Centre Stage: A Novel

dissolution of the monasteries?’
    There was a pause. ‘I’m going to have to rush you,’ Mr Johnson said, as Harriet, Ben, Anna and Nikhil quickly conferred. He waited about five seconds.
    ‘Sorry, your time is…’
    ‘Henry the Eighth!’ Harriet burst out quickly.
    ‘Correct!’ Mr Johnson exclaimed. ‘And now on with the next starter question. In which country is the city of…’
    There was a loud buzzing noise. The time had run out.
    ‘We’ve won!’ I gasped.
    ‘And the winners of the first round of the interschool under-fourteen quiz are Charles Hope!’ Mr Johnson announced, looking very pleased.
    The applause was deafening. On stage, Harriet, Ben, Nikhil and Anna all jumped up in delight. Anna banged Nikhil on the back and then Ben hugged Harriet. She threw her arms round his neck.
    ‘Look!’ I squeaked to Ally.
    Harriet and Ben both suddenly seemed to realize they were hugging. Looking very flustered, Harriet quickly stepped back. The next second, Anna and Nikhil were beside them, shouting in excitement.
    ‘They hugged!’ Ally said to me.
    ‘I saw!’ I said. Excitement raced through me. Hugging had to be a good sign.
    The four teams all shook hands and then they came off the stage to be surrounded by their supporters.
    Eve, Ally and I pushed our way through the crowds to meet Harriet. ‘You were brilliant!’ I cried as I reached her.
    ‘Fantastic!’ Ally agreed.
    Harriet’s eyes shone. ‘It was such good fun!’
    ‘You got loads of questions right,’ Eve said. ‘There’s no way we’d have won without you.’
    ‘Ben answered lots too,’ Harriet said, glancing in Ben’s direction. He was with a crowd of friends, standing near the table where drinks were being sold. He saw her looking and smiled.
    ‘He likes you,’ Eve said. ‘It’s totally obvious.’
    Excitement seemed to bubble through Harriet. ‘He’s wonderful,’ she sighed. She looked in Ben’s direction again. He glanced at her at exactly the same time.
    ‘I’m… I’m going to get a drink,’ Harriet said, going red.
    ‘We’ll come with…’ Ally broke off with a gasp as I trod on her foot — hard.
    ‘We’ll wait here,’ I said quickly to Harriet.
    ‘OK,’ she replied.
    ‘Ow! What was that for?’ Ally demanded as Harriet made her way towards the drinks’ table.
    ‘Ben’s over there,’ I hissed. ‘Maybe he’ll go and talk to her.’
    We watched as Harriet pushed her way through the crowd. Ben saw her too and headed after her.
    ‘Look!’ Eve exclaimed as he caught up with Harriet. He took her arm and said something. She hesitated and then nodded, and they swerved away from the drinks’ table, stopping when they were in a quiet corner away from the crowd.
    We watched agog as Ben leaned forwards. He seemed to be asking Harriet something. I saw her eyes widen and for a moment she didn’t seem to know what to say. But then she nodded.
    A grin broke out on Ben’s face and, stepping forwards… he KISSED her.
    ‘Ohmigod!’ Ally squealed.
    ‘They’re kissing!’ I gasped, my head going all swirly. Harriet had kissed a boy! She was kissing a boy! A real, lips-and-everything, proper kiss.
    ‘Mr Johnson’s going to kill them if he sees!’ Eve said.
    But it wasn’t Mr Johnson Harriet had to worry about. Suddenly I realized that Kelly was watching them from the drinks’ table. A furious look crossed her face and she started to march in Ben and Harriet’s direction. Not stopping to think, I started pushing through the crowd. I had to get to Harriet first. There was no way I was going to let Kelly upset her on such a perfect day.
    Just as I got close, I saw Ben smile at Harriet. ‘I’ll go and get you that drink, then?’ I heard him say.
    Harriet nodded and he headed off.
    ‘Harriet!’ I exclaimed.
    Harriet turned. ‘Sophie!’ She looked like she had a light bulb shining inside her. ‘Did you see?’ she gasped. ‘Ben kissed me. He’s asked me out! He…’ Her words dried up and her smile suddenly faded as she stared at someone over my shoulder.
    I didn’t have to look round to know who it was.
    ‘So, you’ve got a boyfriend now, have you, Harriet?’ Kelly’s voice sneered. ‘Think you’re cool, do you? Well, you’re just a pathetic geek and there’s no way Ben will go out with you for long and…’
    I turned, hot anger racing through me.
    But before I could open my mouth, Harriet spoke. ‘Get lost, Kelly!’
    I swung round in astonishment.
    ‘What?’ Kelly exclaimed,