Next day, (as if things weren’t bad enough), was the day of the disco.
When I woke up, Alice and Hazel were already awake. They were lying on Alice’s bed, texting as usual. As soon as Hazel saw that I was awake, she started her daily attack on me.
‘Oh look. Baby’s awake,’ she said in a silly voice. ‘Baby must be all excited about the baby disco.’
I turned my face to the wall, but Hazel went on anyway.
‘I wonder has baby got a nice new dress for the disco? And a pretty pink ribbon for her little baby hair?’
Alice didn’t say anything which made me feel a small bit better, but she didn’t ask Hazel to stop either. She just kept her eyes on her phone, texting as if her life depended on it.
I got dressed as quickly as I could, and ran down to breakfast. Everyone was all excited about the disco. Even the boys were talking about what they were going to wear.
I picked up my food, and brought my tray to where Sarah was sitting. I sat down next to her. She was all excited too.
‘I am so looking forward to the disco,’ she said. ‘I’m going to wear my denim skirt, and a white shirt, and this really cool sparkly belt my mum gave me for my birthday.’
I sighed. Why couldn’t I have the kind of mum who gave really cool sparkly belts as birthday presents? On my last birthday my mum had given me a book about gardening, four new pairs of socks, and a voucher for the local swimming pool.
Sarah interrupted my thoughts.
‘What are you wearing tonight?’
I gave another big sigh. A week ago, I’d had it all planned. Now I had no idea. I had a funny feeling that Alice wouldn’t want to lend me the turquoise top that she’d promised me. I still had my white jeans, but all my tops seemed old and raggy. Everyone would look great, and I’d be like Cinderella – before her fairy godmother arrived.
Anyway, it didn’t matter, because I’d suddenly made up my mind.
‘I’m not going to the disco tonight,’ I said quickly.
Sarah looked at me in horror.
‘But you have to go to the disco. Everyone’s going.’
I shrugged.
‘Alice and Hazel aren’t going.’
‘Yeah, but that’s only because they’re not allowed to.’
I shrugged again, like I didn’t really care.
‘Whatever.’
We were quiet for a minute, and then Sarah said,
‘Are they talking to you yet?’
I shook my head.
Sarah made a face.
‘Why can’t they just get over themselves?’
I had to smile.
‘I don’t care about Hazel,’ I said. ‘I don’t care if she ever talks to me or not. But I wish Alice would be friends with me again.’
Sarah smiled at me.
‘She will. Don’t worry. When you get back home, and Alice is far away from Horrible Hazel, everything will be like before. Anyway, back to the disco. If you don’t go, it’s like showing Alice and Hazel that they’ve won. They’ll know that they’ve really upset you. You have to go tonight, just to show them that you don’t care.’
‘But I do care,’ I protested.
Sarah smiled again.
‘Well then you just have to pretend that you don’t. Now finish your breakfast, and come up to my room. I’ve got lots of clothes, and I’ll lend you something for tonight.’
On the way up to Sarah’s room, we met Hazel. To my horror, she was wearing Alice’s turquoise top. I knew already that I wouldn’t be wearing it any time soon, but it really hurt to see it on Hazel – especially since it looked so good on her.
‘Like my top?’ she said. ‘My best friend Alice lent it to me.’
Sarah laughed.
‘It’s a lovely top, and you’re very lucky to have it. Are you wearing it to detention tonight?’
Hazel tossed her head, and flounced off.
I smiled.
Why could I never think of quick replies like that?
Why did my clever comments only ever come to me when it was hours too late?
* * *
Sarah is probably the kindest person I’ve ever met. She lent me a beautiful red t-shirt, and a really cool pair of jeans, and a pair of red sandals. She did my hair for me, and lent me some sparkly lip-gloss.
We met Sam on the way in to the disco, and he said,
‘You look really nice, Megan,’ Luckily it was a bit dark, so no-one could see how red I went.
All through the disco Sarah stayed with me (except for the three times that Sam asked me to dance) and she included me with all of her school-friends, and bought me two drinks and some crisps. And she never even let on that she was bored when I kept saying how nice Sam was.
And yet all the time, I kept wishing that it was Alice who was standing beside me, that it was Alice telling me jokes, that it was Alice and me having the fun night that we’d been dreaming of ever since we’d signed up for summer camp weeks and weeks earlier.
When the disco was over, we were allowed to stay up for another half an hour. Sarah and some of her friends asked me to go for a walk in the school grounds with them. I said no. I knew Hazel and Alice would be finished their detention, and would be back in our room. I’d have to face them sooner or later, so I might as well get it over with.
Hazel started as soon as I entered the room.
‘Did the little baby meet a few nice little boys at the disco? Was the music too loud for her? Did she cry for her Mummy? Did she tell tales on any of her friends and get them into big, big trouble?’
Alice sat up.
‘It’s getting boring, Hazel. Give it a rest.’
I could hardly believe my ears. Was this the moment I’d been waiting for since this whole nightmare had started?
I turned to Alice.
‘Thanks Al,’ I said.
She turned away.
‘Don’t get too excited. I still hate you for getting me into so much trouble. I’m just tired of Hazel going on about it, that’s all.’
Hazel gave me an evil look, and went to sit on Alice’s bed. She held out her iPod.
‘Here, Alice,’ she said. ‘Listen to this song, it’s so funny.’
So they listened to their song, and that was the end of the night that was supposed to be the best night of my whole life.