Love You, Love Me

By Claire Chitty

‘Love you, love me,’ she grinned, ‘Jess, remember to have your head in the stars and your feet firmly on the ground.’

‘And dance in the rain.’

Jess, Crystal and Sophie had been friends since primary school but becoming a teenager brings its own challenges as the girls soon discover. At an age when life offers more opportunities and with it self-doubt and insecurities, Jess and her friends navigate the school social, an out-of-control party, underage drinking and family dynamics whilst trying to make sense of growing up. Throw in Steve, the mysterious charismatic new student that sells drugs that cure headaches, Vincent, the perfect date and Jake, a persistently annoying guy, and life becomes more interesting.

Will they individually find the courage to ask for help as they deal with bothersome boys, self-harm, anxiety, confusion and overwhelming conditions? Or will they together discover through friendship, family and first love that no one is perfect?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Feb 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398462847

Claire Chitty

Claire is an Australian author who has been writing picture story and children’s books since the age of 6. This is her first young adult novel. She sees herself as an observer of life and her philosophy is to create stories that entertain, inspire, educate or challenge the reader, whilst tacking subjects that children and adults alike can relate to such as food allergies, disability, organ transplant, mental health, Australian bushfires and floods. She can often be found writing at her desk with a chai latte and a cat on her lap.

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About the Author

Claire is an Australian author who has been writing picture story and children’s books since the age of 6. This is her first young adult novel. She sees herself as an observer of life and her philosophy is to create stories that entertain, inspire, educate or challenge the reader, whilst tackling subjects that children and adults alike can relate to such as food allergies, disability, organ transplant, mental health, Australian bushfires and floods. She can often be found writing at her desk with a chai latte and a cat on her lap.

Dedication

To Laura and Sarah.

Thank you for the inspiration.

And to every teenager navigating their way through life.

Copyright Information ©

Claire Chitty 2023

The right of Claire Chitty to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398462830 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398462847 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

Thank you to all the team at Austin Macauley Publishers.

Chapter 1

Did she just say what I thought she said? Did I hear it right?

I shook my head in disbelief. How could she have thought that, let alone voiced what was inside her head?

She was asking for trouble and I didn’t want to be a part of it. Not only would it stir up strife within the friendship group but it would have far reaching consequences. I shuddered and didn’t want to contemplate what fate might bring.

Crystal, Sophie and myself had been friends since primary school and it seemed only natural we continue our friendship in a co-ed private secondary college.

We found ourselves little fish in a big sea and we had to learn to swim, each of us trying to reinvent ourselves and deal with the challenges of growing up.

Two’s company, three’s a crowd wasn’t working as well so we welcomed in Ashleigh Jackson, who’d moved interstate for her father’s business.

We were an unlikely group of friends.

Ashleigh was oblivious to her classic cliché natural beauty. Tall, slim, everything in its right place. Long voluminous hair, green eyes, flawless skin. Didn’t matter what she wore, everything fitted perfectly, even the school uniform. She was slightly blonde but not dumb. Her parents were professionals but were never there for her.

Crystal was the outrageous but loveable one, always up for a dare and pushed the boundaries. She experimented with hair dye and reinvented the uniform code much to the teachers’ dismay. Crystal came from a single parent house after her dad died last year. She worked part-time in the local supermarket to help pay the bills and keep the family afloat.

Sophie we knew was gay but she hadn’t officially come out. While the rest of us were growing breasts, she remained flat-chested and wore her hair short. She was dealing with the blended family thing after her mum remarried.

Me, I considered myself average looking; going through the ugly duckling stage, dealing with pesky pimples, bad hair days and an expanding body. My frizzy hair was the bane of my existence and always looked like I’d had an electric shock. I was in the minority with a relatively normal family by today’s standards.

Maybe because we were all trying to make sense of life but somehow, the 4 of us seemed to click.

It was good to have close friends as support and Crystal came up with the catch phrase, ‘love you, love me’ as a form of BFF unanimity.

I also had a non-identical twin sister, Holly. We were like chalk and cheese, both in appearance and in personality. She scored the looks; I gained the brains. She was funny, outgoing and sporty and could charm her way into anything.

I was the opposite. Although completely useless at sport, I excelled at school. I considered myself an observer, quiet, super sensitive and preferred to be invisible.

Like most teenagers, despite our differences and the occasional clash with our parents, as twins, we generally tolerated each other.

Chapter 2

Art was our favourite class where we could relax enjoy ourselves. It made a welcome escape from other more pressured subjects. Ms Croft was fresh out of university and gave us permission to explore our creativity without constraint.

Yet, for Crystal, Art was an epic fail. She always mucked around and had everyone laughing.

‘Jess, can you draw this for me, please? Otherwise, I’m going to flunk and Mum will be furious.’

‘No can do. Make it abstract,’ I said encouragingly.

‘I’ll pay you,’ she begged.

‘Tempting but bribery will get you nowhere in life.’

‘Pay the right amount and doors open.’ Ash laughed.

‘Soz, Crystal, I’ll get caught and I can’t get into any more trouble,’ I said shaking my head. ‘The principal dislikes me as it is.’

‘Pretty, please,’ she said sounding desperate, ‘with a cherry on top.’

‘No! Challenge yourself, you’ve got this,’ I encouraged her.

‘I’m hopeless but I don’t care. It’s fun and beats French any day,’ Soph added.

Crystal put her head into her hands and groaned loudly.

