First Term at Silver Spires (School Friends #1) Read online

  I shook my head and felt a fool.

  “I’m only trying to find out how everyone found out about me,” said Naomi quietly, “and I wondered if you might have said the word ‘princess’ by mistake and someone might have heard.”

  “Well, I didn’t!” snapped Lydia. Then she leaned in closer to Naomi. “I’d be the last person to give your secret away,” she smiled. “Surely you know that by now.”

  I was probably the only one who saw the nasty look Lydia flung at me as she straightened up and calmly carried on eating.

  At the end of school Grace gave me and Naomi her stopwatch and we headed straight for the sixth-form block, which was 848 steps away. Then Naomi took me on a path that went behind some trees and we came out at the other side of the athletics track, which was where she suddenly clapped her hand to her mouth and said, “Oh no! I forgot to tell Lydia I wasn’t going to debating club. She’ll wonder where I’ve got to!” A shadow crossed Naomi’s face, then she shrugged and mumbled, “Oh well, never mind.”

  There was no one at all on the athletics track and it looked so tempting that we decided to run round it.

  “Hang on a sec!” I said taking my jumper off. “I’ve got a better idea. Let’s do it three-legged!”

  Naomi giggled as I tied my jumper round our ankles. “The pedometer will probably have a heart attack!”

  We set off far too fast and fell in a heap laughing our heads off, and that’s when I heard the dreaded voice and looked up to see Lydia standing over us, pulling a face as though she’d just come across a pile of dog’s pooh. “What are you doing?” She was looking at me and sneering, but then she spoke to Naomi in a lighter voice. “Where did you get to? I thought we were supposed to be doing debating club.”

  “I know…sorry,” Naomi replied, scrambling to her feet, which wasn’t easy with one of her ankles tied to mine. “I forgot to tell you I…changed my mind.”

  Lydia turned her gaze on me and I saw real jealousy in her eyes, which made me shiver it was so strong, but she recovered quickly and smiled at Naomi. “Actually I’m fed up with debating club so I’ve signed us both up for rock climbing next week.”

  “Oh no! I’m not very good with heights!” said Naomi.

  “You’ll be okay. And anyway, I can help you,” said Lydia, linking her arm through Naomi’s as we all started walking back to Hazeldean.

  I felt my spirits sinking, but I remembered my resolution not to let Lydia bother me. I just wished nothing had interrupted my lovely time joking around with Naomi. Now I wouldn’t even get to see her secret place.

  “Pity you can’t wear Grace’s pedometer when you’re climbing,” I laughed, trying to keep our fun alive for a bit longer. “Maybe it would tell you how high you’ve gone!”

  Naomi grinned at me but Lydia rolled her eyes.

  “That’s stupid. Of course it wouldn’t. You’d just end up breaking it,” she said.

  “Well anyway, I think it’s brilliant. I’m going to ask for one for Christmas and get in some training at home. Then, when I come back after the holidays I’ll be even fitter than Grace!”

  “Like that would happen,” said Lydia under her breath. She was looking at me as though I’d announced I was going to get a crown so I’d be just like Naomi.

  “I was only joking,” I told her a bit snappily. “I’m not that keen on running. I much prefer fashion design.”

  “Oh yes,” said Lydia, very bright all of a sudden. “That reminds me, I came across Mam’zelle Clemence, and she wants you to go and see her about starting a fashion club.”

  “A fashion club! Great!”

  “She lives at Oakley. She said she’d be on duty all evening.”

  I was surprised that Lydia was being so helpful all of a sudden, but pleased too, and I couldn’t wait to talk to Mam’zelle Clemence.

  Miss Fosbrook let us out of prep really early because for once everyone had found it quite easy, so I went straight over to Oakley. I asked someone where Mam’zelle Clemence was, but it turned out that it was her evening off, so there was nothing I could do but go back to Hazeldean, wondering crossly whether Lydia had deliberately lied to me or Mam’zelle Clemence had just forgotten she wasn’t on duty that evening.

  When I found my friends in the LC, they were sitting around the table playing cards.

