Bright Lights

by Linda Chapman

  Ally held up her fingers. ‘They look cool! I think I'll get some gold nail varnish when we go into town on Monday.’

  I looked at them in surprise. ‘You're going into town on Monday?’

  Harriet nodded. ‘Dad's dropping us off in the morning and collecting us later.’

  ‘We're going to look round all the shops,’ Ally said. ‘There's this new jewellery shop near the statue. It's got loads of different beads and you can buy stuff to make your own necklaces and bracelets. We're definitely going there, aren't we, Harriet?’

  As she looked at Harriet for agreement I felt jealousy stab through me.

  Harriet saw my face. ‘We'd have asked you, Soph, but we knew you'd be filming all day. You don't mind, do you?’

  I shook my head. I felt horribly left out, but I knew I couldn't say anything. After all, it wasn't their fault I wasn't around to go with them.

  ‘Are you filming all next week?’ Ally asked.

  ‘Yeah,’ I said, with an effort. ‘We're doing all the big schoolroom scenes, so there'll be loads more people. All the extras are coming.’

  ‘Will Justine be there?’ Harriet asked.

  I nodded.

  ‘Lucky you – not!’ Ally said.

  We exchanged smiles and, for a while, everything felt just about normal again. But when we went to bed that night – Ally and Harriet sleeping on camp beds on my floor, as they always did when they slept over – I couldn't get to sleep. I kept thinking about them going into town together. I knew it was dumb, but I just wished they'd asked me.

  I turned over restlessly. Ally, Harriet and I had always done everything together, but suddenly all that had changed. Now it felt like I was going in one direction and they were going in another.

  But I don't want to go in a different direction from them, I thought anxiously. I want things to stay just the same as they've always been.

  Chapter Eleven

  I was still awake when Jessica came in.

  ‘Night, Dad,’ I heard her mutter as she climbed the stairs.

  I got out of bed and tiptoed round Ally and Harriet. Had Jess had a good time at the party?

  Creeping out of my door, I stopped in shock. Jessica's face was damp with tears.

  ‘Jess?’ I said quickly. ‘What's the matter?’

  ‘Nothing,’ she said abruptly.

  ‘Yeah – it looks like it!’

  She opened her bedroom door.

  I followed her. ‘What's happened? What's wrong?’

  For a moment I thought she was going to tell me to mind my own business, but then she sat down on her bed and rubbed a hand over her eyes. ‘It's Zak. He… he acted like I didn't exist. Just because he was in the band, all these girls hung round him and he hardly even looked at me.’

  I frowned. ‘So? You're not going out with him.’

  ‘I know, but…’ Jessica broke off. ‘Oh, what's the point. You won't understand.’

  I felt hurt. ‘I will.’

  Jessica hesitated. ‘It's just… well, I thought we were friends, Soph, that I meant something to him, and then tonight, when these other girls were there, he was really different. He even kissed some of them.’ She laughed bitterly. ‘Three of them in fact.’

  ‘What did you do?’ I said, my eyes widening.

  ‘I ignored him,’ she said, shrugging. ‘Arrogant moron.’

  I frowned. Zak sounded like he had been awful, but then I couldn't help thinking that Jessica was being unreasonable. After all, she wasn't going out with Zak, was she? Why shouldn't he kiss other girls? However, something told me that wasn't what Jessica wanted to hear.

  ‘He's horrid,’ I declared.

  Jessica swallowed. ‘You're right.’ She took a deep breath. ‘And from now on, he can jump off a tall building for all I care. I don't want anything more to do with him. I'm going to stick with Dan.’

  I felt like hugging her. ‘Dan's much nicer anyway,’ I told her.

  Jessica's forehead furrowed. ‘You haven't even met Zak.’

  I shrugged. ‘It doesn't matter. I still know Dan's much nicer.’

  ‘You know something –’ Jessica managed a weak smile – ‘I think you're right.’

  *

  ‘So what shall we do today?’ I asked Ally and Harriet the next morning.

  To my surprise, they exchanged glances over the box of Frosties. ‘Well, actually,’ Ally said, rather awkwardly, ‘there's a demonstration on at the stables. It's all about Western riding and me and Harriet said we'd go.

  I stared. They were going to spend the day without me!

  ‘You could come too, Sophie,’ Harriet said quickly.

