by Ann Bryant
A girl with copper-coloured curly hair was sitting on one of the beds cutting out bits of newspaper with her manicure scissors. She looked up and smiled at me and Naomi. “I’m Jess and this is Grace.” Grace was sitting next to Jess. She looked very slim in her jogging bottoms and a plain white top.
Georgie finished off the introductions. “This is Katy, and this is Naomi!” She tapped us both on the head. “And you’ve met Mia, haven’t you?” Then she shot over to a cabin bed with a bright yellow duvet, and climbed the ladder. “I’ve bagged this one.”
There were six beds, each one part of a unit with a desk area and drawers below, and a narrow wardrobe at the side. Already the dorm looked like home, with all its colours and clutter. Tucked under the roof, it had a sloping ceiling on one side, and a lovely shiny, uneven, wooden floor with rugs on it, and instead of being a plain rectangle, it had recesses which gave it a cosy feel. Naomi’s and my cases were right in the middle of the floor.
The others had all unpacked their stuff and Grace was watching Jess sticking the bits of newspaper onto her pinboard to make a frame.
“You’re so artistic, Jess!” she said. And I agreed.
There was a pinboard above each of the beds and I noticed that Mia had already covered hers with photos of her family and her guinea pigs.
Georgie’s stomach suddenly gave an enormous rumble, which made everyone laugh. “Quick, get unpacking you two,” she said urgently. “It’s got to be time for supper soon. I’m starving.”
“Er…which bed do you want?” I asked Naomi.
“You choose. You got here before me,” she replied, and when I hesitated she added, “I don’t mind, honestly.”
My eyes couldn’t help straying over to the bed tucked in a snug little alcove. “I’d love this one…as long as…”
“That’s fine,” said Naomi with a smile, “because I secretly preferred this one!”
I wondered whether she really did prefer it or if she was just a really kind girl.
For the next ten minutes we both worked hard. Georgie went from Naomi to me, looking at all our things as we unpacked and giving a running commentary. “Lovely skirt, Katy. If my legs looked like yours I’d have to steal it from you, I’m afraid!”
When Miss Fosbrook came in we were all laughing like mad.
“Well, this dorm gets first prize for being the merriest one!” she said. “Don’t worry about sorting everything out before supper but make sure you at least unpack everything so Tony can take your cases down to the storage room. See you in the dining hall in a few minutes. It’s in the main building and there’ll be plenty of older girls to tell you where to go if you get lost, all right?”
We all nodded and Naomi and I got straight back to work as soon as she’d gone, while Georgie peered into Naomi’s jewellery case. “Wow, look at all this silver and gold! Have you got a tiara as well?”
Naomi looked embarrassed again, and my heart raced a bit because I’d decided the time had come to have a word with Georgie. But as it happened Naomi got there first. She suddenly stood up straight and spoke in a firm voice, looking Georgie right in the eyes. “No, I haven’t got a tiara and neither have I got a throne to sit on, okay?”
Georgie swallowed and went a bit pink and I found myself feeling sorry for her because I knew she couldn’t help being bubbly and curious. It’s just her character. There was another awkward silence then Naomi sighed a big sigh. “Sorry, that came out all wrong. I didn’t mean to sound horrible. It’s just that I don’t want anyone to think I’m different at all.” She looked down and sighed again. “Because… I’m not.”
“Oh come on, Naomi, you are different!” said Georgie, sticking her chin up. “You’ve got a limousine and servants and a driver. You’re a princess!”
I heard Grace and Jess gasp and I tried to swallow but my mouth felt all dry.
Naomi was still looking down. “I know…” she said in a small voice. Then finally she looked up and the truth came out rather shakily. “I didn’t really want anyone to know, you see…” Her eyes filled with confusion again as she turned to me. “How did you find out?”
I felt guilty and sorry at the same time. “We heard one of the men say it. We didn’t know…it was a secret…”
Mia’s face looked very pale. “We won’t tell anyone, Naomi. We’ll keep it to ourselves, won’t we?” She looked round at the rest of us and we all nodded.
