Centre Stage: A Novel

started to say.
    ‘I’ve got to go to the bathroom,’ I blurted out and I hurried to the door that led to the toilets.
    Sally and Natalie, two of the really good dancers, were standing by the sinks adjusting their hair. ‘That was OK, wasn’t it?’ I heard Sally say as I quickly shut myself in one of the cubicles. ‘I forgot a few bits but it wasn’t that bad for a first run-through of all those dances.’
    ‘No,’ Natalie agreed. ‘And Dizzy seemed pleased.’
    I rested my head against the cold plastic door and wished I could be them. I had made so many mistakes. What was Dizzy going to say to me? I began to wish I could stay in the cubicle for ever.
    I stayed there until I was sure the drinks’ break was over. When I sidled back into the auditorium Dizzy had already started going through the first dance — the one I wasn’t in — taking each sequence of steps slowly and making sure that everyone was moving in time.
    Colette was sitting with Jack and Mark but I couldn’t bring myself to go and join them. I sat down by myself. Oh help, what was I going to do?

Chapter Eleven
    ‘I bet it wasn’t that bad,’ Ally said to me the next morning on the bus as I told her and Harriet about how awful the rehearsal had been. ‘I know the trick Justine played was really mean but I bet your dancing was OK really.’
    ‘It wasn’t,’ I replied gloomily. ‘Even without the socks I made loads of mistakes.’
    ‘Can’t you just ask for more help?’ Harriet said.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Why not?’ Harriet frowned.
    ‘I just can’t.’ I tried to explain. ‘Everyone expects me to be good. You know, having been in a film. They’ll think I’m really stupid.’
    ‘But you didn’t have to dance in the film,’ Harriet pointed out. ‘Sophie, it’s silly not asking for help if you need it just because of what other people might think. Isn’t it better to ask for help rather than just to go on making mistakes?’
    ‘Yes… no…’ I could just imagine how Samantha and Justine would laugh if Dizzy gave me extra help. And then there were Colette and Jack and Mark. What would they think? ‘It’s not that easy.’
    ‘It is that easy.’ Harriet frowned. ‘Just ask for help.’
    ‘I bet you’re just stressing about nothing,’ Ally said airily. ‘You’ll be fine. I’m really looking forward to coming to see it. Mum said she’s going to buy tickets for the first night.’
    ‘Dad’s getting me and Emily tickets for the first night too,’ Harriet said. ‘We should make sure we get seats near to each other.’
    ‘But I don’t know if I’ll be performing on the first night yet,’ I said quickly. ‘It depends which team’s the best.’
    ‘It’s going to be your team,’ Ally said. ‘There’s no way Justine’s going to be chosen over you.’
    ‘Yeah,’ Harriet agreed. ‘You’re loads better than Justine.’
    Hadn’t they been listening to a word I’d been saying? ‘But…’
    Ally interrupted. ‘So, anyway, how did Tom’s band do at the weekend? Did the guy from the Junction like them?’
    I gave up trying to talk about the play. They just didn’t understand. ‘Yeah,’ I replied. Tom had been really excited when he’d got in from the gig. I’d been in bed but he, Jessica, Mum and Dad had made such a noise in the kitchen that I’d gone downstairs. ‘He’s asked them to play in December.’
    ‘Oh wow!’ Ally gasped, causing the people in front of us to glance round curiously. She ignored them. ‘That’s so cool! We have to go and watch them.’
    ‘Small problem — we’re not fourteen,’ I pointed out.
    ‘We could look it if we put lots of make-up on,’ Ally said.
    ‘Yeah, right,’ I said. I’m sorry but what planet was she on? There was about as much chance of the bouncers at the Junction believing that we were all fourteen as there was of me being able to dance perfectly by the time the play opened. In other words, no chance at all.
    Before lunch we had PE. As Harriet pulled off her trousers I saw that she had different knickers on from usual. They were plain white, but they were high leg ones just like me and Ally and most other people wore. I stared. I’d never seen Harriet wearing knickers like that before.
    It wasn’t the only surprise in store for me. As Harriet unbuttoned her school shirt I saw that she was wearing a bra. Not a crop top. A bra!
    I didn’t want to say anything in the changing room with people like Kelly listening but as soon as we set off for the