by Ann Bryant
I didn’t like the way she flashed her eyes round all the time she was talking, like she was checking that everyone was still looking at her.
“Know what?”
“Well…” She sighed, and spoke really slowly as though all Year Sevens were thick. “I mean…you did realize that Amy is one of the four main roles, didn’t you? Sorry, what’s your name?”
“Georgie.” Then I was suddenly sick of being patronized. “Course I realized. I’m not stupid. Anyway, are you going to audition?”
She exchanged a look with one of her friends and it was the friend who answered. “Obviously. She’s the best actress in Silver Spires. She had a main part in last year’s play even though she was only Year Seven, you know. And that never happens.”
“So, what part are you going for?” I asked casually.
She reached into her pocket and I wondered for a second whether she’d written it down for some unknown reason, but then she pulled out a little tin, undid it and smeared lipgloss onto her lips. At that moment she just seemed to fancy herself so much that I really hated her, even though I hardly knew her. It wasn’t till she’d put the tin back and rubbed her lips together that she finally deigned to look at me. “Amy,” came the answer. She smiled mockingly and my heart sank, but then I tried to give myself a firm talking-to. Just because everyone thought Cara was a really good actress, it didn’t mean that she’d automatically get the part of Amy, did it? And anyway, who was to say she was any better than me? I’d had big parts in every single play at primary school, right from when I was the enormous turnip in the harvest festival in Year One, to when I played Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Year Six.
We’d arrived at the science block so I gave Cara the coolest look I could manage while I tried to think of some clever parting line, but then I realized her eyes were on my right leg and she was trying to stop herself smirking. I guessed she was looking at the ladder in my tights and I made the mistake of glancing down and saw that the stupid thing had risen from my ankle to just above my knee, getting wider and wider as it went up. Normally I don’t care about things like that but I did at this moment. It made me feel stupid.
“It’s only a ladder, you know!” said my big mouth before my brain had chance to stop it.
She just stared at me as though I was pathetic.
“See you at the auditions then,” I said casually.
She still didn’t answer, and as I went into the science block my ears were on full alert, listening out for sniggers. I didn’t hear any, but that’s not to say the oh-so-clever Cara wasn’t smirking and exchanging looks with her friends. I tell you, it was a big relief when the door closed behind me.
To find out what happens next, read
About the Author
Ann Bryant’s School Days
Who was your favourite teacher?
At primary it was Mr. Perks – we called him Perksy. I was in his class in Year Six, and most days he let me work on a play I was writing! At secondary, my fave teacher was Mrs. Rowe, simply because I loved her subject (French) and she was so young and pretty and slim and chic and it was great seeing what new clothes she’d be wearing.
What were your best and worst lessons?
My brain doesn’t process history, geography or science and I hated cookery, so those were my least favourite subjects. But I was good at English, music, French and PE, so I loved those. I also enjoyed art, although I was completely rubbish at it!
What was your school uniform like?
We had to wear a white shirt with a navy blue tie and sweater, and a navy skirt, but there was actually a wide variety of styles allowed – I was a very small person and liked pencil-thin skirts. We all rolled them over and over at the waist!
Did you take part in after-school activities?
Well I loved just hanging out with my friends, but most of all I loved ballet and went to extra classes in Manchester after school.
Did you have any pets while you were at school?
My parents weren’t animal lovers so we were only allowed a goldfish! But since I had my two daughters, we’ve had loads – two cats, two guinea pigs, two rabbits, two hamsters and two goldfish.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
When I was in Year Seven I had to play piano for assembly. It was April Fool’s Day and the piano wouldn’t work (it turned out that someone had put a book in the back). I couldn’t bring myself to stand up and investigate because that would draw attention to me, so I sat there with my hands on the keys wishing to die, until the Deputy Head came and rescued me!
To find about more about Ann Bryant, visit her website: www.annbryant.co.uk
Want to know more about the Silver Spires girls?
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Collect all the School Friends books in the series
First Term at Silver Spires
Drama at Silver Spires
Rivalry at Silver Spires
Princess at Silver Spires
Secrets at Silver Spires
Star of Silver Spires
…all featuring the Amethyst Dorm girls
Party at Silver Spires
Dancer at Silver Spires
Dreams at Silver Spires
Magic at Silver Spires
Success at Silver Spires
Mystery at Silver Spires
…all featuring the Emerald Dorm girls
Check out more exciting stories at
www.usborne.com/fiction
This ebook edition first published in the UK in 2016 by Usborne Publishing Ltd, Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England. www.usborne.com
Copyright © 2016, 2008 by Ann Bryant
The right of Ann Bryant to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Series cover design by Sally Griffin.
Cover illustration by Suzanne Sales/New Division
The name Usborne and the devices are Trade Marks of Usborne Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or used in any way except as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or loaned or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ePub ISBN 9781474917445
Batch no. 01575-09
