by Ann Bryant
Mum sounded really happy to hear my news, and asked if there was any particular reason why Antonia and I had suddenly got close to each other, as we’d been in the same dorm for a whole fortnight, yet I’d never mentioned her after the first day. I said it was just that it had taken us a while to get to know each other. Then I explained that she was Italian, and that she was quite homesick, missing her family when they were so far away.
“Aah, poor thing,” said Mum in a sympathetic voice. “Well, it’s nice that she’s got you, sweetheart.” Her voice suddenly brightened right up. “Maybe, once she’s more used to the school and not feeling so homesick, she’d like to come and spend a few days with us at home in one of the holidays?”
“Y…yes,” I said, hesitantly. “I’m sure she’d love to.” But another cloud went scudding across my sunny blue sky at the thought of taking Antonia in the back of our old Volvo to our little terraced house.
Almost as though Mum could sense what I was thinking, she suddenly came out with something incredible that cheered me right up. “Oh, guess what, sweetheart?”
“What?”
“I’ve got myself a little runaround – a Mini Cooper!”
“Hey, that’s cool!” I said. “So you can come and collect me in it, can’t you?”
“Well, it’s only a little car and I know the girls are desperate to come along too, and with your bags and stuff, it might be easier to come in Dad’s car.”
My heart sank. It would have been great if Mum had picked me up in her car – then I wouldn’t have to worry about the paints and things in the back of Dad’s old Volvo.
I was so happy with my life at Silver Spires now that Antonia and I had sorted all our problems out. Every day, we seemed to recall another time when one of us had been upset by the other one, and it was really sweet because Antonia always insisted we clamber up onto one or other of our beds and have another “truth talk”. The others agreed with me that the name “truth talk” was really sweet, and Sasha said it would be good if we made a kind of rule that if ever anyone needed a heart-to-heart discussion, they could call a truth talk and we would all squash onto that person’s bed. The number of times we all six sat on Antonia’s or my bed was amazing. One of us would bring up something that had happened, then we went through a big explanation about it, and always finished up smiling at how we’d managed to get things so wrong. Apparently, the time when her eyes had looked so fiery as she’d shut her wardrobe door and said it was too late to see her dress, it was because she could tell I was upset at seeing Sasha’s and Izzy’s party clothes and she didn’t want to make me feel worse. And when she’d eyed my old woolly bag on the way to the minibus that time, she was dying to tell me how much she loved the bag, but didn’t dare in case it came out sounding wrong. Poor Antonia.
The two of us made sure we spent as much time as possible together, and in our free moments we often went to the library, where I tried to help her with her English and her schoolwork in general. One day she told me excitedly that the maths and science teachers had both said she was going up a set after half-term and that if she carried on like this she’d be going up again after Christmas. I felt so happy when I heard that.
French was Antonia’s best subject, because she said it was very similar to Italian in many ways, so when we had French prep it was often Antonia helping me. It was lovely being able to sit next to her for everything except English, maths and science, and I couldn’t wait till we’d be together for those subjects too. Even after school we stuck together, both going to the same clubs – we’d compromised on fashion and debating society, because Antonia insisted that her English would improve if she had to discuss things. And at weekends, we always went on the same outings.
The house staff found us quite amusing, I think, but I could tell they liked the way we were such good friends now, because we always got special smiles from them. Matron had started a competition between herself and me to see who could learn the most Italian words before the half-term holiday, and when there was only one day to go we compared notes, and it turned out that I knew far more than her. I did admit that I had an unfair advantage because I saw Antonia so much more than she did, and Matron said that was true, and that I’d better watch out, because she was going to study like mad over half-term and give us both a big surprise when we came back to Silver Spires.
The final day before the holiday was a Saturday, and all us girls were due to be picked up by our parents or guardians after lunch, any time between two and five o’clock. We were allowed to leave as much stuff as we wanted in our dorms over the half-term break, because there would always be someone here and the dorms would be locked. We didn’t have lessons on Saturday morning so we could sort out and pack all our stuff, and have a nice time with our friends.
Emerald dorm looked a right tip throughout the whole morning, as we all kept changing our minds about how much stuff to take home with us. Antonia didn’t pack much at all, because she said she had tons more clothes at home. Now that I understand the way Antonia is, I realize she’s not showing off or anything when she talks like that. She’s just stating a fact. I planned to leave one of my bags in the basement and quite a bit of my stuff here in the dorm, but to take my other bag home.
I’d thought and thought about the car situation, and I knew I’d so much prefer it if Mum and my sisters came to pick me up in the Mini Cooper. I felt really guilty and horrible, but I phoned Dad in a last attempt to try to get him to change his mind about coming to collect me.
“There’s no need for you to take a day off work, Dad, honestly,” I said in my lightest tone.
