The Secrets Club

by Chris Higgins

  Lofty is made up. ‘Yay! Think I’m in there,’ he says, looking pleased with himself. But it’s not him they’re calling over, it’s me. And my three friends are not the only ones after my blood.

  ‘Dani!’ shouts my grandmother at the top of her voice, looking like she’s about to march on to the field and grab me. ‘Do you think I’ve got nothing better to do with my life than chase after you? Come here this minute!’

  Lissa, Ali and Tash turn to stare at her, open-mouthed. Terry, in alarm, moves over to see what the matter is and takes her by the arm to calm her down. Gran shakes him off.

  ‘I JUST WANT A WORD WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER!’ she roars.

  As I register the shock on Terry’s face – on everyone’s face – I groan. The game’s up. My secret world is imploding. I close my eyes and wait for his voice to order me off the pitch in front of everyone.

  Oh, the shame of it! Can you be arrested for impersonating a boy? You can for impersonating a policeman.

  But then, suddenly, the whistle blows for the start of the second half, and my eyes burst wide open again. What’s the point of worrying about anything or anyone any more? My cover is blown. But until someone tells me to get off this field, I’ve still got a job to do. And if this is the last chance I’m ever going to get to play for a decent team, then I’m going to make the most of it. What have I got to lose?

  I play like a person possessed. I come out attacking and no one can stand in my way. Tank Boy doesn’t stand a chance. Three minutes into the game and I’ve scored.

  Two–one. The crowd goes wild.

  Not long after, an exquisite cross from me (no time for false modesty) allows Ryan to head the ball into the net and take the credit.

  Three–one. I can even hear Gran cheering.

  Then the other team steps up their game. Fifteen minutes of hard play and finally they manage a goal kicked low into the net.

  Three–two.

  They’ve regained their confidence now. We’ve hardly had time to reassemble properly before they’ve done it again with a cheeky header.

  Three all.

  The crowd is behind us, spurring us on. ‘BLACK-ETT! BLACK-ETT! BLACK-ETT!’ It sounds huge, but they’re just a blur.

  I’m on the halfway line. We’ve got to be down to the last few minutes of the game. I take possession of the ball and see Tank Boy bearing down on me and feel a flash of panic. He’s twice the size of me. Get rid of it quick!

  ‘Take your time, Dani! Don’t rush it!’

  It’s strange. I can hear my father’s voice as clear as a bell, like he’s standing here in the crowd, watching me and willing me on. All that practice, all those words of advice he gave me over the years. Calm down, I tell myself. You can do this.

  I size up the distance, the angle, the possibility, just like my dad taught me, then pull my leg back and take an almighty kick at goal. The ball leaves the side of my foot and soars up high into the air and comes down in a perfect arc to rest in the back of the net.

  ‘GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

  AAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’

  Four–three. And my first hat-trick.

  The whistle blows for the end of the game.

  Job done.

  Chapter 26

  I sink to the ground, exhausted. My teammates pile on top of me, yelling and cheering. When they finally let me go I can hardly stand up. Then I discover that some of the crowd have run on to the pitch and want a piece of me too.

  Lissa, Ali and Tash are hanging off my neck, jumping up and down with excitement.

  ‘DAN-NI! DAN-NI! DAN-NI!’ yells Tash.

  ‘We never knew you were that good!’ screams Ali.

  ‘Awesome!’ agrees Lissa, her eyes shining. ‘You’re the best.’

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘We bumped into your mum and Jade this morning in town,’ explains Tash.

  ‘Yeah,’ says Ali. ‘Your mum thought you were with us.’

  ‘Jade fessed up so we all jumped on the train to Blackett to make sure you made it back in time for the hockey trial,’ says Lissa. ‘We’re your police escort.’

  ‘All? You mean …’

  ‘Your mum’s over there. With Jade.’

  I turn to see them on the touchline and breathe a sigh of relief as Mum waves at me. It’s OK, she’s smiling. Beside her, Mr Little gives me the thumbs-up.

  ‘Is that really your gran?’ asks Ali. ‘I thought she was supposed to be a frail old lady.’

  ‘Oh flip!’ Gran is bearing down on me. She doesn’t look in the slightest like a frail old lady; she’s more scary than Tank Boy. But instead of telling me off, she flings her arms round me and hugs me so tight I can’t breathe.

  ‘I’m so proud of you!’ she says.

  Squashed up against her, eyes closed, my nose pressed into her neck, I hear a familiar voice.

  ‘Me too.’

  That’s all he says. But I’d know his voice anywhere. My eyes shoot open.

  It’s my dad. He’s really here.

  Chapter 27

  We make it to the hockey trial just in time.

