Centre Stage: A Novel

hockey pitch, I caught Harriet’s arm. ‘You’ve got a bra!’ I whispered.
    She looked embarrassed. ‘Yeah — so?’
    ‘When? Why didn’t you tell me?’
    ‘I got it on Saturday. I went into town.’
    ‘But who with?’ My eyes widened. ‘Not your dad?’ Harriet’s mum and dad are divorced and she hardly ever sees her mum. She gets on really well with her dad but going to buy a bra with him — no, that would just be too embarrassing.
    ‘I went on my own,’ she said. ‘Dad dropped me off at Marks & Spencer — he had some stuff to get at B & Q and he let me go shopping there. I used my allowance.’
    I stared at her. I would have thought she would have been way too embarrassed to go and get a bra on her own. I certainly would have been — particularly in a place like Marks & Spencer. The underwear department there is seriously scary, with all sorts of lace and satin and lots of women wandering around.
    ‘I can’t believe you went on your own,’ I said. I was struck by a practicality. ‘How did you know what size to get?’
    ‘I didn’t,’ Harriet confessed, ‘I was about to guess when this sales lady came up to me and asked me if I wanted to be measured.’
    I stared at her in horror. ‘What did you say?’ I squeaked.
    ‘I said yes.’ Harriet blushed. ‘It was really embarrassing but at least it meant I got the right size.’
    I stared at her. It was as if the Harriet I knew had disappeared in front of my eyes. This was a new Harriet, a different one.
    ‘It’s not such a big deal,’ Harriet said, looking awkward.
    Not a big deal! To go into a underwear department on your own to buy a bra and to be measured by a sales lady. I was almost struck dumb with astonishment. Almost but not quite. ‘Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you tell me and Ally?’
    Harriet shrugged. ‘I didn’t see the point.’
    We reached the hockey field. ‘Come on, girls. Stop dawdling!’ Miss Fraser strode towards us. ‘We haven’t got all day. Warm up with a lap round the field, and no walking or you’ll be going round twice!’
    At lunchtime I really wanted to talk to Ally about it. There was just one problem: I couldn’t exactly talk to her with Harriet there. However, to my relief, Harriet gave me the opportunity herself.
    ‘I’ve got some wine gums in my coat pocket,’ she said, as we left the dining hall. ‘Shall I go and get them?’
    ‘Yeah!’ I said, seizing the chance to speak to Ally on her own.
    ‘We’ll come with you,’ Ally said to Harriet.
    ‘No,’ I said quickly, grabbing her arm. ‘Let’s wait here. It’s such a nice day.’ Of course that excuse would have worked better if it had actually been a nice day.
    Ally stared at the grey clouds lowering overhead. ‘It is?’ she said.
    ‘I need some fresh air,’ I said hastily. ‘Stay with me, Ally. You don’t mind, do you Harriet?’
    ‘No, that’s fine,’ Harriet said, thankfully not seeming to see the meaningful looks I was shooting at Ally. ‘I’ll be back in a few minutes.’
    She set off.
    Ally looked at me curiously. ‘So what’s going on?’
    ‘It’s Harriet,’ I said, lowering my voice. ‘Did you know she’s got a…’
    I stopped as Eve came running up to us.
    ‘Ally, I’ve been looking for you! You’ll never guess what. Matthew’s just asked me out!’
    ‘What?’ Ally squealed. ‘What did you say?’
    ‘Yes, of course!’ Eve replied. ‘We’re going out at the weekend to the cinema.’ She grinned. ‘This could work out so well. After all, who’s Matthew’s best friend?’
    ‘Nathan!’ Ally said.
    ‘Yeah!’ Eve exclaimed. ‘Maybe he’ll ask you out and we can go on a double date or something.’
    ‘Ohmigod!’ Ally squeaked. ‘That would be perfect!’
    They began to chatter away about Nathan and Matthew. I couldn’t join in so I just sat on the wall and waited for Harriet.
    ‘You’re quiet,’ Jessica said as we walked home together. ‘What’s up?’
    ‘Nothing,’ I muttered.
    ‘Are you sure?’ Jess probed.
    ‘It’s just Harriet — and Ally,’ I confessed. ‘Things are odd at the moment. There’s these girls picking on Harriet and she’s getting upset by it and —’ I hesitated; this was going to sound really dumb — ‘well, Ally’s got a new friend in her class and she seems to have less and less time to spend with Harriet and me.’
    I half expected Jessica to laugh and tell me to stop being so stupid but she didn’t. She looked at me