As Zach starts talking loudly to his mates, I feel Danny’s body stiffen next to me. He’s clocked Zach as well. It wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say Zach’s probably top of his Most Hated list.
This is all kinds of awkward.
Luckily Zach sits down with his back to us before he seems to notice we’re there. Millie gives us an encouraging smile. Jade and Kara are pointing at people and whispering, heads bent close together. At a guess, they’re eyeing up their competition and dismissing each of us in turn.
I look around to see who else we’re going to be up against. Jade and Kara; Zach and his mates; April the Goth; Sophie and her friend Eve. I can’t wait to hear what ideas everyone else has come up with. I’m also surprised there aren’t more people here, the school has been buzzing about this for days, and I whisper so to Millie.
“Jade and Kara were telling people not to come,” Millie whispers back.
My eyes widen in alarm. “What? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Millie laughs. “Because I knew you’d freak. Nobody in this room cares about their stupid threats or they wouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t either. Chill.”
There were threats?
I open my mouth to ask for more details, when Mr Groves walks in.
“Okay, troops, take a seat,” he says, sounding bored. He doesn’t look overly impressed at having to give up his break to start organising this fundraiser. “I’d like to get this over with as soon as possible. Thought there’d be more of you here, to be honest.”
Jade and Kara smile smugly at each other.
“I asked you to come so I know how many of you are pitching ideas at the assembly tomorrow. Even though there’s not as many as I’d expected, there are still quite a few of you, so I think the best thing to do is get everyone to vote. We’ll organise it like a proper election,” Mr Groves says, clearly warming to his theme. “You can pitch your ideas, we’ll give everyone pieces of paper to vote on, we’ll count the votes during break, and then come back to see who wins. Excellent PSHE. When we’ve chosen the winning idea, you lot will be in charge of making it happen.”
“Don’t you want to hear our ideas now?” Jade asks, looking disappointed.
“Not really,” Mr Groves says, checking his watch. “Now, I need to give you a few guidelines about what your ideas should feature. Nothing illegal, nothing that’s not age appropriate, nothing dangerous. The objective is to make as much money as possible, remember? Right, I’ll make a list of your names, to help get an idea of how much time we’ll need… Okay, done. Now, I need a coffee. Thanks for coming, see you tomorrow.”
We all stand up to leave, slightly taken aback. Is that it? That took all of about three minutes.
“Oh, one more thing,” Mr Groves says, stopping in the doorway and glancing back at us. “Anyone who pitches has to be on the final organising committee, regardless of whether or not their idea gets chosen. So that means each and every one of you in this room will be on the committee. We need plenty of people to make this party happen, do you understand?”
“But, sir –” Jade starts to protest.
“If you’ve got a problem with it, don’t pitch your idea,” Mr Groves says. And then he’s gone.
“So does that mean…” I say, my brain slowly starting to tick over.
“That if we pitch and Jade pitches we’ll all end up working together?” Jamie says. “Looks that way.”
“And Zach,” Danny says. “Don’t forget him.”
I honestly can’t think of anything worse.
“Millie, maybe we need to rethink this,” I say. The thought of being on a committee with those three is freaking me out, big-time.
“Oh, come on, you guys,” Millie says, as we make our way down the stairs to the ground floor. “We can’t let them win. We’ve got a great idea, remember? And do you really want them organising this party? They’d never let us come, for one thing.”
Nobody says anything.
“We’ve finally got a chance to put Jade and Kara in their place,” Millie says. “They’re using intimidation to get their own way. Please don’t bail on me now. I really want us to do this, and I really think we have a good chance of winning with The Star Factor. People don’t like those guys that much, you know. They might not get voted for. And then they’ll have to do what we tell them. Imagine bossing them around for months.”
It does sound appealing, the idea of having the upper hand for a change. Although I’m trying not to think about how miserable they’d make our lives in the process.
“We have to do this,” Millie continues. “We can’t let them scare us into giving up. That’s what they want!”
