This chapter is for Darling Summers, who has come back to the forum after a very long absence :D It's great to have you back

"Right..." Anneena turned the page. "Here it is:

January the 18th,

Dear Diary,

I had a great day today with Scark and the other seagulls – it was so much fun! But I think someone saw us...what if people found out about me? Then I'd have to leave here too. I wouldn't mind that, I suppose...but I thought I was just getting to know the gulls, and fitting in. Well, if I don't make too much of a fuss, then Aunt Evelyn ignores me and I can just be on my own. I like that. Then, when I was coming back from the harbour, something really weird happened. I ran through a crowd of people, and I just felt...something. I can't define it, it was just like I actually fitted in there. If only. I know I'll never fit in here, it's so different and strange. And then when I got back I found a pair of ear-protectors – red ones, with silver birds on them; I think the man watching me had the same ones. I couldn't ask Aunt Evelyn about it though, she got really weird and closed-up. Well, more than she is normally – and that's saying something. I wish I could go out and live with Scark. He'd probably look after me better than Aunt Evelyn does."

"What is there to find out about Connie?" asked Jane absently, lying back on the bedspread. "She's good with animals...but that's nothing to be ashamed of. And I didn't think Mrs Clamworthy looked after her badly."

Anneena frowned.

"I don't know...maybe they started getting on later on. There's only one way to find out."

She cleared her throat and started to read the next page again. She squealed suddenly, making Jane jump.

"What?" she asked.

"This is the first time she met Col!" explained Anneena. "I wonder if she knew then..."

Jane shook her head and smiled, knowing full well that Anneena was imagining a love story that was destined to be – just like the plots of the books she read. Her dark head was always buried in something along those lines, reading them slowly so she could savour every word.

"What do you think, Jane?" asked Anneena suddenly, breaking into her reverie.

"I don't know, Annie. Why don't you check?" replied Jane.

"I will." She was about to start reading aloud, then a thought struck her. "Do you remember when we were doing that project together? She and Col were always arguing about it – he really didn't seem to happy with her. That's such a typical thing with real love stories...they just can't get on until they realise..." She sighed happily.

"Maybe" said Jane, humouring her friend: she didn't believe in that at all. "Anyway, why don't you read on and find out what she thought when he met him?"

Anneena nodded eagerly, and started to read.

"January the 19th

Dear Diary,

Today I was woken up by Aunt Evelyn making strange noises out of the window. Again. I daren't mention it to her, though. I can't even imagine that conversation! She behaved like everything was normal again; it's so disconcerting. If she's going to be odd, then she could at least be odd all the time. She told me to come with her to see somebody from school...but I wasn't interested at all. It didn't help that we were in an old-fashioned tea-shop – I didn't think anyone I'd want to be friends with would go there. Definitely not someone cool. And then I met Col and his grandmother. Mrs Clamworthy is so nice, and Col...is very cool. But I don't think he'll ever want to be friends with me – the misfit with the cool kid? Not a chance. And he's got the same eyes as me! What are the odds of that? Aunt Evelyn says it's a family thing...but we're not even related! It just seems so weird...and cool.

Col was quite friendly, and he didn't mind laughing about our surnames, and things like that. I really hope we can be friends. That would be so great."

"Aw, sweet!" burst out Jane, smiling. "Maybe you were right, Anneena – Connie seemed to really like him from the first meeting."

"I told you! It's so cute, they're just made for each other!"

"Like you and Rat?" asked Jane slyly, grinning.

Anneena coloured, and looked away.

"I..." she spluttered.

Jane smiled knowingly.

"Just talk to him."

"I'm not..."

Anneena shrugged, and turned away.

"It doesn't matter. Just leave it."

Jane sighed, wishing that Anneena would make her mind up.

"Go on then. Next entry" she encouraged.

Hey, sorry this is so short, but I promise I'll update soon. The blue button has come here instead of the green one, and would like to take your enquiries as well. If you could slip a review in at the same time, we would both be very grateful...