I was so preoccupied with what Audrey had said that I completely forgot to think about how people at school would react to the whole Skylar Chase thing.

The minute I walked through the gates, I was pounced on by EVERYONE. Students from every year group ran over and surrounded me, shouting questions and taking pictures. It took me about half an hour to get to the door of the main building, I was so in demand.

I should have been expecting the fuss; the picture of me, Sky and Ethan Duke sitting front row had spread across social media like wildfire. The Daily Post announced I was ‘a new face on the social scene’ and a fashion blogger referred to me as ‘the hotel heiress with a suite sense of style’. I like what she did there.

When I left the hotel to get to school, all the photographers, who were usually waiting for Sky or someone, leaped into action and started taking photos of me, asking how long Skylar Chase and I had been friends for, and whether I would be joining her at any more events while she was in London. I didn’t answer any of them but my jaw was aching from all the smiling by the time they left me alone. I would have to check those photos online later and hope that my school uniform didn’t look too hideous.

I had spent most of the weekend trawling through websites, analysing every picture there was. I concluded that they were all acceptable but I should have spent more time on my eye make-up; it looked a bit smudged in the photos, but then, according to fashion bloggers, I was sporting the ‘smoky-eye’ look, as opposed to the ‘did-my-mascara-badly-in-a-rush’ look, so I think I got away with it.

Sky was performing at the O2 over the weekend, so I didn’t see her, but she did leave a bouquet of flowers for me at reception, with a note saying how sorry she was that she’d got me into trouble. She even left a bouquet for Mum too, explaining that she’d encouraged me to go with her to the fashion show and she intended to apologise in person when she saw her. I watched Mum reading the note. She definitely looked impressed, and for a fleeting moment I thought that it might be enough to persuade her to forgive me. But no such luck.

It looked like I would have to go through with Audrey’s suggestion after all.

‘There you are!’

Grace was practically jumping up and down on the spot when I got to my locker, where she was waiting with Ella. I couldn’t help but smile as Grace beamed up at me.

‘So,’ Ella said, moving aside to let me open my locker door, ‘we have a LOT to talk about.’

‘I know.’

‘Olly – where do I even start?’ Ella swooned. ‘He’s amazing.’

‘Olly?’

I was confused. Didn’t she mean Ethan?

‘That’s what he prefers to be called,’ Ella explained, twisting a lock of her hair. ‘We talked all night.’

‘And they snogged,’ Grace mumbled as it dawned on me that we were talking about her brother.

‘Did you know he writes the band’s songs as well as playing the guitar?’ Ella continued. ‘He is so talented. And it’s only a hobby; he doesn’t actually want to be a musician when he’s older. He wants to go into politics or law.’

I attempted to look impressed but, HELLO, had she been under a rock this weekend? Hadn’t she seen the pictures? Who cared about Olly?

‘Cool,’ I said, indulging her. After all, I guess I had stolen her thunder at her party so it was only fair that I let her be the centre of attention for a bit.

‘Anyway, Flick,’ Grace began, clearly keen to move the conversation away from lovey-dovey rubbish about her sibling. ‘You have to tell us everything! I can’t believe you went to Lewis Blume’s show. He’s like the biggest designer ever!’

‘I haven’t heard of him,’ Ella remarked, examining her cuticles.

I looked at her, baffled. Literally last week she’d been boring me about how much she loved his stuff and boasting that her mum was going to buy her one of his coats for her birthday.

‘Is it true you’re dating Ethan Duke?’ Grace said, gripping my arm, distracting me from Ella’s comment.

‘Well, I –’

‘Obviously not, Grace!’ Ella interrupted. ‘They only met that day.’

‘We actually met before,’ I corrected her. ‘We had dinner in the hotel. Not just us two, with a group of Sky’s friends. I was going to tell you.’

‘You call her Sky!’ Grace squealed. ‘That is so cool! You’re proper friends.’

‘Anyway,’ Ella said breezily, flicking her hair behind her shoulders, ‘I’ve got to go. I told Olly I’d meet him before class.’

Grace watched her stalk off and then turned to me with a reassuring smile.

‘Well, I think it’s cool, anyway.’

‘Thanks, Grace.’

‘All weekend she’s been going on about kissing with tongues.’ Grace winced. ‘I have to keep reminding her she’s talking about my brother. It’s SO gross.’

I suddenly spotted Cal come in and walk straight towards the library. I hurriedly pulled out the last of my books and slammed my locker door shut before everything came tumbling out.

