Breaking the Ice by Mandy Baggot Page B

still not taking her eyes from her sister.
    ‘ No, nothing’s happened. I just overslept that’s all,’ Samantha replied.
    ‘ Argh! Oh my God!’ Cleo shrieked, and she grabbed a fistful of Samantha’s Civic Hall polo shirt.
    ‘ What’s the matter? What are you doing?’ Samantha demanded to know, trying to pull herself out of Cleo’s clutches.
    ‘ This! This is why something has happened! This is last night’s uniform!’ Cleo exclaimed, her eyes wide in horror.
    ‘ It isn’t,’ Samantha lied.
    ‘ Yes it is. Yesterday was a jumper and polo shirt day and today is a Civic Hall sweatshirt day. I live with you Sam, I know all your completely annoying routines and this is yesterday’s uniform. So spill, what happened last night? Because I know you didn’t go out with Connor. He phoned Jeremy, right in the middle of the main course I might add. Said you rattled on about allergies and fish oils,’ Cleo spoke.
    ‘ Nothing happened. The hall was a mess after everyone left. I stayed behind to clean up, I got home late and just got into bed. I didn’t even clean my teeth,’ Samantha informed her, trying to kick a wayward protruding Star Life magazine back under her bed.
    ‘ You didn’t clean your teeth? You didn’t gargle with that awful mouthwash stuff you use? Now I know something’s going on. Come on, out with it. You might be making me late but this is serious. You’re not being normal,’ Cleo answered and she sat herself down on the edge of Samantha’s bed.
    ‘ I don’t always do the same thing every day,’ Samantha responded, moving a little away from her sister, hoping she hadn’t taken up mind reading.
    ‘ Yes you do,’ Cleo insisted.
    ‘ I told you. I cleaned up the hall and it was late so I just - you know - crashed,’ Samantha told her, knowing how ridiculous she sounded.
    ‘ Oh God, it’s a man! This is man behaviour. This is how you behaved the last time you were interested in someone. This was what you were like when you met that guy from the bookshop, the one with the…’ Cleo began as she became animated.
    ‘ Don’t say it!’ Samantha begged, cringing at the thought of the body piercing.
    ‘ When you met him you went all weird and started acting out of character and that was when you did a wash without separating the whites. You never do that, ever!’ Cleo reminded her.
    ‘ You’re making me sound like some sort of freak,’ Samantha answered, not enjoying hearing her personality analysed .
    ‘ So it’s a man. And that’s why you turned down Connor. Why didn’t you tell me you had your eye on someone? Poor Connor, I actually think he was quite interested in you - despite your best attempts to ruin it,’ Cleo continued.
    ‘ Connor was very nice but very small. For future reference I really don’t go for men who could jockey greyhounds,’ Samantha told her.
    ‘ So who have you gone for then? Who is this mystery man that’s made you throw caution to the wind, go to bed with your clothes on and forget your sisterly duties?’ Cleo demanded to know, jumping up and down on the bed.
    ‘ There isn’t any man. I told you, I was just tired. I had worked all day and most of the night,’ Samantha reminded, swallowing as she lied.
    ‘ You swallowed, you’re lying. Sam, I know you. You not only have major routines but you have major habits too, ones you can’t control. Swallowing when you’re lying is one of them. Now let’s not spend all morning playing cat and mouse, just get it over with and tell me,’ Cleo ordered, her eyes wide.
    Samantha let out a sigh. There was no use lying to Cleo. She knew her too well and she was like a dog with a bone. Once she latched onto something there was no stopping her.
    ‘ OK, there’s a man,’ Samantha admitted bravely, sitting up straight and taking a deep breath.
    ‘ Argh! I knew it! Who is it? Do I know him? Tell me! What happened last night?’ Cleo blurted out, pulling the scarf from her hair and twirling it round her hand