  “What did Mam’zelle Clemence say?” asked Naomi as soon as she saw me.

  “She wasn’t there. I guess I’ll see her tomorrow.”

  “Oh right.” Naomi looked surprised. “Anyway, come and join in.”

  “She can’t. It’s for pairs,” Lydia pointed out.

  My thoughts were racing. Perhaps I was getting paranoid, but I couldn’t help wondering whether this was Lydia’s latest way of making sure I was excluded from the group.

  “It’s okay, I’ll watch,” I quickly said. “What do you have to do?”

  “We’ve all invented a secret signal with our partner,” Jess explained. “You have to keep swapping your cards in until you get four that are all the same and then give your partner the secret signal without anyone detecting it…”

  I watched them playing for about ten minutes, then Naomi insisted that I join in. “You can be Lydia’s partner,” she said. “I don’t mind watching, honestly.”

  “But then Katy will know our signal,” said Lydia.

  “You could invent a new one,” Jess suggested.

  But Lydia seemed to have other plans. “Or,” she said dramatically, “we could watch my DVD of The Fast Lane!”

  “Yay!” said Georgie. “Good thinking!” And she leaped up from the table.

  Some other Year Sevens were in the middle of watching a programme on telly. They said we’d have to wait till it was finished, but when they saw that Naomi was one of the people wanting to watch the DVD they instantly changed their minds and all patted the seats next to them, grinning at Naomi and encouraging her to sit down.

  “Leave her alone,” said Lydia. “She’s sitting with me.” Then she flopped back into the biggest beanbag and pulled Naomi down with her.

  The episode we watched was the earliest one of all, so Mum wasn’t in it till over halfway through because this was when she was new to the show. As soon as she came on I was filled with the memory of the first time she’d had to go to America. I was eight and I’d been staying with my grandparents because Dad was away too, and I could clearly remember how my granddad had been ill and I’d not been allowed to make any noise around the house. The whole place had seemed really sad and still, and I’d felt lonely because Grandma was too busy looking after Granddad to bother with me.

  After the programme finished I couldn’t stop thinking about it all and I was desperate to talk to Mum. I tried and tried to get through on the phone but wasn’t having any luck. I was standing at the end of the first-floor corridor because it’s very private just there and the reception is good. It was dark and stormy outside and the rain was beating against the window. I could hear rumbles of thunder too, which usually makes me feel quite cosy when I’m safely in the warm and dry. But not today. A horrible sadness was gradually seeping its way inside me as I kept going over the programme in my head and picturing Mum’s face, and remembering how lonely I’d been at Grandma’s.

  If I pressed my nose to the windowpane I could just about make out Pets’ Place in the distance. The shed has a corrugated iron roof and the rain must sound like bullets hammering down, to the animals inside. Poor Buddy. I wondered if he was frightened. And as I stood there staring out at the darkening sky an idea began to take root in my mind. What was it Mum had said? If you ever feel lonely or worried about anything, you can tell Buddy all about it. He’ll help you sort it out. Yes. That’s what I’d do. I’d go and see Buddy. But I’d have to be careful because everyone would be getting ready for bed any minute now, and Matron was on duty. I’d be in big trouble if she found me going out at this time. We’re not allowed out of the boarding house after eight thirty and the door is locked at nine.

  I
hurried downstairs and passed Miss Carol at the bottom, so I pretended to be going towards the common room.

  “Coming up to bedtime, Katy,” she said, looking at her watch.

  “I left something in the…”

  “Okay, quick as you can.” Then she was gone, heading towards her flat.

  No one else was in sight so I dashed back through the hall to the front door, and a minute later I was running in the rain, thinking what an idiot I was not to have a coat or umbrella or anything. It was too late for that now, though, so I just went as fast as I could, feeling my legs starting to tremble a bit as I plunged into the heavy, folding darkness. It was such a relief to see the outside light on at Pets’ Place. I wasn’t sure if someone had left it on by mistake or if it was just a light that stayed on all night, but I was glad anyway and I hurried the last few steps to the door and pushed the handle down.