“Don’t you worry yourself about that, Nicole. I worked the last two Saturdays, so I deserve this weekend off!” Then his voice quietened. “And don’t worry that your mum and I will argue…”
“No, it’s okay.” Poor Dad sounded quite embarrassed, and obviously thought that I was trying to put him off coming because of the way he and Mum had argued when they’d brought me here on the first day. I’d actually forgotten about those angry words that had passed between them though, because my mind had been so full of worries about how old the car was, and how messy, and what on earth I would say to explain so many paint cans still being in there.
By the end of the phone call with Dad, I felt totally wound up, because not only was he definitely coming in the Volvo with Mum and Clare and Clemmie, but to make matters worse, he was planning on arriving at the beginning of the afternoon, which meant that all my friends would still be there to see them.
At two o’clock on the dot, us six from Emerald dorm gathered in the hall of Forest Ash and kept on looking out of the window to see if any cars were arriving.
“What make is your car, Nicole?” asked Sasha.
“It’s…a Volvo.”
“What colour?” Izzy wanted to know.
“Blue,” replied Antonia.
My heart hammered. She was so observant.
“We will talk online every day, yes?” she went on, even though we’d already promised and promised to do that.
“Yes,” I laughed, happily. “Every day.”
The others were just having the same kind of conversation amongst themselves, when Antonia suddenly said, “They are here! I see the car!”
And she was right. Our old car was slowly pulling into the drive outside Forest Ash. I swallowed and tried not to go red.
“I do not want you to go!” said Antonia.
I gave her a big hug, then we all went outside just as Mum was getting out of the passenger seat. She didn’t spot me at first.
“Your mother’s really pretty,” said Sasha in a whisper.
I’d never actually thought about whether Mum was pretty or not, so that gave me a surprise. Then Clare and Clemmie were scrambling out of the back and Clemmie spotted me straight away. “Nicole!” she called out, rushing over and flinging herself at me. “I’ve been dying for this moment!”
I bent down to hug her but she kept her arms wound round my ne
ck so I couldn’t straighten up.
“Ah! Sweet!” I heard Izzy say.
Then Clare wanted a hug too, and it was only when I’d introduced both my sisters to all my friends at top speed that I looked at Mum and Dad and noticed something different about them, but I couldn’t work out what it was. They were standing by the car as though waiting their turn for a hug. I hurried over to them and they both came towards me at the same moment, so it was like a triple hug, as I used to call them when I was little.
And that was when it hit me. Mum and Dad didn’t seem to mind about being so close to each other now, whereas the last time I’d seen them together they were all spiky and distant with one another.
Mum was smiling like mad and I realized that Sasha was right. She was really pretty. I took her hand and led her towards my friends.
“This is, Antonia, Mum.”
“I am very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Weelliamson,” said Antonia in her politest voice. “You have a very clever and very kind daughter!”
Mum burst into laughter, then suddenly her eyes were bright with tears. “I know, Antonia, but thank you for saying it. And I think Nicole’s lucky to have such a lovely friend.”
“This is my dad, Antonia.”
Dad shook hands with her, then looked a bit embarrassed. “Sorry, bit dirty…” he mumbled.
“That’s ’cos Daddy’s painted the whole house, Nicole!” said Clemmie, all wide-eyed, as though she loved being the one to tell me the news.
“At long last!” said Mum, grinning round at my friends. “We’re always last in line, I’m afraid.”
Sasha and the others laughed politely, but I saw Antonia frowning and realized she didn’t understand what Mum meant. And in that instant I knew I had two choices. I could change the subject so Antonia would never know what Mum meant about Dad only painting our house when he’d finished painting everyone else’s houses. Or I could explain exactly what Mum meant, so Antonia knew the whole truth.
I didn’t hesitate for one moment, and it wasn’t just because of wanting Antonia to know the truth. It was because something had happened inside me. I was suddenly filled with pride for my family, and with something else too. I think it was confidence, but whatever it was, I knew for sure that I had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. My words came out strongly, even though I was still a teeny bit shaky inside. I just needed to get to the end of my sentence and check that the look in Antonia’s eyes hadn’t changed.
“Dad’s job is painting other people’s houses, and Mum meant that we had to wait in a line until Dad had time to paint our own house.”
Antonia broke into a beaming smile. “Wait een una fila!” she said proudly. “Yes, I understand!” Then she turned to Mum. “Thees ees what my mother says about my father when she wants heem to cook!”
Mum laughed. “Oh, your dad’s a chef! Lucky you!”
Then Clemmie was tugging on my hand. “I want to see where you sleep!” she said.
So we all made our way into Forest Ash, and while Mum and Dad stayed in the hall to have a chat with Mrs. Pridham, the rest of us went up to Emerald, Clemmie and Clare running on ahead and calling out, “Tell us when to stop!”
“Top floor!” I shouted.
“Your parents are really cool!” said Izzy.
“And just like my parents,” said Antonia.
I turned my head sharply to see what Antonia meant, because surely my parents had absolutely nothing in common with hers.
“Yes, they are very…how would I say eet in Engleesh? Er…very close,” she said. “Yes, very close.”
