‘Girls!’ Gallo’s voice is sharp. ‘Find yourselves a seat and sit down. Now!’
I push Bella forward. ‘I’m not sitting next to her,’ I hiss in her ear. ‘You sit down first, then I’ll sit on the other side of you, ’kay?’
‘Fine,’ Bella hisses back. ‘No need to get your knickers in a knot. It’s only for one class.’
Gallo waits till we’ve got ourselves sorted, then goes back to talking about the rules for writing argumentative essays. She writes a few topics on the whiteboard and asks us all to pick one to work on for the rest of the lesson.
I sneak a look at the topic Lexi’s chosen: ‘Sport should be compulsory in schools.’ Normally I’d disagree with this statement strongly. I used to hate exercise. I figured all that running around just made you sweaty and hot, and your hair all manky. But ever since I read that diet book Paige gave me, and discovered how many calories you can burn up doing different activities, exercise has become my friend.
So I copy Lexi and choose it for my topic as well. I write the words in capital letters across the top of my page, then rule a vertical line underneath, like Gallo showed us how to do. I’m just filling in my third argument on the ‘for’ side when Gallo asks us to put our pens down. She’s got something exciting to tell us, she says.
‘You getting married, miss?’ Nick calls out.
Gallo blushes. ‘Put your hand up before you speak next time please, Nicholas,’ she tells him, drawing out the last syllable so that it rhymes with brass.
A few of the other guys snort. Now it’s Nick’s turn to blush.
Gallo presses on before anyone else interrupts her. ‘Okay. Now. What I was going to tell you is that the music and English departments have decided to put on a play this term. And you lot will all be the stars.’
‘You’re kidding.’ This time it’s Jack calling out.
Gallo gives him one of her looks.
‘Sorry, miss,’ Jack says, then raises his hand.
Gallo: Yes, Jack?
Jack: What kind of play, miss?
Gallo: Something good. Different.
Then everyone wants to know stuff. Gallo forgets about the hand rule and just lets us talk.
Bella: Can we do Romeo and Juliet, miss?
Stacey: Yeah! Can we? I want to be Juliet.
Nick [in a high girly voice]: No way. I want to be Juliet.
Paige: Let him, miss. That way we get to watch him die.
Me: Horribly.
Nick [shocked]: Does Juliet die?!
Paige: Duh.
Me: Idiot.
Nick: Forget it. I’ll be Romeo then.
Bella: Romeo dies too, you moron.
Nick: He does?
Gallo [holding up her hands]: Okay, everyone, that’s enough. Before you get too carried away, we will not be doing Romeo and Juliet. Okay?
Bella [pouting]: Awww. But it’s so sad …
Paige: So what play are we going to do?
Me: Yeah, miss, tell us!
Gallo: It’s something the Year 11s wrote. A musical, actually. Called Drac.
Everyone else: [Stunned silence] Gallo: Drac? As in Count Dracula? It’s about vampires.
Everyone else: Cool!
And then of course all the jokers in the class – which is most of the guys – decide to do vampire impersonations, flapping their arms around and baring their fangs and saying stupid stuff like, ‘I vant to drink your bluuudd’ to all the girls. No way does Gallo have a chance of getting them to shut up again after that. They’re still doing it when the bell rings for the end of first period.
‘So what do you reckon about this play thing then?’ Paige asks us.
We’re sitting in our usual out-of-class spot – one of the benches that borders the school footy field. It’s perfect, especially now it’s starting to get a bit warmer. We’re sheltered from the worst of the weather by a row of old trees, and there’s a great view of hot talent running around only metres away. I don’t know what gene guys were given that makes them want to run around kicking or throwing balls at recess and lunchtimes. I’m just glad I didn’t get it. Exercise is only okay as long as it’s done in the privacy of your own room, where no-one else can see you getting all hot and sweaty.
‘I think it sounds great,’ Stacey says, beaming around at us all. Sitting next to Paige and Jayde for two whole classes has obviously given her a big head. It’s like she just voted herself into the shiny group. Which is so not fair. It just doesn’t work like that. As soon as the recess bell went she followed us, first to our lockers and now out to our bench. She’s like a human vacuum cleaner. There’s been major sucking up going on ever since we sat down.
