Bright Lights

by Linda Chapman

  ‘Ally,’ I said pleadingly, ‘don't be like that. You know I want to see you and Harriet.’ I had an idea. ‘Maybe you could come here and meet Issy.’

  ‘I guess,’ Ally said slowly. I could tell she was thinking about. ‘Or I suppose Issy could come and sleep over at Harriet's too. I know Harriet said Emily's away for the weekend, so there's an extra room. I'm sure Mr Chase won't mind.’

  I blinked. Issy, Ally, Harriet and I all having a sleep-over together. I couldn't quite imagine it. But, then, why not? Issy was really nice. Ally and Harriet were sure to like her and I'd love for them all to be friends.

  ‘OK,’ I said, feeling suddenly excited. ‘I'll ask Harriet.’

  ‘Ring her now,’ Ally urged.

  I did and, as I'd expected, Harriet agreed immediately. ‘It'll be really nice to meet Issy. She sounds fun.’

  ‘She is,’ I enthused. ‘We'll have the best time.’

  ‘When do you want to come over?’

  I thought. ‘Well, we should finish filming about two, which means we'll be at mine just after three. How about we come round then?’

  ‘Great,’ Harriet said. ‘Ally and I get back from the stables at three, so that's just perfect.’

  ‘All right,’ I said, feeling pleased. ‘See you then.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘Go on inside,’ Mum said to Issy and me on Saturday afternoon as she parked the car outside our house. ‘I've just got to post a letter. Jessica's in, so the house should be open.’

  Issy heaved her bag out of the car. She seemed to have brought enough clothes for a week!

  ‘This village is so sweet!’ she said, looking round.

  I was a bit surprised. I'd never really thought of Ashton as sweet. It was quite a large village, with three pubs, several shops, two churches and a school. However, probably to Issy, who was used to London, it would seem very small.

  I opened the gate. Baxter and Wilson came flying down to meet us.

  ‘It's OK, they're friendly,’ I said, seeing Issy back off in alarm.

  Baxter and Wilson crowded round her.

  ‘They're very slobbery,’ she said, trying to push them away from her smart black jeans.

  ‘Sorry,’ I said quickly. ‘Come on, dogs.’

  I pulled Baxter and Wilson away. They looked at me in surprise. Normally my friends love saying hello to them. I gave them a quick pat and followed Issy into the kitchen.

  ‘Do you want a drink?’ I asked her.

  She nodded and I opened the fridge.

  ‘Your fridge is really small, isn't it?’ she commented.

  I looked at the fridge. It seemed normal-sized to me.

  ‘We've got one of those huge American fridges,’ Issy went on. ‘It's massive and it's got an ice-dispenser and everything. You should tell your mum and dad to get one. They're loads better.’ She looked round the kitchen. ‘You've got lots of stuff in here, haven't you?’ She didn't sound entirely impressed.

  I looked round our cosy cream-painted kitchen and saw it through her eyes – the dusty beams, the white walls covered with pictures Jess, Tom and I had drawn when we were little, the stickers on the fridge, the fireplace covered with silly little souvenirs we'd bought back from family holidays and the pots and pans piled up on the pine shelves because there was no room in the cupboards for them. I guess it did look like a lot of stuff, but I liked it.

  ‘What's your kitchen like?’ I asked.

  ‘Modern, sleek, lots of stainless steel,’ Issy replied. ‘Mum hates clutter.’

  Just then Jessica came into the kitchen.

  ‘Jess, this is Issy,’ I said.

  ‘Hello,’ Jessica said flatly. It was obvious she was in a bad mood.

  She opened the fridge and frowned. ‘Where's the last strawberry yoghurt?’

  ‘I ate it,’ I replied.

  Jessica glared at me. ‘Sophie! You know I only like strawberry yoghurts. You could have taken the banana one! That's so unfair!’

  I stared at her in surprise. It wasn't like Jessica to get mad about something so silly. ‘It's just a yoghurt.’

  ‘Yeah – my strawberry yoghurt,’ Jessica said. ‘I can't believe you,’ she went on, shaking her head. ‘Little Miss Film Star, always having to have what you want! Well, the rest of us do count, you know!’ She stormed out of the room.

  There was a stunned silence.

  Issy raised her eyebrows. ‘I thought you said your sister was nice.’

  ‘She is,’ I said quickly.

  ‘She didn't seem it then,’ Issy replied.

