Sam in the Spotlight Read online

  “Cute!” spluttered Phoebe. “You won’t be saying she’s cute when you get to know her.”

  I looked across at Adam and then did a double-take and looked again. Something had changed. I mean, he’s always been cute and I’ve always been like, Hey, you’re cute – big deal, but suddenly my heart did a strange little flip and I could feel myself start to blush. Me, blush. I’m sorry but I. DO. NOT. BLUSH. I peered a bit closer. What was it? Was he taller? Was it because he was in Year Ten now? Was it…?

  “Hi, Sam. How was your summer?” OMG, he was speaking to me. Staring straight into my eyes.

  I smiled brightly. “Oh, you know, it was great. Non-stop fun and games!”

  I looked away, blushing even more. Non-stop fun and games? What was I talking about? We all joke about fancying Adam, but this wasn’t funny. Luckily, at that moment Mandy finished talking to Sara and called us over.

  “Hello, you guys…welcome back and welcome to Phoebe’s sister, Sara, who’s joined today.” We all waved hi to Sara, who looked as if she was about to burst with excitement. “It’s so fantastic to see you all, I’ve missed you like mad!” Mandy went on. “Now, we’re actually going to start off this morning with a game called Murder Handshake.”

  “Oh, I love this game,” I shouted out. “Can I be the detective, Mandy, please?”

  “Yes, okay, Sam,” said Mandy, laughing. “Go and wait outside while I choose the murderer.”

  We’ve played this game before in our drama lessons at school. One person is secretly chosen to be the murderer and then everyone walks round the hall shaking hands. When the murderer shakes your hand they tickle your palm and then you have to shake three more hands before you die.

  A few minutes later Mandy called me back in and I walked around the hall trying to guess who the murderer was while the others began to fall to the floor.

  “I’m too young to die!” shouted Monty B, the big joker of the group. He clutched hold of his chest, moaning and groaning as he sank to his knees.

  “Do us all a favour and just die already,” said Neesha, and then she dropped dead herself.

  I was allowed three guesses but I got it first time. I could see straight away that Sara was the murderer. It was so obvious. She was grinning from ear to ear, and every time someone died she did a little hop and a skip.

  We played a few more times and then Mandy called us over to sit in a circle.

  “Sorry to start with such a gruesome game but our new show is all about a mysterious disappearance, a detective, and a lot of suspicious characters – so I thought it would be a good way to get us in the mood.”

  “Is that why you sent us that poem?” said Phoebe.

  Mandy nodded. “You see, in the holidays I stayed in this really creepy castle in Scotland and there were all these rumours about it being haunted. I was so inspired, I decided to base our show on one of the rumours. It was about a missing girl called April and a mysterious butler who somehow managed to be in two places at once. I’ve called it The Phantom Face.”

  “I actually saw a real ghost once,” said Monty B. “It was in my nan’s attic and I swear it was staring right at me.”

  “Oh my God, yeah,” said Neesha. “It probably took one look at you and dropped dead with fright.”

  “Erm, it was a ghost, Neesha, so I expect it was dead already.”

  Just then Ellie came bursting through the doors. I could see straight away why she was late; she’d obviously spent ages getting ready for Eddie. She was wearing a new top and loads of make-up and she’d done something different with her hair.

  “Sorry, sorry,” she said, out of breath and flustered. She squashed in next to me and gave me a hug. “Have I missed anything?”

  “Not really. Mandy’s just about to tell us about the new show – it’s called The Phantom Face. Monty B saw a ghost but he scared it half to death. And Phoebe’s sister Sara’s joined.”

  “Hello, Ellie,” said Mandy. “Lovely top!”

  “Thanks, Mandy. Sorry I’m late. Have you explained about that weird poem yet?”

  “That weird poem, as you put it, is actually the opening number and I was just about to play it for you.” She got up to go across to the piano.

  “Oh, can’t you talk about the characters a bit first?” I said. “I really, really want a main part this time, Mandy.”

  “You always really really want a main part,” said Monty B.

  I was just about to tell him to take a flying leap but Mandy gave me a look and carried on.