Paige looks unsure. But for once I agree with Stacey.
‘Come on,’ I say. ‘What’s not to like? Remember how much fun we had doing that dance act for the camp concert last term?’
‘Yeah, that was kind of cool,’ Paige says, thinking back. ‘Do you reckon there’ll be any dancing in Drac?’
‘Oh, for sure,’ I tell her. We’d found out a lot more about how it was all going to work in the second part of our English class. We don’t have a specialised drama department at our school, so it was going to be a joint production by a few of the English teachers and Mr C, our music teacher. You could audition for either a singing or speaking role, or to play in the band. There’s sure to be dancing too. ‘What’s not to like?’
‘So you’re going to try out then?’ Paige asks me.
‘Sure,’ I tell her.
‘For a major role, or just the chorus?’
‘I’ll go for one of the main roles. Why not? I probably won’t get it, though.’
Stacey wriggles along the bench a bit so that she’s sitting closer to me. ‘You might,’ she tells me. ‘You’ve got a great voice, Alysha.’
‘Yeah,’ adds Bella. ‘Remember how well you and your old friends did in that Starsearch competition?’
‘Oh, that,’ I say, pleased and a little surprised that she’s remembered our act.
Starsearch had been ages ago, in first term. Back when I was still hanging out with Mia and Lexi in Pink HQ. And then I realise something. They’ll probably try out for a major role too. Maybe not Mia. She and Michi are both in youth orchestra. They might want to play in the band. But Lexi … she’s definitely going to want a singing part.
Wouldn’t that be painful? Lexi and me trying out for the same role …
Yeah, well, so what? I can sing way better than Lexi Sportypants Miller.
Bring it on, I reckon. Bring it on.
Chapter 4
monday lunchtime
We’re sitting on our bench, watching Zac Raftos and Tai Sumner kicking a ball around the oval with some other hot Year 9 guys, when Stacey turns up. Again.
‘Hi,’ she says brightly. She stands there, shifting her weight from foot to foot, a pathetic smile plastered on her face. It’s obvious she’s waiting for one of us to ask her to sit down.
Paige and Jayde trade meaningful glances. Then Paige nudges Bella.
‘Hi, Stacey,’ Bella drawls. She pats the empty space beside her.
Stacey flashes Bella a grateful smile, and squeezes in between her and Paige. She wriggles around for a bit, and starts unpacking her lunch from a large paper bag.
‘Oh, cool,’ she says in her breathy voice, unwrapping a thick sandwich and waving it around. ‘Tuna. I love tuna.’
Paige wrinkles her nose and leans away from her. ‘Eeuw,’ she says. ‘That is so disgusting. Put it away, yeah?’
Stacey returns the sandwich to her bag and pulls out a muesli bar instead. ‘Sorry,’ she says.
After a few bites, though, she realises that no-one else is eating and stops.
I try not to look at the half-eaten bar in her hand. I would kill for a couple of bites. The sandwich too, even if it is stinky tuna. But then I remember the photo of Mathilde Carr on my bedroom wall and push the hunger pangs back down again. I’ve still got a long way to go before my hips look like hers.
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‘So what did you guys all have for lunch?’ Stacey asks.
Jayde rolls her eyes.
‘I don’t eat lunch,’ Paige tells Stacey.
‘Me neither,’ I say, stifling a yawn.
Stacey opens her mouth to say something, but closes it again. She slowly returns the muesli bar to the paper bag, folds the top over carefully, and places it on the ground near her feet. ‘I’m not that hungry either,’ she says.
Welcome to shinydom, I think. I still can’t work out why Paige and Jayde are letting her hang around with us. Stacey’s not even that pretty. And it’s a good thing she trashed her lunch – she definitely needs to drop a few kilos.
We all sit there for a bit, staring out at the oval.
Jayde sighs heavily. ‘We’ve only been back at school for a couple of hours and it sucks already,’ she says. ‘I’m sooo bored.’
‘Oh, me too,’ I agree.
‘Hey, check it out,’ says Paige. I follow her gaze. Zac and Tai and the rest of their mates are finishing up their game. And they’re heading this way. OMG. Zac Raftos is so divine. I’ve got a major crush on him, like most of the girls in my year. I can’t believe he’s coming over here.