  The feeling of disappointment when I realized the door was locked was too much to bear and I was close to tears when I suddenly remembered Mia mentioning the spare key. So I groped my way along the side of the shed till I came to the window, bent down and slid my fingers under a stone. Bingo! I turned the key in the lock and pushed open the door.

  “Sorry to disturb you, everyone,” I said, switching on the light.

  It was lovely to hear all the scuffling noises. I didn’t feel so alone any more. Buddy thumped his foot when he saw me and I took him out of his hutch and cuddled him. Sometimes he stays still when he’s being held, and sometimes he doesn’t. Today he was in his floppy night-time mood, and nuzzled his nose into my neck, which felt nice.

  “Do rabbits feel things like humans do, Buddy?” I whispered into his fur. “I mean, do you miss me when I’m not here? I hope not, for your sake. I wish I was you, then I’d only have to worry about eating and sleeping and I wouldn’t care about feeling left out of games or friendships.”

  Buddy felt so warm and soft, that I told him all about Lydia. “She’s determined to be best friends with Naomi, Bud, and I can tell she wishes I’d move to the other end of the planet. Well, maybe not to the other end of the planet but I bet she’d like to be in Amethyst dorm instead of me. I’m not going anywhere, though, because I like Naomi and she likes me, so that’s that.” I stroked Buddy’s ears. “Nao’s a nice nickname, isn’t it? Better than Name anyway. I wonder if one day someone here might call me Kates, like Mum and Dad do.”

  I stayed silent for a moment after that, thinking how ridiculous it was talking to a rabbit, but oddly enough, Mum had been right, it was definitely making me feel better. When I finally put Buddy back in his hutch I noticed there were loads of bits of straw sticking to my top. I brushed them off as best I could, then locked up and started rushing back to Hazeldean through the drizzle. The nearer I got, the more the lights of the building guided me, but I preferred it when it was darker because now I felt as though I was really on show, so I broke into a run and prayed that no one could see me through a window. I also prayed that the front door wouldn’t be locked, because nine o’clock is lock-up time.

  What if Miss Carol was waiting to pounce on me in the hall and give me a massive telling-off? I breathed a huge sigh of relief when the front door opened, but my heart was still pounding as I looked around in big fear. No one was in the hall, thank goodness, so I didn’t waste a second, just raced up the stairs faster than ever before.

  “What time do you call this, young lady?” came Matron’s stern voice from just behind me as I was going into my dorm. “And why are you all wet?”

  “Sorry, Matron. I was looking out of the window and I thought I saw something shiny on the ground, so I went out to get it in case it was important…”

  Matron was frowning hard. “And where is it?”

  “It was just a silver chocolate wrapper. I’ve thrown it away.”

  She nodded. “Well, it wasn’t very sensible, going out in the pouring rain. Go and get ready for bed quickly and if you’re this late again you’ll have early bed the following night.”

  “Sorry,” I mumbled, hurrying into the dorm.

  “Where have you been?” asked Naomi, rushing at me with wide eyes and grabbing my shoulders. “You’re all wet.”

  I suddenly felt stupid saying I’d gone to see Buddy. I’d only have to explain why and that might lead to awkward questions, so I told the same lie I’d just told Matron and got changed into my jamas at top speed at the same time.

  “What’s this in your hair?” asked Georgie, pulling out a piece of straw. “Are you sure you haven’t been to see Buddy Bunnykins?”

  I wished then that I’d told the truth in the first place, but I could hardly go back on it now. “You’re joking! I’d be too scared in the dark!”

  Then I whizzed along to the bathroom, with a picture in my head of Naomi’s still face with its anxious, puzzled expression. Had she realized I’d told a lie? No, she couldn’t have done, could she? Maybe I should tell her the truth the next day. But how could I? There’d be too much explaining to do, like why I was suddenly missing Mum so much and what was making me so worried that I needed to go and talk to Buddy at ten-to-nine at night.

  No, it was too late now. I was stuck with the lie.