“Sorry, Naomi,” Georgie said, looking a bit sheepish. “You should have shut me up ages ago. I know I’ve got a big mouth.”
Naomi suddenly looked relieved. “It’s okay.”
“But I don’t get why you want to keep it a secret,” went on Georgie. “If I was a princess I’d be shouting it from the rooftops. I’d love having people swarming round me, and servants bowing and everything. It’d be the coolest thing ever.”
“It might be cool at first,” I blurted out, “but after a bit you’d wonder if people were friends with you for yourself or just because of your family.” Then I suddenly realized what I’d said and tried desperately not to go red. “I mean…I guess that’s what would happen…isn’t it?”
Naomi nodded hard. “Yes, that’s it. And people think you’re stuck-up too. That’s what I had at my old school, and now I want to make a new start.”
I knew exactly how she felt. It might have been me talking. I stood up straight to make myself feel strong. I was more determined than ever, now, to keep my own secret safe.
Chapter Three
Georgie pretended to wave a wand over Naomi. “You shall have a new start, Cinderella!” she declared in a warbly voice, as we all laughed. “I wish I could be as wise as you,” she added. Then she must have caught sight of Grace’s Olympic Games poster. “That’s cool,” she said, pointing.
Grace broke into a big beam and I thought how pretty she was, with her dark olive skin and shiny black hair. “I love everything to do with sport,” she said quite shyly.
“The opposite to me then,” Georgie replied, wandering over to my desk and picking up my photo of Mum and Dad. I couldn’t help tensing up even though I didn’t think she could possibly recognize Mum. I’d deliberately chosen a photo that had been taken on our holiday in the Alps last year, with Mum dressed from head to toe in her ski suit and wearing an enormous pair of dark glasses and a furry hood. Even though you can hardly see her face at all, the photo still reminds me of her, and that’s all that matters.
“Is that your parents?” Georgie asked, looking closely and frowning hard.
But I didn’t have to answer because she’d put the photo down and was looking at Mia’s pinboard.
Mia sighed. “It reminds me of home,” she said quietly.
Then Georgie surprised us all by rushing over, grabbing Mia’s shoulders dramatically and looking right into her eyes. “Getting homesick is strictly not allowed!” she said, imitating Matron’s deep voice absolutely perfectly. Mia broke into a giggle as Georgie kicked over a blue bag by mistake. She bent down and propped it back up again. “Is this a music case?”
“Yes, I play piano,” said Mia.
Georgie put her hands on her hips, pretending to be cross. “You never told me that!” Then a moment later she was back at my desk, this time with my sketchbook in her hands. “And what’s this, Katy? You’re not another artist, are you? How is a poor girl who’s only interested in acting going to survive in a dorm with two artists, a musician, a sports maniac and a princess?” She glanced at Naomi. “Whoops! Sorry.”
Everyone laughed and I tried to get my sketchbook back. “It’s nothing much, really…”
But Georgie had already started flipping the pages and the others had gathered round to look.
“Fashion designs!” said Jess. “They’re brilliant! I could never do anything like this.”
“Me neither,” said Grace. “For a start, I’m not interested in clothes.”
“Not interested in clothes!” said Georgie, in high-pitched surprise. “How can you not be interested in
clothes?”
“Easy,” said Grace. “I spend all my time in tracksuits.”
“I wish I looked more fashionable,” said Mia, “but I’m too small!”
“No, you’re not,” I quickly reassured her. “I could design something that you’d look great in.”
Her eyes shone. “Could you?”
“What about me?” Georgie asked. “Do you design theatrical costumes?”
I couldn’t answer though because there was a loud knock on the door and as I was nearest I answered it. Lydia was standing there in a completely different outfit from the one she’d been wearing earlier. She looked really glamorous in black shiny trousers, suede boots with little stiletto heels and a grey and blue top. Her hair was tied back in a thick ponytail, except for two loose ringlets, one on either side of her face, and over her shoulder was the same bag she’d had earlier, only now there was a magazine poking out and I could clearly see Mum’s picture was on the front cover.