‘Miss Holland, what is going on?’ asked our art teacher, ‘I’m hearing a lot of laughter.’

‘I suck at art.’

‘Too bad, so sad. Show me what you’ve done.’ Ms Croft leaned over Crystal’s shoulder.

‘A few random lines. I give up,’ said Crystal pushing the paper away.

‘I don’t believe in giving up. Look at Jess’s drawing, see how she allows her imagination to channel in her creativity?’

‘But Jess’s looks amazing,’ whined Crystal.

‘It doesn’t have to be perfect. Less self-criticism and let go. Enjoy the process.’

‘Less chatter and more work,’ mimicked Ashleigh, imitating the principal perfectly. We all laughed understanding exactly what she meant.

‘I’ll help, Ms Croft,’ volunteered Steve, the new guy.

‘Thanks, but no thanks. I can, I will… be a total flop,’ she added quietly.

Crystal was not going to open the door to Steve Malboy or owe him in any way, shape or form.

Steve Malboy had recently moved schools, though we didn’t know why and no one really cared. He was the total package. He’d charm and enchant all the girls in such a way it was as if he’d cast a spell upon them and quickly scored the nickname, The Magician.

Steve inherited Mediterranean genes. Made in the image of a Greek God; tall, bronzed, olive eyes, perfect teeth and the longest eyelashes that every girl on the planet envied. He had a discerning habit of running his hands through his gorgeous thick black curls and his voice was deep and appeasing. He oozed confidence and he knew it.

In short, Steve Malboy was a heartbreaker.

And he had his eyes set on Ashleigh, his next victim.

Chapter 3

‘I’m going to the canteen. Anyone want anything?’ Sophie asked.

‘Nope, all good.’

‘Wait for me,’ she called as Crystal, Ash and I stood on the steps at the side of the queue. It offered a clear view of students hustling and waiting impatiently in line to be served.

‘Just look at that boy,’ sighed Crystal.

‘What Steve?’ I asked, ‘I thought you couldn’t stand him?’

‘I can’t! He doesn’t fool me, not one little bit. No, I’m referring to Jake.’

‘Seriously?’ I was taken aback.

‘There’s something about him…’

‘That he looks like a bird of prey?’ I joked.

Crystal whacked my arm. ‘Really? I don’t see that. I was talking to him after math and he was actually nice when he’s not with Steve.’

‘If you say so; he’s F-ing annoying in my opinion.’

‘He asked if you were going out with anyone, Jess,’ she said, whacking my arm again, ‘I think he’s got the hots for you!’

‘No thank you!’ I whacked her back, ‘He’s all yours!’

Ashleigh was listening to our banter. ‘No, Steve’s the one. He’s made in the image of perfection, a total babe.’ Her voice cooed like a pigeon. ‘I think about him in class, at home, in my dreams…’

‘No way!’

‘You’d make a cute couple,’ Crystal admitted. ‘Looks wise.’

‘What you talking about?’ Sophie appeared by our side and handed us each a protein ball.

‘Thanks, Soph! Ash has flashed her eyes at Steve,’ Crystal responded.

‘Girlfriend, stay clear of him,’ Soph warned, ‘Guys like that will charm the pants off a giraffe to get what they want. I don’t want to see you hurt.’

We thought Ash was smart. It was embarrassing to watch her melt like ice-cream on a hot day when he walked by and whistled; or blew her a kiss or something equally wicked across the classroom. We started to see less of her at lunch and they’d sit together in class giggling. Word soon got round they were tight.

It really bothered Crystal, Sophie and I that Ash was swept into Steve’s hypnotic aura, hook, line and sinker.

‘I can see why it’s tempting to be attracted to a guy who’s charming and good-looking but Steve doesn’t care.’

‘Ashleigh will be just another fling he can boast about.’

Crystal was blunt, ‘She’s probably giving out.’

‘Don’t say things like that! I don’t want that image burned in my brain.’

We all saw through Steve’s phoney charisma. How could Ashleigh not?

Chapter 4

I was pondering the same question as I took the quick route home. Away from the noise and pollution of the main street, the back lanes were pleasantly quiet.

Then I saw them, just a short distance away, in plain view.

He had one arm resting on the fence, the other casually stroking her cheek. She was giggling, spellbound. Then he leaned forward to kiss her. Right slap bang on the lips.

I didn’t know what to do. Did I keep walking or turn back?

Instead, I froze, hoping by some miracle I was invisible. And then, without warning, this noise came out of nowhere. Well, actually it came from me, a loud roar of surprise, anguish; a strange almost prehistoric proportions all rolled into one.

Holly hadn’t noticed me initially, caught up in the undivided attention of The Magician, but Steve did.

He leaned back and smiled that grin that hooked the girls. I could see why.

Who could resist his dense black hair, eyes that pulled you in and his gorgeous athletic body?

I shook my head as if disagreeing with myself. No, I wasn’t going to be a part of his girl tribe.

Holly jumped, startled by the interruption; suddenly aware they were no longer alone.

Steve flashed his trademark smile and a lazy, ‘Why hello, Jess! What brings you creeping around back lanes?’

‘I’m not creeping, just avoiding the traffic,’ I muttered.

He laughed. The tone of his voice was enough to stop the planet from spinning, or in my sister’s case, her heart from exploding. Holly looked uncomfortable and stared nervously at the bluestone cobbles.

I was stunned that even when caught off guard and doing the wrong thing, Steve continued to ooze charm.

‘Well, lovely ladies, I’ve realized I need to…