Danny shrugs. “She’s right.”
She is?
“We can’t not do things because we’re worried about what Jade and Kara might do,” Danny says.
“I guess,” I say. It’d just be easier if Jade and Kara weren’t quite so scary, I add silently.
“Yay!” cheers Millie, as we burst out of the double doors into the sunshine. “We’re doing this. And we’re going to win!”
It’s impossible not be caught up in her excitement. And who knows, maybe she’s actually right.
The next day I’ve forgotten every ounce of that excitement. We’re standing at the side of the stage at the front of the assembly hall, watching everyone file inside. The butterflies in my stomach are tap-dancing at speed. Yikes. There’s so many people in here. I’m trying not to vomit onto my shoes and am secretly wanting to maim Millie for ever getting us into this.
Are we really going to talk in front of all these people? Really?
Ooooh, this is horrible!
“I’d kill for some jelly babies,” Millie mutters.
Yep, even she’s feeling the strain.
I feel someone reach for my hand, and then Danny’s fingers are clasped round mine. He gives them a quick squeeze, and gives me a reassuring grin.
Breathe, Suze. Deep breaths. Think calm thoughts.
Mr Groves climbs up the stairs onto the stage and gives a brief introduction to why we’re here, how it’s an important tribute to Mrs C and how it’s all going to work, then he smiles broadly and says, “Without further ado, let me bring on the people with the ideas they want you to hear.”
To cheers and whoops, we file onto the stage. Ooooh, I’m so nervous. There are loads of people staring at us. This is usually the point where something embarrassing happens, like I trip over or my trousers fall down.
That couldn’t actually happen, could it? Why on earth would I think such a stupid thing? It’s not like I need anything else to stress about, for goodness sake. I subtly try to hold up my trousers with one hand. Although they’ve never randomly fallen down before, it would be just my luck for it to happen right here, right now. And it’s not like the school needs another glimpse of half-naked me.
“I see you remembered to put on your clothes today,” Jade says, poking me hard between the shoulder blades.
“Oh ha ha,” I say, while trying not to freak over the possibility that Jade can actually read my mind.
I swallow, hard. The last time this many people were staring at me I was wearing only a towel and a cardigan. Thanks so much for that reminder, Jade.
“Ignore her,” Millie says. “She’s trying to psyche you out.”
“No need to psyche anyone out,” Jade says, smugly. “Our idea’s fantastic. We know we’re going to win.”
“We’ll see,” Millie mutters.
“Right then,” Mr Groves says. “I know you’re all really excited to hear about your possible parties. We’ve got several groups ready to pitch their ideas to you, so without further ado, first up, we have…” Mr Groves consults a piece of paper. “Zach, Max and Ryan.”
The three boys step forward, shoving at each other and laughing. I shrink back, trying to seem inconspicuous. My mouth’s gone all dry and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to speak ever again.
“You go,” Max says.
> “Nah, you go, man.”
“I’ll do it if neither of you have got the balls to,” Zach says.
“Language,” says Mr Groves, frowning.
“Sorry.” Zach shoves his hands into his pockets and stares out at the audience. “So, you know how in America they have those huge homecoming football games? With, like, the cheerleaders and marching bands and stuff? And then there’s a huge party afterwards?”
I can see people’s heads nodding and some people are smiling. Hmm. A homecoming party would be pretty cool, and some of those cheerleading routines are amazing. I’d never give Zach the satisfaction of thinking I liked his idea, though.
“So are you proposing an American football match with cheerleaders and a band, and then a homecoming dance afterwards?” Mr Groves says.
“Uh, no,” Zach says, shaking his head. “We thought we could give it a British twist. So it would be a soccer match, and then a party afterwards.”
Oh. Well, that doesn’t sound nearly as good.
“What kind of party?” Mr Groves says. “What would you have there?”
“I dunno, it’d be, like, a normal party,” Zach says. “With a football theme, maybe. Football plates and napkins, that kind of thing.”