My heart felt like a yo-yo for a few seconds, but then I told myself to calm down and remember no one could read my mind. I just had to act normally and make sure I didn’t go red. But even if I did go red, no one would know why, as I don’t particularly look like Mum. So actually I didn’t have anything to worry about.
“Hi, are you coming for supper? Everyone’s on their way over to the dining hall.”
Lydia’s eyes were on Naomi but it was Georgie who answered for all of us. “We’ll be down in a minute.”
A look of irritation flicked across Lydia’s face, then she glanced round our dorm. “I think this is a bit bigger than Opal.” She wrinkled her nose. “But there’s still not much room for all your stuff, is there?” Again she seemed to be addressing her words to Naomi only, but this time it was Jess who answered, and I could tell by the look on her face that she didn’t like Lydia.
“Depends how much stuff you’ve got.”
Lydia ignored Jess. “I’ll save you a place, Naomi.” Then off she went, clicking down the corridor.
“I’m starving,” said Grace, making for the door. The rest of us were all following when Georgie put her hands up like a traffic cop and said, “Hold on! There’s something I have to do first.” She clicked her fingers at me. “Pencil, Katy!” So I went diving back to my desk to get her one, and then we all watched as she crossed out our surnames from the list on the door and added some words of her own. A moment later we were grinning at her handiwork, and I was smiling inside too because it gave me that lovely warm feeling that we were already becoming a kind of team – the Amethyst team.
Katy the Queen of Style
Grace the Sportswoman
Jess the Artist
Mia the Musician
Naomi the Princess
Georgie the Actress
Immediately we were all racing for our rubbers. “Why don’t you just advertise to the whole world that Naomi’s a princess, Georgie!” said Jess sarcastically.
Georgie rubbed out the word “Princess” and changed it to “Wise One”, which made Naomi look a bit embarrassed.
“You really are going to have to concentrate on keeping your mouth shut, Georgie!” I told her.
“Yes, and talking of keeping your mouth shut, someone needs to tell Lydia that Naomi wants it kept secret that she’s a princess,” Mia pointed out.
“So she definitely knows?” asked Naomi.
I nodded.
Naomi looked thoughtful and I wondered if she was remembering how Lydia wanted to be in the same dorm as her when she’d only just met her. “I’ll tell her at supper,” she said firmly.
Supper was absolutely delicious – lamb balti followed by apple flan. All the Amethyst girls sat together and Lydia sat at the end of the table, next to Naomi. She spent the whole time telling Naomi how boring her dormies were and how much nicer she thought Amethyst dorm was.
“Er…don’t forget to tell Lydia about your secret,” I reminded Naomi hesitantly when she was about to go for her pudding.
“Oh yes.” She gave me a grateful smile and dropped her voice. “I don’t really want anyone to know I’m a princess, Lydia. It might make people act differently around me…”
Lydia’s eyes shot open. “I know what you mean! It’s awful when people won’t leave you alone because they think you’re someone important.” She looked round at all of us and I could tell she was dying for someone to ask who her parents were, but the others were deep in their own conversations and Naomi was looking to see where the puddings were. The moment she’d left the table Lydia turned to me with a cross look on her face and spoke in a low, cold voice. “You didn’t have to get Naomi to tell me to keep quiet about her, you know. I’m not about to spill her secret. Obviously!”
I was too shocked to reply because I hadn’t meant to be bossy or anything so I mumbled something about pudding and went after Naomi.
When we’d all finished eating, the Deputy Head of Silver Spires, Mrs. Andrews, announced that girls in Year Seven should go back to their boarding houses for a guided tour, followed by a meeting in the common room with the houseparents. Mrs. Andrews also explained that Ms. Carmichael, the Head of the whole school, would be welcoming us officially to Silver Spires in assembly the next day, but right now she was over in the sixth form block.
