Page 116 of Who’s That Girl?

Still, it seems to be having the desired effect. I am feeling a lot more calm. In fact, I think I might throw in some oms for good measure.

‘Ommmm … ommmmmm … ommmmmmmmmm—’

‘Are you OK?’

A loud rapping on the window nearly causes me to jump out of my skin and I snap upright in shock. ‘Argh,’ I yelp, cricking my neck in the process. Clutching at it in pain I turn stiffly sideways. ‘You stupid idiot! What the bloody hell do you think you’re—’

‘Charlotte?’

I come face to face with Oliver. Stooped down on the pavement, his hands on his knees, he’s peering at me through the side window, a worried expression on his face.

Oh fuck, how long has he been standing there?

‘Hey, are you OK?’

No, I’m not OK, I’m mortified. No, scratch that. I’m beyond mortified.

‘Um, yeah … absolutely … thanks.’ I nod and then wince sharply as a pain shoots up my neck.

‘Are you sure?’

The shooting pain has now turned into more of a red-hot-poker stabbing agony.

‘It’s my neck,’ I manage to gasp.

‘You probably pulled something.’

‘What if I’ve broken it?’ I say, feeling a creeping panic.

‘I doubt it.’

‘But how do you know?’

‘Can you wiggle your toes?’

I wiggle them. ‘Yes.’

‘Can you wiggle your fingers?’

I wiggle them. ‘Yes.’

‘Now for the big test …’

I brace myself.

‘Can you wiggle your ears?’

I try to wiggle them, but nothing. ‘Oh my God, no, I can’t! What does that mean?’ I cry in hysterics, twisting round to look at him.

And see him laughing. Killing himself on the pavement.

I feel my cheeks burn up. I fell right for that, didn’t I?

‘It means your neck’s fine.’ He grins mischievously and I can’t help but smile back.

Before it hits me again like an icy blow. The shop. I’ve got to tell him.

‘So …’