‘Sorry, Grace, I have to go,’ I said quickly, watching Cal disappear through the library doors. ‘Talk later, OK?’

‘Can’t wait!’ Grace happily shouted after me as I raced to follow him, pushing through the squeaky doors at the end of the hallway and into the deathly silence of the library.

The library has always made me nervous. It really creeps me out because it’s too big and quiet in there, plus the librarian, Mr Grindle, hates me because of that time he caught me doing an impression of his walk. It’s not my fault he moves like an ostrich. Mr Grindle was reading as I came in and he did a double take at me when he looked up from his book.

‘Felicity!’ he said, bookmarking his page and leaning forwards on his desk. ‘Can I help you?’

I shook my head. ‘Nope. Just perusing.’

‘Perusing,’ he repeated curiously, as though I’d presented him with a riddle.

‘Yep. Having a look around.’ You’d think a librarian would have a greater grasp of the English language.

‘Would you like me to recommend you something?’

‘No, I’m good. Thanks.’

‘May I remind you that the library is a sanctuary of study and peace. Two things I’m not sure you’ve much experience of,’ he said, all snootily.

This is why I hate the library. Because people like this hang out there.

‘If you’re planning on playing some kind of prank or causing trouble,’ he continued, ‘I suggest that you rethink it.’

‘I’m not causing any trouble, just searching for a . . . book.’

‘I see. Well then. Search away.’

‘Thanks.’

I hurried down the centre pathway, glancing left and right down each empty row, aware that I remained under Mr Grindle’s suspicious gaze. I came to a sudden halt when I spotted Cal at the end of the history section, reading with his headphones on. I sidled up next to him and coughed. When he didn’t react, I pulled one of his headphones from his ear and pinged it back on to his head.

‘Ow!’

Startled, he pulled his headphones down around his neck and glared at me.

‘What are you doing?’

‘I need your help.’

‘Shh!’ Mr Grindle suddenly appeared at the end of the row, pressing a finger to his lips. How did he get there so fast? His ostrich legs are more effective than I thought.

I mouthed ‘sorry’ and he strode back to his desk.

‘What are you doing in here?’ Cal whispered. ‘You hate the library.’

‘No, I don’t,’ I said defensively. ‘I love the library.’

‘Since when?’

‘Since now. Who wouldn’t love all these . . . dusty books?’

‘What do you want, Flick? I’m busy.’

‘Busy doing what?’

He tapped the page of the book open in his hands. ‘Reading. That’s what people do in a library.’

‘I need your help with something.’

‘Why do you think I would help y–’

‘SHHHHHHHHHH!’

Mr Grindle was at the end of the row again, with a thunderous expression. I pointed accusingly at Cal, who narrowed his eyes at me. I waited until Mr Grindle went back to his desk.

‘Can we go somewhere where we can talk? Please? It’s important.’

Cal sighed before reluctantly shutting the book. ‘Fine.’

‘A History of London and its Buildings,’ I read aloud from the book’s cover as we walked towards the front desk. ‘Well, that sounds like the most boring book of all time. Is it by that Nicholas Huntley writer you’re creepily obsessed with?’

‘No. His book is about tanks.’

‘Oh yeah. That other really interesting topic. Why would you bother reading a book about London’s buildings? Why don’t you just go around and look at them?’

‘Because it’s interesting to learn about their history and architectural detail,’ Cal huffed, filling in a form for Mr Grindle, who was still staring at me dubiously. ‘The Royale is mentioned in this, you know.’

‘Why?’

‘Because the hotel is an important historical building with incredibly intricate architecture,’ Cal explained, looking at me as though I was mad.

‘Well, duh, you can see that just by standing in the lobby with all its gold archways and the paintings and stuff. You don’t need to waste your time reading that old thing.’

Going out of the library, I saw a particularly giggly Ella and Olly talking to each other nearby. Before they could see us, I quickly grabbed Cal’s arm and pulled him sideways into the nearest doorway, which turned out to be a cleaning cupboard.

‘Why are we in here?’ he asked, accidentally kicking over a mop as I squeezed in next to him.

‘Because we can get some privacy.’ I shrugged, trying to act as though this was all planned.

‘Sure.’ He sighed. ‘And it has nothing to do with you not wanting your friends to see you with me?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘Why don’t you just tell me why you need my help so we can get this over with?’

‘I’m here to offer you a proposition. You need a topic for your stupid journalism competition thing, right? What if I told you I had the best topic, which would guarantee you winning the top prize? Even better than Prince Gustav.’