  ‘I know, but she is,’ I insisted. I was reeling from Jessica's attack, but even so I didn't like to hear her being criticized by someone else. ‘She's just upset about Dan.’

  Issy didn't look convinced. ‘Yeah, right.’

  I felt a flicker of anger but forced it back. It was different for Issy. She was an only child. She didn't have sisters and she didn't understand what it was like.

  ‘Come on,’ I said, trying not to feel irritated. ‘Let's go to my room.’

  Setting off for Harriet's, I felt nervous. What would Issy think of Ally and Harriet? What would they think of her? I really wanted them all to get along.

  Harriet and Ally were watching for us from the front window. As soon as we turned up the driveway, they came running out.

  I introduced them and we all went through to the back garden. As we did so, I saw that Issy was looking at Harriet with a slight frown on her face.

  My heart sank. I knew exactly why Issy was looking like that. Harriet was looking her least cool. She never bothers much about clothes anyway and today it was if she had thrown on the first things she found in her wardrobe – a pair of turquoise shorts and an old T-shirt that had the words I LOVE HORSES printed on the front.

  In contrast, Issy was looking amazing in a cropped white T-shirt, black Jasper Conran jeans with slits up the sides and red flips-flops. I began to wish that Harriet had put on something a little bit nicer.

  ‘Dad's put the sprinkler out,’ Harriet said eagerly. ‘Should I go and turn it on.’

  ‘Yeah!’ Ally said.

  We often play in Harriet's sprinkler when it's a hot day.

  Harriet ran to the wall of the house and turned the tap. Jets of water started shooting out of the sprinkler. Ally and I squealed and dodged as water squirted in our direction.

  The next minute, Harriet, Ally and I were all shouting and laughing as we tried to avoid the sprinkler. It was brilliant fun, but as I dodged into the middle and then ran out of the sprinkler's range I suddenly realized that Issy was standing to one side.

  ‘Come on!’ I said, running over to her.

  Issy shook her head. ‘I don't want to.’

  ‘Why not?’ I demanded.

  ‘I just washed my hair. I don't want it to get wet.’

  I stared. Was she being serious?

  ‘I haven't got my hair-dryer or straighteners,’ she said, seeing my expression. ‘I always have to dry it properly or it goes frizzy.’

  ‘Come on, you two!’ Ally shouted at us as she jumped into the middle and ran out again.

  ‘Don't go, Sophie,’ Issy said to me.

  I hesitated. I really wanted to join in, but it seemed mean leaving Issy by herself. ‘I don't feel like playing,’ I called reluctantly.

  Ally and Harriet stopped. They looked surprised.

  ‘Why?’ Harriet asked.

  ‘I… I just don't,’ I lied quickly.

  I had a feeling they wouldn't be too impressed if they knew the real reason Issy didn't want to play and I so wanted them to like her.

  ‘What do you want to do, then?’ Ally asked, sounding a bit put out.

  I shrugged. ‘Can we get a drink or something?’

  Harriet nodded. ‘OK.’

  We followed her into the house.

  ‘Is this your kitchen?’ Issy said, looking round in surprise.

  Harriet looked confused. ‘Yes. Why?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Issy said. ‘It's j
ust, well, it's a bit small, isn't it?’

  I saw Harriet's face stiffen.

  ‘It might be small, but it's really nice,’ Ally said quickly.

  ‘Yeah. I love the colour your dad's painted it,’ I added, looking at the lilac walls.

  ‘Yeah, it is nice,’ Issy said. ‘But where do you eat? There's no table.’

  ‘We eat in the lounge,’ Harriet replied, her cheeks flushing red.

  She hurried to a cupboard and fetched four cans of Coke and some Kit-Kats. It was easy to see she was embarrassed.

  ‘Should we go back outside?’ I said quickly.

  ‘Yes, let's,’ Harriet mumbled.

  Going back into the garden, we started to eat our Kit-Kats. Ally started to nibble all the chocolate off, spitting each piece out on to the silver foil.

  Issy looked at her in astonishment. ‘What are you doing?’

  I grinned at her face. Harriet and I often teased Ally about the way she bites the chocolate off biscuits first. ‘Take no notice. That's the way Ally always eats Kit-Kats. For some reason she says it makes them taste better.’

  ‘It does!’ Ally said, laughing. ‘You should try it,’ she told Issy.