There were two guided tours of Hazeldean. I was in Matron’s group with the rest of Amethyst, and Lydia, who insisted on coming with us instead of joining her own dorm. Matron told us rule after rule on the way. “Two people will be in charge of keeping the kitchen tidy and if it’s not tidy it will be locked so you won’t be able to make hot drinks for yourselves… This is the boot room for all your wellies. Again, two people responsible for clearing it up… You’ll find the rotas on the noticeboard…” There was so much to take in. I didn’t know how I’d ever remember everything. “This is the laundry for dirty washing. Make sure you put dark colours in here and light colours in here. See how it’s all clearly labelled…” The tour seemed like a whirlwind and we were easily the first group to arrive at the big common room. Then the older girls started coming in too, for the housemistress’s talk.
Lydia dropped into the comfiest-looking chair in the room, crossed her legs and started flipping over the pages of her magazine, commenting on funky vest tops and glam bags, but no one was really listening to her.
“Do you feel homesick, Katy?” Naomi asked me quietly as we sat down on a sofa.
“A bit,” I said. “But I’m trying not to think about it too much. What about you?”
“I think I’ll miss having time to myself.” Her voice was soft and I felt flattered to be the one she’d chosen to confide in. “But I’ll also miss my family.”
“Have you got brothers and sisters?”
“Two older sisters who’ve gone back to Ghana, and a little brother with my parents in London. Have you?”
“No, there’s just me.”
“You poor thing,” said Lydia. “I’ve got a big family too, Naomi.”
Naomi carried on talking to me. “Are your parents abroad?”
I told myself to keep calm. It was only natural that everyone wanted to find out about everyone else in the first few days. It would soon be forgotten.
“My mum works in America at the moment, and my dad has to travel quite a bit too. But we don’t live abroad.”
Lydia shut her magazine and leaned forwards when she heard me say that. “My mum and dad work in New York. They’re company directors.”
My heart started beating faster now we were discussing actual jobs, but luckily I didn’t have to say anything because everyone started chiming in with what their parents’ jobs were. I was just feeling nice and calm when I practically had a heart attack because Georgie suddenly stabbed Lydia’s magazine. “That’s Cally Jamieson who plays Lee Brook! She’s soooooo cool! I can’t wait for The Fast Lane. Only five days! It’s the best thing ever.”
I quickly bent down and took my shoe off, then spent ages pretending my sock was stuck under my heel, pulling it
up and straightening it out, while the conversation about The Fast Lane sizzled and sparkled around me. I had to sit back up again eventually and then I realized that the other two groups had arrived and the whole common room seemed to be buzzing with talk about the time when Lee’s dog got stolen, and the look on Benny’s face when he realized that Esther was wearing a wig. In no time at all every single character had been discussed, as well as half the storylines.
“I’m so glad Lee’s in it more now,” one girl said, and everyone agreed.
Georgie wagged a finger in the air. “Funniest person in the show,” she declared firmly. “My ambition is to be as good at acting as she is.”
It was so weird hearing all this talk about Mum and the other actors, who I’d met loads of times when I’d been on the set during the summer holidays. To everyone here they were just characters from a distant TV world, but to me they were real people. But still, I knew it would be impossible to connect me with Mum because of our different surnames. Mum uses Jamieson as her professional name. My mouth felt dry and my head spun as the chatter went on.
“Are you all right, Katy? You’re very quiet,” Naomi whispered.
I shook my head as though bringing myself back to earth. “Sorry. I was just thinking.”
Naomi must have thought I was feeling homesick because she suddenly mentioned the computer room. “It’s great that we can e-mail our families any time, isn’t it?”
“Here we go,” muttered Georgie, seeing Miss Carol going over to stand by the TV. “Let’s hope it’s not too much of a lecture.”
As it turned out Miss Carol just welcomed us all and went over the daily timetable. The only facts I really took in were supper at six thirty and prep from seven thirty till eight thirty, then free time till bed at nine. Georgie stuck up her hand to ask about the weekends and Miss Carol said that after Saturday morning school finished we were free for the rest of the weekend, though there were often outings and things organized for the different year groups.
