Things were a bit weird with Tracey. I tried calling for her on Thursday morning to walk to school, but no one answered the doorbell, even though I saw the curtains twitching. I called for Hannah and Ruby instead and we all walked down together.
When we were sitting together in the classroom though, Tracey was really friendly. She asked me if I wanted to come over to her house later.
‘We could play some computer games,’ she said. ‘I’ve got this new one my dad bought me when we were in Florida. He always buys me the newest games. It’s not even out over here yet for another few weeks.’
I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t want to offend Tracey, but I wasn’t really into computer games. Then I remembered I’d promised to go over to Hannah’s. ‘Uh, thanks, Tracey, but I said I’d go over to Hannah’s. Maybe another time.’
Tracey’s smile disappeared. ‘Well, of course if you’d rather go over to Hannah’s house that’s fine. I’m surprised she’s got time to have friends over, what with minding all those brothers and sisters. But her mum probably thought it was no big deal for her to mind one more person.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, not understanding.
‘Well, it’s kind of obvious, isn’t it?’ Tracey said. ‘I mean, of course her mum would expect her to mind the new girl. She’s that kind of interfering mum who’d make Hannah look after someone whether she really wanted to be friends with them or not.’
‘I’m sure it’s not like that,’ I said, my voice wobbling a little.
‘I’d just hate to see you get hurt, Meg,’ Tracey said, patting my arm. ‘You know, when you’re not new any more and Hannah doesn’t feel like she has to mind you.’
I said nothing. Was that really what had happened?
Tracey leaned in closer to me. ‘Look, I didn’t want to have to tell you this … no, I’d better not say anything.’
‘What?’ I asked.
‘It’s just that Hannah – no, I really shouldn’t say anything.’ Tracey pursed up her lips, as if stopping herself from saying any more.
‘Hannah what?’
Tracey looked all around to check no one was listening, then put her head right in beside mine. ‘Hannah’s been saying all sorts of nasty things about you.’
A sick feeling washed over me. I didn’t want to believe Tracey, but why would she make it up? ‘Like what?’
Tracey shook her head. ‘I couldn’t repeat it. I hate people who spread gossip, don’t you? Anyway, I know it couldn’t possibly be true.’
‘Tracey, you can’t just say something like that and not tell me what she said,’ I insisted, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
But Tracey just shook her head again. ‘I’m sorry, Meg. I shouldn’t have said anything at all. I don’t want to cause any trouble, but I couldn’t stand back and watch you let Hannah use you like that. She’s not really your friend at all. I could tell you all sorts of things about her, but like I said, I’m not one to gossip.’
Across the classroom, Hannah, Laura and Ruby were working on their project together, heads bent over the table, talking and giggling. Surely Hannah wasn’t capable of saying nasty things about me behind my back. It just didn’t seem possible. Was Tracey making it all up, and if so, why?
She looked at me, an innocent expression in her big blue eyes, and I really didn’t know what to think.
* * *
Later, I told Mum what Tracey had said. Like I could have predicted, Mum immediately went into protective mother-hen mode.
‘What a strange thing for her to say! Did she tell you what Hannah is supposed to have said?’
‘No, she wouldn’t tell me,’ I said. ‘She said she didn’t want to cause any trouble.’
Mum gave one of her explosive snorts. She has a whole collection, and this was her most derisory one. ‘But that’s exactly what she’s doing, darling! Honestly, I find it hard to imagine Hannah saying anything nasty about anyone, least of all you! She’s such a nice, sincere girl, and you two are such great friends. I’m quite sure it’s nothing but a load of old cobblers, darling.’
It was such a relief to hear Mum saying what I thought myself. ‘I’m so glad you think that, Mum. That’s what I thought too, but I was a bit upset about it.’
‘Well of course, darling. It’s impossible not to be upset when one hears something like that. All sorts of things start running through one’s head, don’t they?’ Mum frowned. ‘What can Tracey possibly have been thinking? Do she and Hannah not get along?’
‘I haven’t really seen them together much,’ I said. ‘It’s almost like they’re avoiding each other.’
‘Perhaps there’s a bit of history there,’ Mum said. ‘Girls’ friendships can be so tricky.’
‘I just don’t know why Tracey would say something like that,’ I said, still hoping for some kind of answer. ‘She seems to think Hannah’s not really my friend – that she was only looking after me because I’m new.’
‘What nonsense!’ Mum said. ‘Anyone can see the two of you get on like a house on fire – not to mention the rest of your little gang. Please don’t worry about Tracey, darling. In my experience the most common reason for that type of behaviour is one thing and one thing alone. Jealousy.’
‘Oh Mum, you always think people are jealous of me. It’s a mum thing,’ I laughed. Mum always seems to think I’m the prettiest, cleverest and generally most interesting person in any group I happen to be in. I’m pretty sure all mums think the same thing about their own children.
‘Not jealous of you, darling, though I’m quite sure that’s a possibility too. Jealous of Hannah, I mean. Because it sounds to me like Tracey really wants to have your friendship all to herself.’
I let this idea sink in for a minute, wondering if Mum could really be on to something. Why would Tracey so desperately want to be friends with me?