Centre Stage: A Novel

sympathetically. ‘Things change at secondary school,’ she said. ‘People do start making new friends and acting differently.’
    ‘But I don’t like it,’ I told her.
    ‘Tough,’ she said, smiling wryly. ‘It’s the way things are, Soph. Stuff changes as you get older. You’ve just got to get used to it.’
    ‘I guess,’ I mumbled.
    Dumping my school bag I went upstairs. After changing out of my school uniform, I picked up the script of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that was lying on my desk and sat down on my bed with it.
    I turned to the page where Lucy has her first lines and read through it. As the words entered my brain, I shut my eyes. It was like entering a different world. A world that felt certain, secure. I knew what would happen in the play, I knew what I was supposed to do.
    I sighed. Why couldn’t real life be as straightforward?

Chapter Twelve
    Over the next two weeks things didn’t get any better. Kelly kept on teasing Harriet, and Ally hung around with Eve more and more. All the two of them ever seemed to talk about was Matthew and Nathan.
    ‘Sophie. You’ll never guess what!’ Ally came running up to meet me at the bus stop. ‘Eve rang last night.’ She dropped her voice to an excited hiss. ‘She went out with Matthew again and he said Nathan really really likes me and that he’s thinking of asking me out.’
    ‘That’s great,’ I said, forcing a smile. I was feeling really tired. I hadn’t been able to sleep much the night before. I’d been too wound up thinking about the dances. A fortnight might have passed but I still hadn’t got any better at dancing and it was really getting me down. I’d tried talking to Harriet about it but she couldn’t seem to see why I didn’t just ask for help. ‘It’s stupid,’ she kept saying. ‘No one expects you to be perfect.’
    But they did. She just didn’t understand.
    I definitely wasn’t looking forward to the rehearsal that night. How many times was I going to mess up this time?
    ‘When do you think he’s going to ask me out?’ Ally said, her eyes excited. ‘Maybe we could go on a double date with Eve and Matthew. It would be perfect!’
    ‘Hi.’ I looked round and saw Harriet walking towards us. I frowned. She looked different.
    ‘Hi!’ Ally exclaimed. ‘You’ll never guess what!’
    As she relayed her news, I studied Harriet. What was it that was making her look different? ‘Your trousers!’ I exclaimed, interrupting Ally in mid-flow. ‘You’ve got new trousers, Harriet.’
    ‘And shoes,’ Ally said, suddenly noticing too. ‘They’ve got heels!’
    Harriet looked embarrassed. ‘I… er, got them yesterday after school — and the trousers.’
    I stared. ‘Why?’
    ‘I just felt like it.’ Harriet’s cheeks started to go pink.
    ‘You look really nice,’ Ally said. She frowned. ‘Have you got make-up on?’
    ‘Just a bit of lip gloss and… um, a bit of mascara,’ Harriet muttered.
    Ally and I stared at her.
    ‘It’s no big deal,’ she said quickly. ‘Anyway, here’s the bus. Come on!’
    Ally and I exchanged looks and followed her to the queue of people. No big deal? Who was Harriet trying to kid? She never wore make-up to school. And what was with the new trousers and shoes?
    I had a horrible sinking feeling inside. I was sure I knew the answer. It had to be because of Kelly.
    It was odd. Ally and I trying to persuade Harriet to dress like everyone else at the beginning of term was all right, but Harriet changing her clothes — and wearing make-up — because she was being picked on by Kelly was totally different.
    ‘I know!’ Ally exclaimed as we sat down. ‘It’s Ben, isn’t it?’ She looked as if she had just cracked some very puzzling code.
    ‘Ben?’ Harriet looked confused.
    ‘He’s the reason you’re wearing make-up and have got new clothes, isn’t he?’ Ally said triumphantly. ‘It’s a quiz practice day.’
    I could almost see the thoughts flying across Harriet’s face. ‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘That’s right. It’s because of Ben.’
    But there was something in her eyes that just told me she was lying.
    Ally grinned at her. ‘Cool! So do you really thinks he likes you?’
    ‘Well, he does talk to me quite a bit,’ Harriet admitted. ‘Last week he said he hopes we both make it on to the actual team. The team’s being selected on Thursday.’
    ‘So you got new trousers and shoes because of Ben?’ I said disbelievingly.
    ‘Yes.’ Harriet avoided