  ‘Er – no thanks,’ Issy said, raising her eyebrows. She smiled briefly, but as she looked away I caught an expression of real disgust on her face.

  I turned quickly to Ally. From the frown on her face, it was clear she had seen it too. I felt a flicker of hurt loyalty. OK, Harriet and I teased Ally about it, but biting chocolate off a biscuit wasn't a really gross habit. I mean, it wasn't like she was eating maggots or something.

  ‘It's been good at the riding school this week,’ Harriet said quickly. ‘Do you ever go horse-riding, Issy?’

  ‘No,’ Issy said.

  ‘Oh… right,’ Harriet said.

  For a moment no one spoke.

  ‘I need the loo,’ Issy said, standing up.

  ‘It's just through the kitchen,’ I told her.

  As soon as she was out of earshot I looked at the others. ‘So? What do you think?’ I waited anxiously for their answers.

  ‘She's OK,’ Ally said slowly. ‘But, well, she's a bit… snobby, isn't she?’

  ‘No,’ I said defensively.

  ‘Why wouldn't she play in the sprinkler?’ Harriet asked.

  I hesitated. ‘She didn't want to get her hair wet,’ I said reluctantly.

  Ally and Harriet exchanged meaningful glances.

  ‘She has to blow-dry it,’ I tried to explain. ‘Or it goes frizzy.’

  ‘Don't you think that's a bit vain, Sophie?’ Harriet said slowly.

  As she spoke, Issy came out of the house. ‘What are you talking about?’ she asked.

  ‘Nothing,’ I said quickly.

  Issy looked at Harriet. I wondered whether she had overheard.

  Just then, Mr Chase came into the garden. ‘Hi, girls,’ he said.

  He was wearing old jeans and a frayed T-shirt that had the name of some ancient band on it. It was how he always dressed at weekends, but suddenly I found myself seeing him through Issy's eyes. What would she think of him?

  ‘I'm just going to make some sandwiches,’ he said. ‘What would you like? Cheese, ham or salad?’

  We all told him what we wanted – cheese salad for Issy, ham salad for me and Harriet, and plain ham for Ally.

  ‘Right, I'll go and get something sorted out,’ Mr Chase said. As he went to go, he smiled at me. ‘Sorry to hear you can't come to Alton Towers next week, Sophie. Harriet says you'll be filming. Never mind, next time, eh?’ And with that he walked back to the house.

  Alton Towers? What was he talking about? I glanced at Ally and Harriet. They were looking mortified.

  ‘Alton Towers!’ I said, my skin feeling suddenly hot and prickly as I processed what Mr Chase had just said. ‘Are you two going to Alton Towers?’

  Harriet blushed. ‘Yes. We were going to tell you, Soph – we only just decided yesterday.’

  ‘We knew you wouldn't be able to come, that's why we didn't ring you,’ Ally said.

  My stomach felt like it had just dropped down a lift shaft. I couldn't believe it. Ally, Harriet and I had been talking about going to Alton Towers together for ages. We'd even planned the rides we would go on. Now they were going without me! Hurt overwhelmed me.

  Harriet saw my face. ‘I think I'll just go and help Dad with the sandwiches,’ she stammered, looking very embarrassed.

  ‘I'll help too,’ Ally said hastily, also jumping to her feet.

  I stared after them. I couldn't believe it. How could they?

  Issy leaned forward. ‘God, did you see what Harriet's dad was wearing?’ she said in an undertone. ‘I mean, how sad? Does he really think it's cool to go around wearing a T-shirt with the name of a band that no one's heard of?’

  I didn't reply. I was still reeling with hurt and shock.

  ‘Imagine having your dad dressed like that,’ Issy went on. ‘It must be so embarrassing. It's no wonder Harriet's a fashion disaster herself – turquoise shorts… I mean, pur-lease!’

  Despite myself I giggled. Part of me felt mean laughing, but right at the moment I was so upset by Harriet and Ally's behaviour that I didn't care.

  ‘Surely she can see how awful she looks,’ Issy went on. ‘She and her dad. I mean, don't they have any mirrors?’ She snickered. ‘Probably not. The house is really skanky too.’

  I stopped laughing. Issy had gone too far. But before I could say anything in Harriet's defence, someone else spoke.

  ‘You cow, Sophie!’

