‘Excellent invitation, Bell!’ said Sarah, a few days later. ‘But how come you’re not having a pool party? Your school pool party was the best.’

‘I just wanted to do something different this year,’ explained Annabelle. ‘Pool parties are boring.’

‘I don’t think they’re boring,’ said Dani. ‘Yours was awesome.’

Annabelle smiled. She thought Dani was probably just saying that to be nice.

‘What should we wear?’ asked Dani.

Annabelle thought for a moment.

‘Something really dressy,’ she replied.

‘I’ll borrow some clothes from my sister,’ said Dani excitedly. ‘She’ll have something for sure.’

‘Good idea,’ nodded Chloe. ‘What will you wear, Bell?’

Usually Annabelle wore a good top with her favourite jeans or a skirt to parties. For her school pool party she had worn her school uniform over the top of her bathers. For Nicole’s rock-climbing party she’d worn leggings and a T-shirt.

But none of these things would be right for a mocktail party. She needed something really special.

‘I still haven’t decided yet,’ Annabelle shrugged. ‘But it’ll be cool.’

Then she turned to Nicole.

‘What about you, Nic?’ she said.

But Nicole was looking at the invitation with a big frown on her face.

It’s like she’s not one bit excited, thought Annabelle, feeling hurt.

‘The party is on the 12th?’ asked Nicole, looking worried.

‘Yep,’ replied Annabelle. ‘It starts at two o’clock. Why?’

Nicole twiddled with her ponytail. She always did that when something was bothering her.

‘Well, the Cockatoos won the semifinal,’ she explained. ‘So now we’re in the grand final.’

Nicole had recently started playing basketball.

Annabelle gave her friend a hug.

‘That’s so great! But how come you look like you’ve just been given detention?’

Nicole sighed.

‘The grand final is on the 12th.’

Annabelle stared at Nicole.

‘You mean, you’re not coming to my party?’ she asked, her jaw dropping.

‘Of course I’m coming,’ said Nicole quickly. ‘I’ll just be a bit late, that’s all.’

Annabelle’s heart sank.

She didn’t know what to say. Nicole had been to every one of her parties since they were three. She was usually the first to arrive and the last to leave. She had always been in charge of choosing the music. And somehow she always managed to pick songs that everyone liked.

Who would do the music until she arrived?

Then there was the Happy Birthday song. Nicole always sang it the loudest. And she was the one who said, ‘Hip hip!’ so that everyone else could say, ‘Hooray!’

If she wasn’t there, would someone else remember to do it?

Just then the recess bell rang and the gang headed back to class.

Annabelle and Nicole walked side by side, but without talking. Annabelle’s mind was whirling around.

Maybe I could change the party to a different day, she thought. But it was too late to do that. Most of the invitations had been sent out already.

Then Annabelle had a really horrible thought. It was so horrible that she screwed up her face and tried to shake it out of her head. But when she stopped shaking the thought was still there.

Maybe Nic doesn’t want to come to my party. I bet if I was having a rock-climbing party she would miss her basketball game.

Annabelle and Nicole arrived at their classroom. Annabelle sat down, feeling terrible. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Nicole watching her. Nicole looked like she wanted to say something, but just then their teacher walked in.

‘Quiet, everyone,’ Mr Clarke said. ‘No talking please!’

But the moment he turned around, Nicole grabbed Annabelle’s hand under the desk and squeezed it tightly.

‘Don’t worry, Bell,’ she whispered. ‘After the game I’m going to change into my fastest running shoes and run the whole way to your place.’

Annabelle couldn’t help smiling.

‘The basketball court is about twenty blocks away from my place,’ she whispered back. ‘You can’t run all that way!’

‘Well, my dad will probably give me a lift,’ admitted Nicole. ‘But if we get stuck in a traffic jam I’m going to jump out and run the rest of the way. I don’t want to miss any more of your party than I have to!’

‘Nicole!’ said Mr Clarke, turning around. ‘What did I say about talking?’

‘Sorry, Mr Clarke,’ said Nicole.

But when he turned back she grinned at Annabelle.

‘I’ll be there in time for the cake,’ she promised.

Annabelle grinned back. She felt much better. Of course Nicole wanted to come to her party! It was just really bad luck that the grand final was on the same day.

But at least now Annabelle was sure that her friend would get there as soon as she possibly could.