  I tried to hide the hurt I was feeling. ‘Yeah, and spend the rest of the day sneezing,’ I said, making my voice sound light and jokey. ‘You know what my hay fever's like.’

  My jokiness didn't fool Harriet. ‘Maybe I won't go,’ she said quickly.

  ‘You've got to, Harriet!’ Ally protested. ‘We've got tickets and we said we'd help put the bales of straw out for everyone to sit on!’

  ‘But –’

  ‘It's OK,’ I interrupted Harriet. ‘You go. I've got lines to learn anyway.’

  ‘Well, if you're sure,’ she said, looking at me anxiously.

  I summoned all my acting powers and smiled. ‘Sure,’ I told her.

  After breakfast, they got their things together.

  I waved them off and then mooched around the house. I was soon feeling very bored. There was nothing to do and no one to talk to. Mum had stayed the night at a client's house, looking after a miniature horse and two dogs. Tom was in bed. Dad was out cycling and as soon as Jessica was up she got dressed and went round to see Dan.

  I watched some TV for a bit and then picked up my script. I stared at the words, but they wouldn't seem to go into my head. I kept thinking about Ally and Harriet. They were probably in Ally's dad's car now, on the way to the riding stables. They'd be talking and laughing. And tomorrow they'd be going into town together and having even more fun. I felt a wave of loneliness and self-pity. It wasn't fair.

  Don't be so selfish, I thought quickly. What do you expect them to do? Hang around at home moping just because you're busy for the holidays? If you were a proper friend you'd be glad they're having a good time. I mean, you've got the film and Issy and everything. It's not like you're missing out.

  No, but I want them to miss me a bit…

  The second the thought entered my mind I stopped it. Feeling like a very horrid, mean person, I tried hard to feel happy that Ally and Harriet were having fun.

  It worked – well, almost.

  ‘Sophie – hi!’ Issy cried when I went up to the dressing rooms the next day with Cathy. She hugged me. ‘I've really missed you!’

  I smiled at her enthusiasm. ‘It's only been two days.’

  ‘It seems like forever.’ Issy linked arms with me. ‘So, come on, how was your weekend?’ Before I could reply she went on, ‘I had the best time. Do you like this?’ She pointed to the short green skirt she was wearing. ‘I bought it in this really cool little shop on the King's Road. It was mega-expensive.’

  ‘It's lovely,’ I said enviously.

  ‘I just had to buy it. My friend Sapphire bought a blue one. We shopped all day Saturday and then we went out in the evening to this Italian restaurant. We went with her parents, but they let us sit on our own at another table and the waiter flirted with us all evening!’ She sighed happily and then looked at me. ‘How was your sleepover?’

  ‘OK.’ I shrugged.

  ‘Just OK?’ she said.

  ‘It was fun,’ I said. I paused and then decided to tell her what was worrying me. ‘It was just that it was… different from normal.’

  ‘How?’

  I struggled to explain. ‘Well, Ally and Harriet have been doing all this stuff together.’

  Issy looked confused. ‘So?’

  I began to feel silly. ‘It just felt weird.’ I could see from Issy's expression that she didn't understand. ‘We norm
ally do everything together. It was strange hearing them talk about the things they'd been doing and the things they were planning,’ I said, thinking about the shopping trip to town they were going on that day.

  ‘Don't stress about it.’ Issy shrugged. ‘So what if they do stuff together. It's not like they're in a film. You're having a much better time than them.’

  ‘That's not the…’ I gave up. It was clear she wasn't going to understand. ‘Yeah, I'm just being stupid, I guess.’ I quickly changed the subject. ‘So… um… have you met any of the extras yet?’

  ‘No,’ she replied. ‘I saw some of them going into Make-up, but I haven't spoken to any of them yet. They're all in the green room.’

  ‘Should we go and say hello?’ I asked.

  Issy hesitated. ‘I suppose we could,’ she said slowly.

  Just then, Georgina came up the stairs. She waved. ‘Hi-yi!’ she said in a silly singsong voice.

  Issy and I smiled briefly. Georgina always tagged along with us whenever she could. Most of the time she wasn't too bad, though I found it really irritating when she put on silly voices and pulled strange faces. She seemed to think she was being funny, but she just looked really odd. Still, Issy and I couldn't exactly avoid her when we were on the set together, so we put up with her. She made it clear she really wanted to be best friends with Issy, but that didn't bother me. I knew Issy liked me best.