  I swung round. Ally was holding a tray of drinks and crisps, a look of outrage on her face.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ally dumped the tray on the grass. ‘How dare you laugh at Harriet and her dad and her house!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘I wasn't,’ I protested. ‘Ally –’

  ‘I don't want to hear it,’ Ally interrupted. ‘You're both horrible! You and your stuck-up friend!’ She pointed to Issy.

  Issy got to her feet. ‘Me?’

  ‘Yes, you!’ Ally retorted. ‘You might be famous, but you're a snobby, stuck-up –’

  ‘Ally!’ I exclaimed.

  ‘Just leave her,’ Issy said grabbing my arm. ‘Come on. Let's go back to yours, Soph.’

  ‘Let's go back to yours, Soph,’ Ally mimicked Issy's voice. ‘Yeah, go on, Sophie. You go off with her.’ Anger blazed in her eyes. ‘It's obvious Harriet and I aren't good enough for you any more! You never ring us or come and see us. We're just not famous enough, are we?’

  Just then Harriet came out of the house. ‘What's happening?’ she demanded in astonishment.

  I looked from her to Ally. I was desperate to explain that it had all just been a mistake, to say that, yes, I had been horrible, but it was only because I was feeling hurt. But that would mean admitting to Harriet what Issy and I had been saying.

  ‘Come on!’ Issy insisted, pulling my arm. She glared at Ally. ‘I'm not going to stay here and be insulted.’

  ‘Good,’ Ally said. ‘Cos we don't want you to stay. Go off and have little snobby mean talks.’ She linked arms with Harriet. ‘We don't want you here – either of you.’

  ‘Well, that's just fine by us!’ I said, feeling angry myself as I saw what a united twosome they made. ‘Come on, Issy!’

  We marched up the garden and out of the gate.

  ‘Who does she think she is?’ Issy raged as we left. ‘Talking to me like that? I can't believe she's your friend.’

  ‘Ex-friend,’ I said angrily.

  But as we started to walk back to mine, my temper cooled and I began to feel distinctly shaky. How could I have laughed about Harriet like that? I felt awful – mean and disloyal. My cheeks flushed as I saw Ally's face in my mind as she overheard. The feeling was almost too much to bear. I was horrible – horrible! I wanted to run back straight away and apologize, but my feet just kept walking along the street. I couldn't go back. Not now.

  ‘You don't need friends like that,’ Issy told
me. ‘They're just jealous because they've got such sad boring lives. You should forget about them.’

  I nodded. I wanted to believe it. But I couldn't. It was Ally and Harriet we were talking about.

  Issy smiled. ‘It'll be much more fun just the two of us today. You'll see.’

  Mum was really surprised when we got home so early. ‘What's happened?' she said. ‘I thought you were sleeping over at the Chases' house.’ She looked at my face. ‘Have you had an argument with Ally and Harriet?’

  ‘No,’ I lied, not wanting to have to talk about it. ‘Issy and I just thought we'd rather stay here.’

  Mum looked at me closely, but then, to my relief, she dropped the subject. ‘So, what are you planning to do for the rest of the afternoon?’ she asked.

  I shrugged.

  ‘Well, how about giving me a hand?’ Mum suggested. ‘I've got three Persian cats who need grooming and four guinea pigs to clean out. Fancy coming to help me?’

  ‘OK,’ Issy and I agreed.

  We spent the rest of the afternoon helping Mum. I had a feeling that Issy was quite bored. She groomed the cats but only for a few minutes and then she spent the rest of the time sunbathing while I cleaned out the guinea pigs. Afterwards we dropped some of Mum's leaflets in at people's houses and then we set up my bedroom for our sleepover.

  It felt very strange having a sleepover without Ally or Harriet. Issy wanted to read Jessica's magazines and put make-up on. She had brought some CDs with her so we played them and made up some dance routines. It was fun, but I did miss slobbing around and stuffing my face the way I usually did with the others.

  Still, Issy seemed to enjoy herself. ‘We've got to do this again,’ she said as we finally went to bed. ‘It's been fun.’

  I nodded, but I couldn't stop thinking about Ally and Harriet. It had never been the two of them against me. It was a horrible lonely feeling. Maybe if I rang them in the morning and apologized, we could make up and forget about it.

  But what about Alton Towers? A lump swelled in my throat. It was no use. Even if I apologized, it didn't change the fact that our friendship had changed. It wasn't the three of us any more. It was them and me.

  Turning my face into the pillow, hot tears prickled down my cheeks.