  Chapter Eight

  It’s funny how things always seem so much better during the day than they do at night-time. The day after my chat with Buddy, Naomi was completely bright and breezy and normal, and I told myself that one little white lie wasn’t the end of the world. Then two nice things happened. Firstly, I talked to Mam’zelle Clemence about the fashion design club.

  “I came to look for you at Oakley but you weren’t there,” I began.

  “Oh dear. I’m sorrrrry you had a wasted journey,” she replied, which didn’t give me any clues at all about whether Lydia had deliberately sent me on a wild goose chase. “My idea is to link up with one of ze art teachers and form a club together, designing and making jewellery. I’ll let you know how I get on, Kateee,” she added, “but I’m sure we’ll get someseeng off zee ground.”

  The second good thing was running club, which was brilliant fun. We warmed up in the hall to music, then went down to the track and ran relays. We had to get into pairs and I went with Naomi. Strangely, Lydia didn’t seem to mind. She seemed perfectly happy to be Grace’s partner. It seemed odd but I was pleased. It would be so great if she’d finally accepted that I was Naomi’s friend too.

  After running club we all went to get changed and showered. “See you at supper, everyone,” said Lydia, as she went off to Opal. “Save me a place if you get there first.”

  She grinned at us all and I felt a lovely feeling that at last things were looking up.

  When Naomi and I went into the dorm after our showers, Grace was on her knees pulling stuff out of her bottom drawer. Her face was white and I could see she was in a state.

  “Whatever’s the matter?” I asked, crouching down beside her.

  “I don’t get it…” she said softly. “I just don’t get it…”

  “What?” Naomi asked, coming over too.

  “Before running club I came up here to get my stopwatch but I couldn’t find it and there wasn’t time to look properly, so I thought I’d have a thorough search later. And I have…and it’s not here.”

  “Where else have you looked?” I asked.

  “This is the only place where it could possibly be. I keep all my precious private things in this box right at the back of my drawer.”

  I caught a glimpse of a red and gold patterned lid, before Grace shut her drawer and sat down heavily, leaning against the wall with her head flopped forwards.

  Jess came in a moment later and looked horrified when she heard what had happened. “Just think carefully, Grace. Are you certain you didn’t take it to running club?”

  Grace sighed. “Double positive.” She looked at me. “You and Naomi were the last to use it yesterday.”

  “But we gave it back to you at supper,” I quickly pointed out.

  Grace nodded. “I know.”
>
  “And are you certain you put it back after that?” asked Jess.

  “Well, I was certain, but now I’m wondering if I actually did, because it can’t just disappear, can it?”

  Jess made Grace have one more careful look all through her drawers, in her bed, on her desk. Everywhere. Then we had to go to supper.

  “We’ll report it to Miss Carol,” said Naomi. “She can give out a notice in assembly, then everyone’ll be looking out for it.”

  “If we miss pudding we’ll have time to go to the changing room and look for it before prep,” I added.

  Naomi nodded. “How about you look in the changing room, Jess, and Katy and I go down the field.”

  “I’ll look on the ground between the dining hall and Hazeldean,” said Grace, looking really glum. “I can’t imagine that I dropped it though. I always keep it deep in my pocket.”

  Georgie, Mia and Lydia heard about the missing stopwatch at supper and offered to help with the search. So as soon as we’d wolfed down our lemon chicken we all raced off. Lydia searched the changing-room area. Naomi said she didn’t think there was much point in going down to the athletics field after all because we knew perfectly well we’d given the stopwatch back to Grace, so in the end she and I went into Hazeldean and looked absolutely everywhere.

  We were all very subdued at prep because Grace was nearly in tears. “I can easily get another stopwatch,” she said, “it’s just that this one is really precious.”

  Jess put her arm round Grace. “I’m sure it’ll turn up somewhere,” she said. “It can’t just disappear.”

  “Unless someone’s taken it,” said Grace quietly.

  “No one would do that, surely,” said Lydia, and we all agreed, but I had to admit I was getting anxious in case that was what had happened. There just didn’t seem to be any other answer.