  ‘Look at me. I'm Sully from Monsters Inc.,’ Georgina said, and she pulled a face and pretended to roar.

  Issy exchanged looks with me. ‘Yeah, right.’ I hid my smile.

  ‘So, what are we all going to do?’ Georgina said, not seeming to notice.

  Issy shrugged.

  ‘We were about to go to the green room and meet all the others,’ I said.

  ‘Why?’ Georgina said.

  ‘What do you mean, “Why?” ’ I asked.

  ‘Well, why do you want to meet them. They're just extras. Most of them haven't even got speaking parts.’

  I stared at her. ‘Don't be so stuck up!’

  ‘I'm not.’

  ‘Yes, you are.’ I looked at Issy for support. But to my surprise, she didn't look as shocked by Georgina's comment as I felt.

  ‘You don't want to go and meet them, do you, Is?’ Georgina said.

  ‘Well…’ Issy hesitated.

  ‘Issy!’ I exclaimed.

  ‘Yeah, OK, I'll go and meet them,’ she said quickly.

  Despite what she'd said, Georgina followed us downstairs. It was totally obvious she didn't want me and Issy doing things on our own. We went into the green room. There were about twenty girls there, all in costume and talking excitedly.

  Joan saw us come in. ‘I was wondering where you were,’ she said. She clapped her hands and the chatter stopped. ‘OK, everyone, I'd like you all to meet Sophie, Issy and Georgina. Sophie's playing Sara, Issy's playing Becky and Georgina's playing Ermyngarde.’

  The girls stared at us. It was freaky to think that I could so easily have been one of them.

  ‘I'm sure you'll all introduce yourselves,’ Joan said, smiling at us.

  She turned away and the chatter gradually started up again.

  ‘I'm going to get a drink,’ Georgina said.

  ‘Me too,’ Issy agreed. ‘Coming, Soph?’

  I was about to nod when I saw Justine. She was sitting by the window, looking almost nervous. That had to be a first! ‘Actually I want to say hi to someone,’ I said, deciding to be friendly. ‘There's someone from my school over there. Are you coming with me?’

  Issy hesitated. ‘Come on,’ I urged as Georgina walked to the fridge.

  Looking almost reluctant, Issy followed me over.

  ‘Hi, Justine,’ I said.

  ‘Sophie!’ To my amazement, Justine actually smiled at me.

  ‘How are you?’ I asked.

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘This is Issy,’ I said to her. ‘Issy, this is Justine.’

  Justine's eyes widened. ‘You're in The Fortune Hunters, aren't you?’

  Issy nodded.

  ‘I watch it every week!’ Justine said excitedly. ‘You're brilliant!’

  ‘Thanks,’ Issy said briefly.

  There was a pause. Issy glanced round. She looked distinctly bored.

  Luckily, sensitivity is not Justine's strong point. She didn't seem to notice. ‘Being on a film set is so cool, isn't it?’ she said to me.

  I nodded. ‘How many days will you be filming for?’

  ‘Ten altogether, I think, but we were told it depends on…’

  As Justine talked, my eyes strayed to Issy. She was normally so friendly. What was up with her? A horrible thought seeped into my mind. Surely they weren't going to be all stuck up about people who just had small parts. No, I thought quickly. Georgina might be like that. But not Issy. She's much too nice.

  Joan came over to me. ‘Sophie, you, Issy and Georgina need to go over to Make-up now.’

  I smiled at Justine. ‘Well, I'll see you on the set.’

  ‘Yeah, see you,’ she said.

  By lunch time we had filmed two of the schoolroom scenes. Issy had talked to everyone while we were on the set and I was beginning to think that I must have imagined her reluctance to get to know the new girls. However, as we finished lunch, she said to Georgina and me, ‘Let's go up to the dressing rooms.’

  ‘OK,’ Georgina agreed as we stood up to clear our plates away.

  I frowned. ‘But what about the rounders match?’

  It was a really sunny day and Gary had said he was going to organize a rounders match for everyone during the break.

  ‘I don't feel like playing,’ Issy said.

  ‘But it'll be fun,’ I protested.

