Centre Stage: A Novel

isn’t it?’ she said. ‘And you’ve got school tomorrow. Come on, let’s go home.’
    ‘It’s going to be really strange being interviewed,’ I said to Ally and Harriet the next day as we sat on the wall at breaktime.
    ‘Yeah,’ Harriet said. ‘But I guess you’re going to have to get used to it. When the film comes out you’re probably going to be asked to do loads of interviews.’
    ‘Maybe you’ll be on TV,’ Ally said. ‘You know, something like SMTV.’
    Weird! But I knew she was right. I really could be on telly. I felt like pinching myself. It was hard to believe how much my life had changed in the last few months. I opened my mouth, about to admit to Ally and Harriet how worried I felt about people coming to watch me thinking I was going to be perfect, but just then Eve came over and I changed my mind.
    ‘Hi,’ she said, smiling at us all. ‘Ally, I’ve just seen Nikita, you know, the sixth former who organizes the art club. We’re doing papier mâché or something this lunchtime and she said she needs help tearing up lots of newspaper. I’m going to go and give her a hand — do you want to come?’
    ‘OK,’ Ally replied, jumping off the wall.
    ‘Matthew’s helping too — and Nathan,’ Eve told her.
    ‘Cool!’ Ally exclaimed.
    Eve grinned. ‘I thought you might think that!’
    So Ally had told Eve about liking Nathan. I’d thought only Harriet and I knew. The thought of Ally talking to Eve and sharing secrets made me feel decidedly odd.
    ‘See you later,’ Ally called to Harriet and me, and she hurried off with Eve in the direction of the Art block.
    For a moment, neither Harriet or I said anything. I had the distinct feeling that Harriet was feeling just as strange as I was about watching Ally and Eve go off together.
    ‘Well… um, fancy testing me on quiz questions?’ Harriet said at last.
    ‘Sure,’ I shrugged, trying to stop thinking about Ally having a new friend.
    ‘So, how’s the quiz club going?’ I asked as she rummaged in her bag and pulled out her quiz book.
    Harriet’s eyes lit up. ‘I love it! It’s such fun, you learn loads and everyone’s really nice.’
    I smiled. ‘Especially someone whose name begins with B?’
    Harriet went pink. ‘I really like him. He’s so clever and…’
    I nudged her quickly. ‘Ssh!’
    Ben was walking along the path towards us.
    ‘Say hello when he comes past!’ I hissed.
    Harriet started to shake her head. ‘No! I can’t!’
    ‘Go on!’ I insisted.
    Harriet took a deep breath but just as she opened her mouth, Kelly, Leanne and Rachel came up the path in the other direction.
    ‘Ben,’ Kelly said. ‘Hi!’ Leaving Leanne and Rachel, she hurried over to him.
    ‘Oh, hi, Kelly,’ Ben said. Phew! He didn’t sound that delighted to see her.
    ‘How are you?’ Kelly asked, smiling up at him.
    She was pretty but, to my relief, Ben just gave a half smile back. ‘Fine, thanks. Look, I’ve… er, really got to —’
    ‘Have you been doing much sailing?’ Kelly interrupted him.
    ‘Yeah, a bit,’ he answered. He spoke politely but his eyes flickered around as if he wanted to get away.
    ‘Have you seen that new movie with Brad Pitt in, the one where he tries to sail across that ocean?’
    ‘No,’ he replied.
    ‘Neither have I.’ Kelly ran her fingers through her hair and looked at him hopefully. When he didn’t say anything, she added, ‘Maybe we could go together?’
    ‘Maybe. Look, I’ve really got go,’ Ben said quickly. ‘See you around, Kelly.’ He hurried past her — and us.
    Disappointment crossed Kelly’s face.
    Leanne and Rachel hurried up to her. ‘Did you ask him out?’ Leanne asked.
    ‘Sort of,’ Kelly said. ‘But he didn’t say anything. He just dashed off.’ She tossed her hair back. ‘Oh well, he’s not the only boy in this school.’
    ‘Yeah, forget him,’ Rachel advised.
    Kelly nodded. ‘Let’s go in.’
    Suddenly she caught sight of Harriet and me. ‘What are you looking at?’ she demanded, and I could see her realizing that we must have heard her whole conversation with Ben.
    I just shrugged but Harriet went red. ‘Nothing,’ she stammered.
    Kelly looked her up and down. ‘Love the socks, Harriet!’ she said sarcastically.
    ‘So cool!’ Leanne said with a giggle.
    Harriet was wearing a pair of old socks — navy blue but with I love ponies written round the ankle in red writing. She’d had them since about Year Four.
    ‘It’s the way your trousers stop