“Hmmm,” Mr Groves says. “Maybe we could develop your idea a bit. Thanks for that, lads. Let’s hear from Sophie and Eve.”
The girls bounce forward on the stage, holding hands and giggling. “We thought it would be fantastic to have a school sleepover,” Sophie says. “Where we all dress in our pyjamas and hang out and watch movies and eat popcorn.”
Several of the boys in the audience start nudging each other and laughing.
“Er, I don’t think that’s appropriate, girls,” Mr Groves says. “I’m not sure many of the parents would go for that idea. And it’s rather a lot to expect the teachers to sleep overnight to chaperone you all.”
“We wouldn’t need chaperoning,” Eve says innocently.
“I beg to differ,” Mr Groves says. “I’m sorry, you two, but that idea’s not going to work. We can’t put it forward.”
Sophie and Eve slink off, looking disappointed.
Mr Groves gives himself a little shake, then consults his piece of paper again. “April, you’re up.”
April, dressed in her trademark all-black outfit, walks to the front of the stage.
“I want to put on a Fright Night festival,” April says. “We could have different things going on in different spaces, like clairvoyants and mediums, and we could hold a séance…”
“Um, I’m not sure –” Mr Groves starts, but April’s on a roll.
“There could be a dance, and maybe a ghost train, and a TV room showing scary films and TV shows… everything that would frighten the pants off us,” April says.
I shiver. I hate all that kind of stuff. My imagination is way too wild.
“My Dad said he’ll donate an iPad from his shop to have as a prize for the best costume,” April the Goth continues.
Hmm. Well that sounds pretty good. Even if the rest of the party is kind of… freaky.
“Right, well, thank you, April,” Mr Groves says. He’s now clearly wishing he’d taken the time to listen to our ideas before we pitched them to the entire school, especially as a lot of the other teachers seem to be frowning. He consults his clipboard. “Jade and Kara, you’re next.”
Jade and Kara step forward, smile at each other and then Jade starts speaking. “We thought we’d hold a Hollywood-themed awards ceremony that people would buy tickets to attend,” she says, her voice steady and strong.
Gnargh. She’s so annoying. Where does she get all that flipping confidence?
“We thought we’d create award categories for people to vote in beforehand, like they do in those American yearbooks, such as ‘Most sporty’ or ‘Most likely to succeed’ and then have a ceremony to present them all. It would be all-American glamour, people dressed in black tie, a red carpet outside the school, arriving in limousines…”
Oh God. Their idea is really good. As much as I hate myself for admitting it, I’d like to go to that party. It sounds amazing.
Now people are leaning forward in their seats, eager to hear more.
“And then afterwards,” Kara says, clearly keen to grab some of the glory for herself, “we’d have the after-show party. So there’d be a DJ, and you can pay him to play your favourite songs…”
Pfff. A DJ. That’s not so amazing. Anyone can come up with that.
“My mum knows one of the technicians at Illusion and she might be able to get one of their DJs to come,” Kara went on.
Now the buzzing in the hall increases. Illusion is our local radio station. That would mean an actual radio DJ would be here!
“We also thought we could set up a fairground in the playground and in the playing field,” Kara continues. “With a Big Wheel and dodgems and games that could raise even more money.”
Mr Groves is nodding his head thoughtfully. “Well, it all sounds good, girls, but how are you going to pay for all this? A fairground sounds very expensive.”
“My parents know someone who runs a company supplying this stuff, and they should be able to give us a discount,” Jade says. “Plus we thought we could get local businesses to sponsor us, or sponsor each of the awards. We’d need to talk it through properly to figure out the exact details.”
There’s a growing buzz of chatter in the room. Everyone thinks Jade’s idea sounds good. Curse her and her loaded parents. Surely that’s not fair.
Mr Groves smiles. “That all sounds great,” he says. “You seem to have thought it all through very thoroughly. Very impressive.”