  ‘Boring more like,’ Georgina put in. She linked arms with Issy. ‘But you go if you want, Sophie.’

  ‘No, come with us,’ Issy said quickly to me.

  I didn't know what to do. I wanted to join in the rounders game with everyone else, but I wanted to be with Issy as well.

  ‘Come on, Soph,’ she pleaded. ‘It'll be much more fun in the dressing room. We can put on scars and things with my make-up.’

  ‘Let's go, Issy,’ Georgina said impatiently. ‘She obviously doesn't want to come.’

  ‘It's OK, I'm coming,’ I said and hurried to join them.

  We sat in Issy's dressing room drawing cuts and bruises on ourselves using yellow and purple eyeshadows and a red lip-liner that Issy had. It was fun, but hearing claps and cheers coming from the rounders game taking place on the lawn below, I couldn't help wondering whether I'd made a mistake. It sounded so much fun down there.

  As Issy drew a cut on Georgina's leg, I went to the window and looked out. The sun was shining and every-one seemed to be playing – all the other girls, Gillian, Sasha and loads of the crew were there too. Even Laurence was joining in.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Issy asked.

  ‘Just seeing what's going on,’ I said.

  ‘Well, it's your turn to do me now,’ Issy said, holding out her arm.

  I hesitated, wondering whether I should say I wanted to go outside.

  Georgina looked at me hopefully, almost as if she knew what I was thinking. I didn't want to leave her and Issy together.

  ‘Come on!’ Issy told me.

  I sighed, but what could I do? I didn't want to argue with her. Casting one last look out of the window, I walked over and sat down.

  ‘Hi, Sophie. How was filming?’ Jessica asked when I got home that evening. She was sitting at the table next to Dan.

  ‘OK,’ I said, flopping into a chair. ‘But busy.’ We hardly seemed to have stopped all afternoon.

  ‘So, have you got any exciting gossip about the famous people in the film?’ Dan asked.

  I shook my head. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Never mind,’ he said.

  He put his arm round the back of Jessica's chair. They looked really happy and relaxed together.

  ‘Are you going out tonight?’ I asked, glad that
Jessica seemed to have got over Zak. Since the night of the party she had seemed much happier with Dan.

  ‘No,’ Jess said.

  ‘In fact, I should be going home,’ Dan said. ‘I'm supposed to be cooking supper for my mum and dad tonight.’

  ‘And you didn't invite me!’ Jessica said, pretending to look offended. ‘What sort of boyfriend are you?’

  ‘The sort of boyfriend who wants to stay your boyfriend.’ He grinned. ‘My cooking is totally awful. I'm sure Mum's wishing she'd never suggested I should start doing a meal a week.’

  ‘I could help you,’ Jessica suggested.

  ‘You think I'd be able to concentrate with you around,’ he said softly.

  Their eyes met and their heads started to move towards each other. I hastily jumped up, scraping my chair back to remind them I was there. It worked.

  ‘Well, see you, Soph,’ Dan said, getting up.

  Jessica walked outside with him. I watched from the kitchen window and saw them snogging at the gate. Gross as it was, I felt a rush of relief. Things definitely seemed to be all right between them.

  When Jessica came in I grinned at her. ‘You like Dan again, then?’

  She grinned back. ‘You could say that.’ She started getting the dog food out.

  ‘So… so, have you spoken to Zak?’ I asked, fetching the bowls for her.

  Jessica shook her head. ‘He keeps trying to ring me, but I haven't answered his calls since Saturday. He…’

  Just then I heard the sound of the gate opening. I looked through the window. A boy with dark-blond hair was coming up the path. My eyes widened as I recognized his slanting eyes and dangerous smile from a photo I'd seen on Jessica's dressing table.

  ‘Jess!’ I gasped. ‘It's Zak! He's here!’

  Jessica looked panicked. ‘I don't want to see him, Sophie!’

  But it was too late. Zak had already seen us through the kitchen window. He lifted a hand in greeting and came in through the back door.

  ‘Hey,’ he said, looking at Jessica and totally ignoring me.

  I stared at him. So this was the boy that all the fuss was about. OK, now I saw him for real, I could see what Jessica was going on about. He really was love-god material. But you could tell he knew it. He folded his arms and looked at her through narrowed eyes.