Cal snorted. ‘I’d be very surprised.’

‘Trust me, you’ll want to hear me out,’ I insisted.

‘Go on, then.’

I took a deep breath. ‘An exclusive interview with the biggest pop star in the whole world, Skylar Chase.’

He looked impressed. ‘You’re serious?’

‘Yes.’ I nodded. ‘There’s no way anyone else in your stupid competition is going to get access to that kind of public figure, is there?’

‘And Skylar Chase told you she would let me interview her?’ he asked, looking doubtful.

‘I haven’t asked her yet, but we’re friends,’ I added hurriedly when he raised his eyebrows, ‘she’ll say yes, I’m sure of it.’

‘OK, so what’s the catch?’

I took a deep breath. ‘You may remember that I went to a fashion show on Friday . . .’

‘Yes, I remember trying to stop you and you not listening and then getting in loads of trouble. Like I predicted.’ He folded his arms.

‘That’s the one.’ I nodded. ‘Well, Mum is now saying I can’t go to the Christmas Ball.’

‘Woe is you.’

‘I know, right? Mum doesn’t think I’m responsible. I have to persuade her that I am. Then she’ll let me go.’

‘And you think I can help you with that?’

‘Yes.’

‘Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not the right person to persuade her otherwise. I happen to completely agree with her.’

‘I don’t want you to talk to her. I want you to show me the ropes of the hotel.’

He blinked at me. ‘What?’

‘The hotel. I need you to show me how it all works. Who does what and when. What makes the hotel tick, blah blah blah. You know, all the boring stuff.’

‘I’m sorry –’ he shook his head – ‘I’m confused.’

‘OK, it’s really not that hard to understand. Mum thinks that I don’t care about responsibilities and the hotel and –’

‘You don’t,’ he interrupted.

‘Right, because I’m a normal teenager.’ I was beginning to get impatient. This had better be worth all the hard work. ‘But I’m going to learn to. Audrey is too busy to help me and she said you’re the next best person to ask. You know how the hotel works and you know everyone, and she said you’d make sure we didn’t get in anyone’s way. Plus, you have nothing better to do.’

‘What makes you think that?’ he said defensively.

‘Because you have no friends and you just sit around with your dad all day.’

‘That’s it.’ He went to push open the door of the cupboard.

‘Wait, wait, I’m sorry!’ I said hurriedly, stopping him. ‘That sounded bad. What I meant was, you’re . . . uh . . . passionate about the hotel. Look, you even read books about its architecture and stuff.’

‘I can’t believe I’m bothering to listen to you.’

‘Cal, I wouldn’t ask for your help if I wasn’t desperate,’ I whined. ‘All you have to do is spend a few evenings and weekends teaching me how it all works.’

‘No small task with your attention span.’

‘I know you love a challenge,’ I said hopefully. ‘And in return, you’ll get an interview with Skylar Chase. Most proper journalists don’t get that opportunity. And I have to prove to Mum that I’ve made the effort to learn about the hotel.’

‘Why are you so desperate to go to the Christmas Ball?’

‘It’s my favourite time of year. You know I love it.’

‘Yeah, but right now you’re telling me you’re willing to actually do some work around the hotel and spend your free time learning things, which isn’t really your style. So why are you this desperate to go?’

I shuffled my feet, knocking over a basket of bleach bottles.

‘Ethan Duke asked me to go with him. You know. Like a date. And I can’t cancel on Ethan Duke. ’ I bit my lip. ‘So? Will you help me?’

I gripped his arm gently as he didn’t respond. ‘Cal? Pleeeeeeeeease?’

I gave him the biggest puppy eyes I could muster.

‘Fine.’ He sighed grudgingly. ‘Stop looking at me like that. You’ll damage your eye sockets.’

‘YES!’ I whooped. ‘Thank you. You won’t regret it.’

‘Wanna bet?’

‘When do we start?’ I asked eagerly.

‘We need to ask all the different team managers when it suits them for us to shadow,’ Cal informed me. ‘I’ll let you know when I’ve sorted a plan.’

‘Cool. Great idea. I’m excited to . . . you know . . . get to work.’

‘Right, I’m sure,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

I followed him back out into the corridor at the exact moment Mr Grindle happened to be walking past from the library. He stopped in his tracks and observed us emerging with a stunned expression on his face.

‘Trust me, Mr Grindle.’ Cal sighed, walking past him. ‘You really don’t want to know.’