Jayde lolls back against the bench and Paige flicks her hair. Bella starts inspecting her nails. I pretend that Stacey’s watch is the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen. No way can we look like we’ve been watching his every move for the last fifteen minutes. That would be so uncool.
Zac stops in front of us. ‘Hey, Jayde,’ he says, tossing a soccer ball from hand to hand. I try not to be too disappointed. Of course it’s going to be Jayde he says hello to. She is so gorgeous.
Jayde peers up at him through half-closed eyes. It’s a trick we read about in a Crave article called 50 Sure-fire Ways to Get Your Guy. It’s supposed to make you look mysterious and sensual. Jayde pulls off the look really well. I practised it a few times in front of our bathroom mirror, like the article said to, but I just looked like I had a really bad squint. Well, that’s what Bec reckoned anyway, when she caught me doing it.
‘Oh, hi, Zac,’ Jayde drawls, like she’s only just noticed he’s there.
‘So, how’ve you been?’ he asks.
Before she can answer, Tai comes over as well. He gives us all a brief smile. Is it my imagination, or did his smile last a bit longer when he was looking at me? Plus a little nod of recognition, like he knew me or something. Weird. I wonder if Paige noticed? I hope not. She’s been crushing on him for ages, and she gets all possessive if other girls like the same guy, even if it’s one-sided. But it looks like he’s not hanging around anyway.
‘You coming, mate?’ he says to Zac. ‘I want to get over to the canteen before all the pies run out.’
‘Yeah, sure,’ Zac tells him. He nods at Jayde. ‘Check you later, ’kay?’
‘’kay,’ Jayde purrs.
She waits till the guys have gone before settling back happily on the bench.
Stacey stares at her.
Stacey: OMG, I can’t believe it. That was Zac Raftos, right?
Jayde: Uh-huh.
Stacey: He is only, like, the hottest guy in school. Jayde: Uh-huh.
Stacey: And he said hi.
Bella [rolling her eyes]: He said hi to Jayde, okay? It’s not exactly the same thing as saying hi to you.
Stacey [dreamily]: Yeah, but he came over, didn’t he? Where I was sitting? And he stood right there.
For a moment I think she’s going to get up and kiss the ground where he was standing or something. What a loser.
I sneak a look over at Jayde to see how she’s taking this, but she’s just sitting there, a smile playing about her lips. Then she gives me a little shove.
Jayde: Hey, Leesh. Get us an ice-cream, yeah?
Paige: Me too.
Bella: Me three.
I shift around uncomfortably on the bench. Why do I always have to be the one who gets stuff? But I don’t want to make a fuss.
Me [big sigh]: What kind?
Paige: Oh, you know, the usual. Something with lots of chocolate.
Jayde: And nuts. Get me one of those almond Magnums, yeah?
Me [holding out my hand]: Okay then. Got some dough?
Jayde [looking hurt]: Jeez, Leesh, I can’t believe you just asked me that. How many times have I bought you something?
None, I think. Well, not that I can remember anyway. But I don’t say anything. I’m in the middle of hauling myself off the bench when Stacey butts in.
Stacey [chirpily]: I’ll go.
Me: Huh?
Stacey: I’ll go and get the ice-creams.
Me: Are you sure?
Stacey: Yeah, yeah. It’s fine. I don’t mind. What kind do you want?
Me [too stunned to think straight]: Umm … whatever.
Stacey: Okay, I’ll get everyone Magnums then. See you in a minnie, okay?
Paige and Jayde: By-eee!
Stacey flashes them a happy grin and then practically skips over to join the queue at the canteen. Wow, what a suck-up. I guess she thinks it will make us like her more or something. Or maybe she’s hoping to bump into Zac while she’s there? Yeah sure, like he’s going to look twice at Stacey.
And then I notice something. A little crowd has gathered on the steps outside the music room. Mr C’s there too, chatting to some of the students. I turn to the others. ‘Hey, look,’ I say. ‘Mr C must have put up the sign-up sheet for the play auditions.’
Bella looks bored. ‘So?’
