Centre Stage: A Novel

her.
    ‘Fine, thanks,’ he said politely.
    ‘Did you get into the quiz team?’ Kelly asked.
    Ben nodded.
    ‘Cool!’ Kelly smiled. ‘I’ll have to come and watch you in the competition.’
    ‘Sure,’ Ben said. ‘The more supporters the better.’ He glanced at Harriet. ‘Harriet’s in the team too,’ he said warmly.
    ‘Oh right,’ Kelly said, sounding distinctly less impressed.
    ‘Anyway, see you around,’ Ben said. ‘I’d better go.’ He smiled at Harriet. ‘Bye, Harriet. See you at the next practice.’
    ‘Bye,’ Harriet said, but her voice was quiet and I could see the happiness had vanished from her face.
    Ben walked off.
    Rachel and Leanne came over and Kelly turned to Harriet. ‘So you’re in the quiz team?’
    Harriet nodded warily.
    ‘That must mean you know the answers to loads of questions.’ Kelly grinned. ‘So what’s a jock strap, then?’ she asked.
    ‘I-I don’t know,’ Harriet stammered, looking uncomfortable.
    Kelly, Leanne and Rachel hooted with laughter.
    I glared at them. ‘Come on,’ I said to Harriet.
    ‘You really don’t know what a jock strap is?’ Kelly said incredulously.
    ‘How about a wedgie?’ Rachel said. ‘Do you know what that is?’
    They were making so much noise that people were looking at us now. Harriet blushed hotly. ‘N-No.’
    ‘But you’re supposed to be brainy,’ Kelly said. ‘After all, you’re on the quiz team.’
    I’d had enough. ‘Shut up, Kelly.’
    ‘Or what?’ Kelly turned on me. ‘You think you’re really cool just because you’ve been in a film and you’re in this stupid play thing. Well, no one’s impressed, you know, Sophie.’
    ‘Good,’ I said, shrugging. ‘I don’t care what other people think.’
    Kelly looked angry. ‘You’re such a bighead!’
    ‘It’s better than being a loser like you.’ I looked at her scornfully. ‘Get a life, Kelly. You’re just pathetic!’ I grabbed Harriet’s arm. ‘Come on, let’s go.’
    She seemed frozen with embarrassment. As I half dragged her away I saw her eyes brimming with humiliated tears. I pulled her into the nearest girls’ toilets.
    Luckily they were empty apart from a few Year Nine girls putting their make-up on. They glanced over but seeing that we were just Year Sevens ignored us.
    ‘Are you OK?’ I asked Harriet. Stupid question. I’d never seen her looking less OK in her life.
    ‘Why do they have to be so mean?’ Harriet said in a trembling voice.
    ‘They’re just idiots,’ I said. ‘You’ve got to ignore them.’
    ‘But I can’t.’ A big tear plopped out of Harriet’s eye and on to her cheek.
    ‘You’ve got to,’ I told her desperately. ‘They won’t stop unless you do.’
    Harriet wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. I wished I knew what else to say.
    The second bell rang. ‘We should get to History,’ I told her as the other girls left.
    Harriet sniffed.
    ‘Are you going to be all right?’
    She nodded. ‘Yeah,’ she said, almost in a whisper and, biting her lip, she followed me to class.
    Harriet hardly said a word for the rest of the day. She didn’t answer a single question in History, usually one of her favourite subjects. She just stared at her desk looking miserable.
    At going home time, she walked quickly to the cloakroom. I followed her, wishing I could cheer her up. ‘I bet your dad’s going to be pleased you got a place on the quiz team,’ I said as we put our coats on.
    She nodded but didn’t say anything.
    ‘So when’s the first round of the competition?’ I asked.
    ‘The first week of December,’ Harriet muttered.
    Kelly came towards the cloakroom.
    ‘I’m going to the loo,’ Harriet said quickly, and she darted out of the cloakroom and into the girls’ toilets opposite. I was about to follow her when I saw Ally coming down the corridor.
    ‘Hi,’ she said, bouncing over. ‘Where’s Harriet?’
    ‘In the toilets,’ I replied. I seized my chance. ‘I need to talk to you about her. She’s really ups—’
    ‘Bye, Ally. See you on Saturday!’ a girl from Ally’s class interrupted.
    ‘Yeah, see you, Michelle,’ Ally called. She grinned at me. ‘This party on Saturday’s going to be cool! I’m going to get ready at Eve’s house.’
    ‘I know,’ I said briefly. ‘Look, Ally, I’ve got to talk to you. It’s important.’
    ‘Bye, Claire,’ Ally called, waving to another friend over my shoulder. ‘See you tomorrow! Sorry, what did you say?’ she said distractedly to