I knew I was staring at her as though she was speaking Italian and I couldn’t understand a word. “You…you think so?”
“Yes, I know so.”
I turned and leaned over the banister of the first-floor landing. Mum and Dad were right next to each other as they talked to Mrs. Pridham, and Mum was smiling up at Dad.
“Oh…yes!” I said slowly. And I felt a lovely shimmer of happiness that my parents were getting on so well with each other.
Antonia laughed, then grabbed both my hands. “Are you excited to think of seeing your house all painted?” she asked me happily.
I nodded. “I’m really looking forward to the whole week,” I told her. “But I’m also looking forward to coming back here. Aren’t you?”
She nodded hard. “I weell be sad to leave my family again. But thees time I weell have my new friend!”
“Yes,” I said simply. “You will.”
“Look! The sun has come out!” said Antonia. “Let us see the spires before you go.”
So we called to the others that we’d see them outside, and Clemmie called back that it was okay because Izzy was looking after them. Then we went out together, past our old Volvo, that had caused me so much worry and yet didn’t bother me in the slightest any more now that I realized I’d truly got the nicest friends in the world, who would never dream of not liking a person just because they came from a different background.
And as we walked towards the main building, I was still thinking how stupid I’d been to get myself into such a state about everything, when Antonia stopped my thoughts by gripping my hand as she looked up. “There!” she breathed. “What does eet remind you of?”
“Diamonds,” I said quietly, as I stared up at the sparkling silver spires.
“Diamonds, yes.” Then she looked at me with her big dark eyes. “I knew we would be amiche del cuore from the moment you said that word all that long time ago. ”
“What’s amiche del cuore?” I asked.
“I think you say…best friends?” she said, a question mark in her voice.
“Yes, we do!” I said with a catch in my voice. “That’s exactly what we say!”
Nicole’s Top Ten Party Tips
I loved our party at Silver Spires – and now it’s your turn to celebrate! Here are my top ten tips for perfect party fun…
* Send out invitations early. You could even design your own e-vites for that personal touch.
* Why not have a theme, such as fancy dress or a makeover night? Or if your birthday’s around Halloween, what about a spookfest?
* Try party picnics in the summer, or even a camp-out sleepover in your back garden…
* Why not share your party with a best friend? It’s half the work and twice the fun!
* On party day, get your friends to help decorate and set up. It’ll make things less stressful for you, plus you’re bound to have so much fun together it’ll feel like the party’s already started!
* Don’t panic about what to wear – just make sure you feel comfortable, and always add a little party sparkle!
* Use paper plates and cups to save on washing-up…but remember to recycle them afterwards!
* Keep your snacks simple – fun finger food like pizza slices, veggie bites with dips, and brownies all work well. Plus why not make fairy cakes and then put out lots of fun toppings for your guests to decorate them with?
* Once the party’s in full swing, don’t worry if there’s a hiccup with some of your plans…no one knows what you were planning anyway!
So what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and have some School Friends fun!
Now turn the page for a sneak preview of the next unmissable School Friends story…
Chapter One
I stared around the dining hall and thought for at least the hundredth time how much I love it here at Silver Spires. I suppose all boarding schools are great, but I just don’t see how they can be as great as this one. I mean, I was so nervous when I started here eight weeks ago, but the very first time I came into this dining hall with the other five girls from my dormitory, I felt so happy. It was obvious we were going to get on with each other. Well, it’s true I did feel a bit anxious about Antonia, who’s Italian, and Nicole, who’s amazingly clever. Those two didn’t seem to hit it off as well as the rest of us, but I felt sure it would work out eventually because they both seemed so nice. And I was right. They’re best friends
now.
My own best friend is called Sasha, and while I was staring around right then, she was listening intently to something that Emily was telling her. Even though Emily’s story seemed to be going on and on, and personally I tuned out ages before, Sasha still looked interested. She kept nodding slowly, her big blue eyes looking straight at Emily. And that’s because Sasha is such a fantastic listener. I’m so glad we’re best friends.
As soon as lunch was over we all set off through the grounds for afternoon lessons. It was maths first, and that’s one of the three subjects we’ve been put in sets for, which means that we six friends aren’t all together for those lessons, like we are for everything else.
“See you later!” called Antonia, as she went off with Emily and Emily’s best friend, Bryony.
“I can’t believe how good Antonia’s getting at English!” said Sasha. “And her English accent’s getting better too.”
“I know!” said Nicole, looking happy. “And it’s great that she’s been put up a set for maths and science.”
I nodded. “If she carries on going up, you two might be together in top sets for everything before the end of Year Seven!”
Nicole laughed. “That would be really good,” she said, linking arms with me on one side and Sasha on the other and falling into step with us. But almost immediately she pulled away, half laughing. “Do you know, I always feel a bit like an elephant when I’m walking beside you, Izzy!”
Sasha laughed too. “I know exactly what you mean!”
My body slumped instinctively as the little voice in my head started up. Not this again.
