Next morning I was kind of glad when the time came for Alice and Hazel to go off to their tennis course. I thought I’d scream if I had to hear another word about Conor or Lee or the ‘cool’ time they’d all had together.
After basketball, Sarah didn’t feel well.
‘I’m going to skip lunch,’ she said. ‘I think I’ll go and lie down in bed for a while.’
‘You poor thing,’ I said, putting my arm around her. ‘I hope it isn’t anything too serious.’
She shook her head.
‘I don’t think so. I’m sure I’ll be fine soon. Anyway, if it turns out to be anything bad, I’ll make sure to breathe on Hazel so she catches it too.’
I laughed, and waved good-bye to her, and then set off for lunch.
I collected my food, and went to sit next to Alice and Hazel. I tried not to care that Alice kept talking to Hazel, and sometimes seemed to forget that I was even there.
By the time we were all finished our jelly and ice-cream though, I was more worried than ever. Not alone had Alice got totally caught up in her new friend’s life, but also she had that funny gleam in her eye that always makes me feel so nervous. She was plotting and scheming again – I was sure of it.
The three of us sat outside in the sun for a while before we had to go to French. Alice and Hazel spent most of that time with their phones in their hands, texting madly, like it was going to go out of fashion any second. Then, during French, they kept giggling and grinning at each other. They were definitely up to something – I just wished they’d tell me what it was.
That night should have been fun. Gloria and the other leaders had set up a treasure hunt all around the school, and the winners were to get a big box of sweets to share. We were all ready to go when Gloria said the dreaded words,
‘Now everyone, find a partner to hunt with.’
I wondered if she’d told Alice and Hazel that they couldn’t go together, like she had for the talent show. I soon found out that she hadn’t.
Before I could even move, Hazel grabbed Alice’s arm, and said,
‘Partners?’
Alice looked at me with a funny expression on her face.
Was she upset because she couldn’t go with me?
Or did she just feel guilty because this time she’d got the partner she really wanted?
Luckily Sarah was feeling better, and she was standing near me. She came over.
‘Will we go together?’ she asked.
I nodded.
‘Thanks,’ I said, and tried not to watch as Hazel dragged Alice across the room and far away from me.
Two boys won the treasure hunt, but someone had seen them cheating, so it didn’t really count. Anyway, there were enough sweets for everyone, and there was silence for at least ten minutes while we all chewed happily.
Sarah and I hung out together for a while when the treasure hunt was over. I couldn’t really concentrate on what she was saying though, because I was too busy trying to see where Alice and Hazel had got to. Sarah was being really nice, and I didn’t want to offend her, so I said I was going to go and have an early night.
I found Alice and Hazel up in our bedroom. They were huddled together on Alice’s bed, whispering and laughing.
When I walked in, Hazel jumped up, looking really guilty. Alice just laughed.
‘It’s OK,’ she said. ‘You don’t have to worry about Megan. We can trust her.’
I was glad she felt that way, and that she wanted to include me. But what exactly did I need to be trusted with?
Alice grabbed my arms and pulled me until I was sitting on the bed. Hazel sat down on the other side of me.
‘We have a plan,’ said Alice, and that old familiar sinking feeling hit me right in the middle of my tummy. Alice’s plans always ended up being more trouble than they were worth.
‘There’s a really funny film out at the moment,’ she continued. ‘And tomorrow afternoon we’re going to go to and see it.’
That didn’t sound so bad. How serious could a trip to the cinema be? My tummy began to unsink itself.
‘That’s great,’ I said. ‘I haven’t been to the cinema in ages. Has Gloria arranged it?’
Hazel gave a mean laugh.
‘No, Dork-face. Your precious Gloria hasn’t arranged it. She doesn’t know anything about it. We’re sneaking out of camp.’
My mouth fell open. I knew I probably looked really stupid, but I couldn’t help it.
‘Sneaking out?’
My voice was all squeaky and scared. Even thinking about sneaking out made me afraid.
Would I ever be brave enough to actually do it?
Hazel gave another mean laugh.
‘Yeah, sneaking out. See Alice? I knew you shouldn’t tell little scaredy-cat Megan.’
Alice stood up.
‘That’s not fair, Hazel. Don’t say that. We can trust Megan, can’t we, Meg?’
I nodded weakly.
I took a deep breath, and put on my bravest voice.
‘Tell me everything. I want to know every single detail.’
Before Alice could say anything, there was a tap on the door, and Gloria peeped in.
‘Girls, you should all be in bed by now,’ she said in a pretend cross voice. ‘Lights out in four minutes.’
There was a big scramble as we got ready for bed, and then Gloria’s hand appeared around the door, and switched out the light.
I waited a few minutes to be sure that Gloria was gone. Then I whispered.
‘OK, Al. Tell me what the big plan is.’
‘OK,’ began Alice, but just then her phone beeped, and for the next ten minutes she and Hazel texted madly, giggling to each other as they did so. By the time Alice finally put down her phone, I was almost asleep. I jerked myself awake though.
‘OK, Al,’ I said. ‘Now tell me about the big plan.’
She gave a big yawn.
‘Sorry, Meg,’ she said. ‘How about I tell you tomorrow? I’m really tired right now.’
‘I suppose so,’ I said, trying not to sound too disappointed.
I felt like punching someone. I hated that Hazel knew all the details of the plan and I didn’t. I was supposed to be Alice’s best friend. I was the one she was supposed to share her secret plans with first.
I couldn’t argue though. I didn’t want Hazel to see Alice and me fighting. Still it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Alice is the world champion secret-keeper. I’d have to wait until the next day, whether I liked it or not.
Even though I was tired, I hardly slept at all that night. All kinds of thoughts and questions raced around my brain.
I wanted to know more, yet at the same time, I didn’t want to.
How would we sneak out?
What would happen if we were caught?
Did I want to see any film so much that I’d risk being sent to Mrs Duggan, or worse, being sent home from camp in disgrace?
I could just say I didn’t want to go with Alice and Hazel.
But then I thought – I had to go with them. This was my big chance to prove myself. It would let Alice know that I wasn’t just a quiet little chicken. And it would let Hazel know that I wasn’t just going to stand back and let her ruin my friendship with Alice.
A few sleepless hours later, I had made up my mind.
For once in my life I was going to be brave.
I was going to break all the rules, and have some fun.
I felt a bit better once I’d decided.
Maybe Alice would lend me the turquoise top she’d promised me for the disco.
I wondered if I’d have time to straighten my hair.
Would Hazel do my face again?
Luckily my best jeans were clean.
Maybe…
When I finally fell asleep I had lots of crazy mixed up dreams about Alice, Hazel and me..