  Lissa’s right. They are like a police escort. I’m in Dad’s car with Mum, Jade and Gran. Mr Little’s car is in front of us with Lissa, Tash and Ali. Uncle Terry brings up the rear with Ryan, Lofty and Marvyn. Nobody wants to miss it, you see.

  I sit in the passenger seat next to my dad.

  ‘Should’ve told you I was coming,’ he says apologetically. ‘I just came on spec see, cos I knew you’ve been visiting your gran on Saturdays. It’s been a while since I caught up with you and Jade. But when I turned up, there was no one there.’

  ‘I was out looking for her,’ pipes up Gran. ‘I was wondering where she’d got to.’

  ‘I told you to ring Gran and tell her you weren’t coming!’ Mum scolds me from the back seat.

  ‘Sorry!’

  ‘I knew where she’d be though. Playing football with the boys!’ chuckles Gran. ‘She’s a chip off the old block, David.’

  ‘Playing for Blackett, just like your old man!’ Dad shakes his head in disbelief. ‘Who’d have thought it? And Terry Jeeves coaching you! No wonder you’re all so good. He used to be skipper of the Wanderers years ago.’

  ‘They won’t want me playing with them any more,’ I grumble. ‘Not now they know I’m a girl. All thanks to you, Gran.’

  ‘Course they will,’ he chuckles. ‘You’re their star player. You’ve earned your place in that team. They won’t want to see you go.’

  And you know something? Dad’s right. When Terry’s car pulls into Crowley School behind us, Ryan jumps out and comes running over to bang on my window.

  ‘It’s OK,’ he says, breathless with excitement. ‘Uncle Terry says it’s OK. There’s nothing in the rules that says you can’t play for us.’

  ‘D’you still want me to?’ I ask shyly.

  ‘Yeah.’ He looks at me as if I’m mad. ‘Course we do.’

  I look back at my dad and he winks at me. ‘See?’ he says softly. ‘What did I tell you?’

  It’s great to have the boys there cheering me on. Though I suspect the real reason they’re so keen to come along and watch me play hockey is they get to hang out with Ali, Lissa and Tash. It’s awesome to have my three best mates there too, plus Mum and Dad and Jade and Gran and Terry as well. Not to forget Mrs Waters. My very own supporters’ club!

  The game is tough, the standard huge, but hearing them all shouting for me help
s me conquer my nerves. By the end of the game the team I’m on is beaten, two–one, but it was me that scored for our side with a reverse stick shot into the top corner.

  I do it. I get into the Junior Development Centre.

  All my dreams come true in one day! Everyone crowds around, congratulating me.

  ‘Never knew you had such a fan club, Dani,’ says Mrs Waters, laughing. When Uncle Terry tells her the tale of me playing football for Blackett, she can’t believe her ears. Her jaw drops, then she puts her hands on her hips and regards me sternly. Oh flip!

  ‘So what happens now, young lady?’

  ‘What do you mean, Miss?’ I ask, quaking in my boots.

  ‘Well, you’ve got a choice to make. Are you going to be a top-class football player or a top-class hockey player?’

  Everyone is looking at me.

  I gulp. That’s the crucial question. How do I choose between them? I look at my three best friends all waiting for me to reply.

  It’s like asking me to choose between Ali, Tash and Lissa. Which one do I like best? It’s impossible.

  ‘I don’t know,’ I say sadly.

  She bursts out laughing. ‘Don’t look so worried, I’m only teasing you.’

  ‘But, Miss, you’re right. I can’t play both football and hockey, can I?’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because I can’t fit it all in. It was a real rush today and I got a lift. If I have to get a train every week I’ll be late for hockey and –’

  ‘Whoa!’ She holds up both hands. ‘The Junior Development squad meets for training on Monday nights –’

  ‘And we play on Saturdays,’ says Terry.

  ‘So what’s the problem?’ asks Mrs Waters, and they smile at each other.

  ‘There isn’t one,’ I say, smiling too.

  And you know something?

  There really isn’t.

  Chapter 28

  ‘So, Sports Diva Extraordinaire, do you think you can find time to occasionally squeeze us into to your busy life?’ says Lissa sarcastically. But she budges up to let me sit down next to her on the bench, checking out the contents of my lunchbox with interest. ‘Mmm. Swap you my chicken salad wrap for your sponge cake?’

  Monday lunchtime: usual gang, usual place. The Barbies are hanging around, trying to earwig our conversation. They’ve caught wind of what happened at the weekend. They don’t frighten me; I’ve got nothing to hide any more. I give them a dirty look, Lissa-style, and it works. They fade away, affronted.

  ‘I’m not a diva,’ I protest, shielding my slice of cake from her prying fingers. ‘Get your hands off!’

