Centre Stage: A Novel

ignored her —’
    ‘But it’s so hard,’ Harriet interrupted.
    ‘It’s not,’ Ally told her. ‘You’ve got to just tell yourself that it doesn’t matter what she thinks.’
    It was my turn to back Ally up. ‘It’s the only way to stop her. It doesn’t matter how much you change yourself, she’ll keep finding something to tease you about.’ I took a deep breath. I didn’t want to start an argument again but I had to say something about the quiz team. ‘It’s like the quiz team. You can turn it down but it won’t stop her picking on you.’
    ‘In fact it’ll probably make her pick on you worse,’ Ally said.
    ‘So I might as well just do it?’ Harriet said slowly.
    Ally and I nodded.
    ‘You’d be really good at it,’ I said.
    ‘And you’d really enjoy it,’ Ally agreed.
    ‘You know you love things like that,’ I added. ‘So trying to pretend you don’t is pointless. I mean, how long are you going to pretend for? One year? Two years? All the way through school? If you go around pretending to be something you’re not, you’ll miss out on all the things you want to do.’
    ‘I guess you’re right,’ Harriet admitted.
    She actually seemed to be seeing sense! ‘It’s stupid trying to be something you’re not just because of what other people expect,’ I declared.
    ‘It is,’ Harriet agreed. She looked at me. ‘So are you going to practise what you preach?’
    ‘What?’ I said, taken aback.
    ‘Are you going to follow your own advice?’
    ‘What are you talking about?’ I asked.
    ‘Sophie!’ Harriet shook her head in disbelief. ‘You keep going on about how stressful your rehearsals are. Have you stopped to think it’s maybe because you’re trying to be like other people want you to be?’
    ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ I stammered.
    ‘Well, from what you’ve said you seem to think that everyone expects you to be perfect,’ Harriet went on. ‘And you’re trying to live up to that. Surely if you just admitted that you’re not perfect at dancing and asked for help then the rehearsals might start getting better. You say I’ve been trying to fit in with what Kelly expects, but can’t you see that you’ve sort of been doing the same thing?’
    I stared at her. I wanted to argue but as her words sank into my brain I realized I couldn’t. She was right. I had been trying so hard to live up to the image everyone had of me — Sophie the film star — that I’d been making myself miserable over the dancing. I wasn’t a dancer. I should have just ignored what everyone might think and asked for as much extra help as Dizzy could give me right from the start. If I’d done that I might have actually been able to do the dances by now.
    ‘Well?’ Harriet said, looking at me.
    ‘I guess you’re right,’ I said slowly. Reality began to sink in. ‘I-I’ve been really dumb, haven’t I?’
    ‘I think we both have,’ Harriet said softly.
    Ally grinned at us. ‘Well, what’s new? Now me, of course, I never do anything stupid. But then I can’t help being beautiful and popular and clever…’
    Harriet glanced at me.
    ‘Get her!’ we both said at the same time.
    I leapt off the beanbag — not the easiest thing in the world to do — and threw myself on to the bed. Together Harriet and I tickled Ally while she gasped and squealed.
    ‘Get off!’ she shrieked. ‘I take it back. I said I take it back!’
    At last Harriet and I relented. Giggling, we all sat up. Ally’s hair was sticking up on end and she was pink in the face.
    ‘You’re looking very beautiful now, Ally,’ I teased.
    ‘Stunning,’ Harriet put in.
    ‘You’re both idiots,’ Ally said, but she was grinning.
    Harriet got off the bed. ‘Do you two want to stay for supper?’ she said, looking much happier. ‘I could ask Dad. We’re having fish and chips.’
    ‘Count me in,’ I said. ‘Can I ring my mum, though?’
    Harriet nodded. ‘Ally?’
    Ally had gasped and jumped up, her hands over her mouth. ‘I can’t! It’s Claire’s party tonight. I’d almost forgotten. I’ve got to go. I’m supposed to be going round to Eve’s to get ready.’ She hurried to the door. ‘I’d better go.’
    ‘Good luck with Nathan!’ I told her. ‘Ring me in the morning before I go to rehearsal and tell me everything .’
    ‘Remember, if you kiss him, we want to know,’ Harriet said.
    ‘All the details,’ I reminded her.
    Ally grinned. ‘Keep your fingers crossed!’
    I didn’t sleep well