“That’s not quite all,” Jade says. “There’s a possibility that we might be able to get someone famous to present the awards.”
There’s an audible gasp around the room. Kara looks at her in shock.
“What? Who? You didn’t tell me!”
“It was all very last-minute,” Jade says. “I didn’t really have time. Didn’t want to say anything until it was definite.”
Ooh, she’s such a liar! It’s obvious to everyone she’s enjoying getting one over on her so-called mate. I really don’t understand their friendship at all. Is there nothing these two won’t compete over?
“Shall we let Jade finish?” Mr Groves asks.
“My mum used to go to school with Dylan Waters, and she spoke to him about what we’re up to. He said he’d need to check his schedule, but should be able to come along. He wouldn’t charge anything, because it’s for such a good cause.”
And with that, Jade smiles smugly and waits for the impact of her announcement to reverberate around the room.
It does have quite the impact.
Dylan Waters! He and Jake are never off the TV, they present loads of those reality talent shows. He’s proper famous!
Oh, it all sounds fantastic. And if I didn’t loathe Jade and Kara so much, I’d be voting for them.
Someone starts clapping, and then everyone’s whooping and cheering as Jade and Kara stand there, huge grins plastered all over their stupid faces.
“Told you we’d win,” Jade says to us out of the corner of her mouth. “Nobody will care about your lame idea now. We may as well skip it all together.”
“Shut up, Jade, our idea’s even better than yours,” Millie says, but I can tell she’s rattled. Because although our idea is good, it doesn’t involve any famous people. Nobody’s going to vote for us, and we’re going to be stuck on the stupid committee, pandering to Jade and Kara’s whims.
“Listen to the clapping,” Jade says. “Do you really think you’re going to beat us? Really? Might as well give up now.”
“You wish,” Millie says.
She smiles encouragingly at me, and I do my best to grin back, but the thought of having Jade and Kara lord it over us, making us do their bidding, is beyond awful.
“Let’s hear what you’ve got,” Jade whispers in our direction.
“Bring it on,” K
ara adds. “I don’t think we’ve got anything to worry about.”
The most annoying thing is that I know they’re right. We can never compete with what Jade and Kara are offering. Who could? Nobody else has got parents prepared to go to such crazy lengths for a bunch of kids. It sucks. Properly, properly sucks.
“And now, finally, we have Suzy, Millie, Jamie and Danny,” Mr Groves says.
Oh God. We’re up.
“Who’s going to do the talking?” Jamie asks.
“I’ll do it,” Millie says, bouncing forward to the front of the stage. She’s refusing to let Jade and Kara squash her enthusiasm. “Actually, Danny, do you want to do your bit first?”
Despite us trying to talk Danny out of pitching his idea, he’s not having any of it. It’s testament to how much he loves Star Wars that he’s doing this, because right now, he looks like he wants to disappear. He’s actually pretty shy, and the thought of talking in front of the whole school must be killing him. My heart flips as he chews his thumb nervously.
“So, I want to do a Star Wars party,” Danny says.
“Speak up!” someone shouts. Danny pauses, looks unsure, then repeats himself.
Behind us there’s a snort. “How lame?” Jade says, loud enough for Danny to hear.
“Jade,” Mr Groves warns.
Danny stumbles over his next words, but bravely ploughs on. “There’d be Stormtroopers and stuff. You can hire them to come and walk around and fight and things, it’d be great…”
“Worst. Idea. Ever,” Jade says loudly, and Danny falters. The tips of his ears turn red, and then the blush spreads. He shoves his hands into his pockets and stands there, shuffling awkwardly.
“Go on, mate,” Jamie says, punching his shoulder encouragingly. “Ignore them.”
“So, um, yeah, we could also have –” Danny’s voice cracks with nerves, and people start to laugh.
“Problem, Danny?” Jade asks. “Actually, let me help you out. I think the biggest problem here is that you’re the only person in this room that likes the sound of this.”
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