with your schoolwork so far?” Jane asks. “It must be hard, combining the two?”

“Baylee always puts my schoolwork first,” I chime after Yuka has spoken. “It’s of key importance to them.”

Apart from – you know – the bit where they made me take two days off to go to Russia. And this morning.

“And your favourite school subjects?” Patrick winks at the camera. “I think we can guess what they’d be!”

Maths. Physics. Chemistry.

“Textiles and art, of course,” I say diligently after waiting a nanosecond for my cue.

“And what about your school friends? You must be a very popular girl now.”

I think of Alexa’s scowling face and the shouts of Geek. I think of thirty hands in the air. “Uh-huh,” I say.

“Uh-huh was not what I just said,” Yuka snaps.

“As the new muse of one of fashion’s biggest players,” Jane says in excitement, “is the fashion life everything you thought it would be?”

Yuka clears her throat and I wince slightly: it’s really unpleasant having that sound shot straight into your head.

“Modelling is everything I dreamed it would be…” I repeat. “And I love fashion because it’s really about individuality, and creativity… and… and self-belief… and self-exp…” I trail off into silence.