  ‘No, you’re not,’ says Tash. ‘I knew you’d never deliberately let anyone down.’ She, more than anyone, knows what it’s like to try to be in two places at once.

  ‘I don’t know how you got away with it for so long,’ says Lissa admiringly. ‘Didn’t anyone in that football team of yours ever guess that you were a girl?’

  ‘No. Nobody. I was a bit worried about Marvyn after your party but even he didn’t recognize me. Ryan thought I was weird though.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Loads of reasons. But mainly because he saw me putting my football shirt on over my clothes.’ They all look at me in surprise and I explain, ‘Well, I could hardly strip off in front of him, could I?’ and they start giggling.

  ‘Oh, I wish I’d been there,’ says Tash.

  ‘Yeah, why didn’t you tell us?’ asks Ali. ‘We’re your mates.’

  ‘The Gang of Four,’ says Lissa.

  ‘The No Secrets Club,’ says Tash.

  We look at each other and burst out laughing.

  ‘Maybe,’ I point out, ‘it’s time to change our name to the Secrets Club.’

  ‘It’ll be you next, Lissa,’ says Ali, kindly handing her half of her blueberry muffin. ‘What’s your big secret? Here you are, greedy guts. You’re like Oliver, always asking for more.’

  ‘No I’m not,’ says Lissa. ‘It’s just that you lot have nicer treats than I do.’

  ‘Yeah, right,’ I say, raising a suitably sardonic eyebrow. ‘Remember your birthday party?’

  ‘Yes, Elle,’ says Tash meaningfully, and they all start giggling again. I can feel my colour rising.

  ‘I meant the food!’ I protest, but it’s too late.

  ‘Marvyn was quite taken with you that night if I remember rightly,’ Tash persists.

  ‘Yeah, till he found out I was a boy!’ I say, and Lissa chokes, spluttering muffin crumbs everywhere.

  I thump her on the back. ‘It was sooooo embarrassing!’ I admit, recalling Marvyn’s face on Saturday when Danny, lead striker for Blackett Juniors, was finally exposed as Danielle, Year Seven girl from Riverside Academy. I mean, everyone was surprised, but for him it was worse, much worse. Because I could see that the penny had suddenly dropped.

  ‘I don’t know if I should tell you lot this or not …’

  ‘Tell us!’

  ‘No secrets, remember?’

  ‘We-ell … so long as you promise not to tell anyone …’

  ‘Promise!’ cry three voices in unison.

  I take a deep breath, my cheeks aflame. ‘He’d just told everyone in the team that he fancied me. Fancied Elle, I mean. Now he can’t look me in the face.’

  ‘Aaah!’ says Ali.

  ‘Poor Marvyn,’ says Tash.

  ‘OHHHHHHH!!’ Lissa’s wails drown them out. ‘It’s not fair! Everyone I like fancies someone else. Ajay is mad about Tash and now Marvyn fancies you.’

  ‘Not any more, he doesn’t. Anyway, listen: Lofty fancies you!’

  ‘Lofty?’

  ‘The tall one. Mr Little’s son.’

  We all dissolve into laughter as she goes bright red. But, actually, she looks quite pleased.

  ‘And Ryan likes you, Ali.’

  ‘Ryan?’ She smiles and shrugs her shoulders like it’s no big deal.

  ‘Who fancies me?’ asks Tash.

  ‘Everyone!’ we all say and Tash laughs with delight.

  ‘I like Ajay best,’ she admits. ‘Who do you like best, Ali? Ryan or Austen?’

  ‘Austen, of course,’ she says. ‘But not in that way!’ she adds hastily.

  Who do I like best? Marvyn or Rupert? Rupert, definitely.

  I sigh deeply. I’m feeling really happy today. It’s like a cloud has lifted from over my head. I can be honest and open with my three best mates at last. That’s really important to me. Because, although we’re all having a giggle about boys, it’s my girl mates that matter to me most.

  Plus I’ve had a good chat with my dad. We all have. We sat round the table in our kitchen on Saturday night after the matches – Mum, Dad, Gran, Jade and me – and we talked about all the things we should’ve talked about a long time ago. All the things that had been left unsaid. And Mum and Dad both admitted they’d made mistakes in the way they’d handled things over the divorce and agreed that Dad would see far more of us in the future.

  You never know, we might even start going to see West Park Wanderers again.

  When I’ve got time, that is.

  I’m mean, I’m pretty busy these days, what with playing top-class football and hockey …

  And hanging out with the rest of the amazing Secrets Club, of course.

  The Secrets Club

  Alice's and Tash's secrets are out.

  Now Dani's secret is revealed too.

  The friends have promised

  NO M
ORE SECRETS!

  But can they keep to it?

  Are YOU in the Secrets Club? Join up at

  www.secretsclubbooks.com

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