‘I thought we were all going to sign up?’
‘I’m in,’ Paige says. ‘As long as we get to dance. And get some say in the costumes.’
‘Jayde?’
Jayde shrugs. ‘Sure, dancing would be okay.’
‘Oh, okay then, put my name down too,’ Bella says quickly.
‘How about you go over and add our names for us,’ Jayde says to me, peering over at the canteen queue in case Zac’s still in it.
‘Yeah,’ adds Paige. ‘We’ll wait here for Stace to get back with our ice-creams.’
I turn to Bella. ‘Wanna come with me?’
‘Nah,’ she says. ‘You do it.’
Looks like it’s just me then. By the time I get over to the music room, the sign-up sheet’s half-full. I borrow a pen and start adding our names.
‘Don’t your friends know how to write? Or are they too special to come over themselves and do it?’
I spin round. Lexi’s standing there, smirking at me.
I turn back to the list and continue writing.
‘Too bad we’re not doing Cinderella,’ she goes on. ‘You and the chuck twins could try out for the step-mother and the ugly step-sisters.’
I ignore her. Lexi hates it when you ignore her. It drives her insane.
‘S’pose you think you’re going to get the lead role. Why don’t you just write “Star” next to your name? Come on. You know you want to.’
Doesn’t she ever shut up? I finish writing the last name, then turn round and glare at her.
‘Sure,’ I say. ‘Why wouldn’t I get it? I’ve got the best voice in our year and you know it.’
‘Says who?’
‘Says all the people who voted for me in the Starsearch comp.’
‘Oh, get real, Alysha. They weren’t just voting for you. They were voting for the whole band.’
People are starting to stare at us. I move away from the noticeboard and lower my voice. Lexi follows me.
‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘And who do you think they’ll remember when they think back to that night – the no-talent loser, hiding behind the keyboard? Or the star up front, doing all the work?’
Lexi rolls her eyes. ‘You are just so full of it, Alysha Aronsen,’ she mutters. ‘I don’t know how you manage to walk around without falling over – your head is so big these days.’
‘Yeah, well at least it’s only my head that’s big,’ I snigger, looking pointedly at her bum.
Lexi curls her lip. ‘No wonder none of your old
friends will talk to you anymore.’
I toss my hair. ‘Well, at least I’ve got friends.’
Lexi laughs. ‘Is that what you think Paige and Jayde are? Your friends? They’re just playing with you. As soon as some other little suck-up comes along, they’ll drop you like a hot potato.’
‘You’re just jealous,’ I fire back, ‘that they picked me to be their friend and not you. Remember that night at the mall? When no-one would talk to you? When they wouldn’t even let you sit down?’ I dig around in my memory for some ammunition to hit her with. ‘Remember Jack? Your little crush? Did he talk to you that night? He didn’t even know your name, and he’s in the same class!’
Lexi flushes and goes quiet and limp, like a birthday balloon with all its air let out.
Good. I’m glad. That should get her off my back for a while.
She gives me a long, sad look, then shuffles off over to the peppercorn tree, where no doubt Mia and Michi are waiting to hold her hand.
They all make me sick.
I check my watch. There’s just enough time to go to the loo before first bell. I stroll over to the girls’ toilet block. Paige is already in there, jostling for space at the basin mirror so she can apply a fresh coat of lip gloss. Her face is pale.
‘Where’s Jayde?’ I ask her.
Paige juts her chin towards the end cubicle. Over the noise of multiple flushings from the other cubicles I can hear the unmistakeable sound of someone throwing up.
There goes the ice-cream.
Chapter 5
monday evening
Teachers are such cows. I cannot believe they’ve given us homework on our first day back. Homework that has to be handed in tomorrow. Yeah right, like I’ve got nothing better to do when I get home from school.
Actually, I haven’t got anything better to do. I invited everyone to come over and practise some dance steps, in case we need to do a routine for the Drac audition. But then Paige and Jayde went all mysterious on me and said they had something else on. And Bella had a dental appointment after school. Not that she ever contributes that much anyway. I mean she’s really pretty, and she goes in and out in all the right places, which means all the guys want to talk to her. But she’s got about as much personality as a corn chip.
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