  “Well, basically it’s about this big family who are staying in an ancient castle for a wedding. Two of the guests, Laura and her older brother Ben, keep noticing a face at the window and it turns out to be a girl called April who disappeared four years earlier. Laura and Ben decide to try and solve the mystery of the missing girl themselves, but the more questions they ask, the more trouble they find themselves in.”

  “It sounds quite serious,” said Tara, peering at Mandy through her little round glasses.

  “I suppose it is in a way, but there are some funny characters as well, like Mr. Biscuit the detective. He doesn’t have a clue about how to do his buttons up straight, let alone how to solve a crime. Anyway, I had great fun writing it, so I hope you’ll have fun performing it.”

  We spent the rest of the session playing games and talking about The Phantom Face. Mandy got us into groups and we had to make freeze-frames of different scenes from the show. First off, we did a group of people arriving at the castle for the wedding, and then a detective arresting someone while everyone else looks on horrified. We also got into pairs to try out the scene where the two children see the face at the window for the first time.

  It was brilliant to be back with everyone, messing about and having a laugh, but for some annoying reason I couldn’t stop peeking over at Adam – like every two seconds! He just looked so cute. I tried not to make it obvious, but it was like my eyes were attached to magnets or something.

  When it was time to leave, I told Mandy I really, really wanted to be Laura, and she said she’d give out the scripts next week and that the auditions would be in a few weeks’ time. I tried to find Ellie to ask her who she wanted to be, but she’d disappeared into the loos to redo her make-up for about the tenth time. I could tell she was nervous about meeting Eddie, even though she kept saying he was just a friend, not a boyfriend. I waited for her to come out and we went downstairs together.

  Eddie was waiting in the car park. He was wearing blue Converse All Stars, and a bright blue baseball cap pulled right down over his eyes. I suppose he was quite cute in a geeky sort of way, but nothing like as gorgeous as Adam.

  “We’re going into town if you want to come, Sam,” said Ellie. “I’d really like you to.” But I shook my head. I didn’t want to tag along when it was obvious they wanted to be by themselves.

  I tried to call Crystal on the way home, but it went straight to voicemail. She hadn’t been in touch for ages and I really wanted to tell her what was going on. We’ve always been close, even though she’s six years older than me, and I hated not knowing exactly what she was up to.

  When I was little we used to spend loads of time together. She’d look after me while Mum was at work. She’d do my hair and let me try on her clothes and make-up. The best was when Mum and Dad went out in the evening. As soon as they left she’d make us hot chocolate with loads of froth on top, and then let me stay up and watch DVDs till I fell asleep curled up next to her on the couch. She just had this way of making everything seem exciting, even if it was just watching old Disney movies.

  She was brilliant at keeping in touch when she first left. She rang me every week, full of news – moving in with Tyler, going to gigs, making lots of jewellery to sell. But these last few weeks, I hadn’t heard a word. I sat at the bus stop, staring at my phone. I didn’t even know where she was living, not her actual address – she could be anywhere. It was beginning to feel like she’d disappeared into thin air.

  I kept
on calling Crystal all weekend but she still didn’t answer her phone or call me back. It was awful. I was so used to talking to her whenever I wanted and now weeks had passed without a word. She could be ill or in trouble or anything. I thought about what I’d heard Aunty Mags say that day in Mum’s bedroom:

  Of course Crystal’s still upset, Rosy. What do you expect?

  I’ve never really understood what happened between Mum and Crystal. They used to row all the time about boyfriends and make-up and curfews – normal stuff – but then, on the night of Crystal’s eighteenth birthday, they had this massive fight – THE FIGHT TO END ALL FIGHTS – and the next day Crystal was gone.

  I wanted her to come home so much. I know lots of people move out by the time they’re eighteen – but not after a massive fight like that. If only I could find out what Mum said to Crystal that night. I had tried asking her but she always managed to come up with some excuse, like it was too difficult to explain or I was too young to understand. If I could just find out what it was, then maybe I’d be able to talk to Crystal about it and put things right – if I ever heard from her again!

  I was dying to discuss it with Ellie on Monday – ask her what she thought I should do – but she was so excited about her date with Eddie that I couldn’t get a word in edgeways. It was like we’d swapped places or something. Usually it’s me going on about my weekend on a Monday morning, hogging all the limelight, but Polly and Phoebe were hanging on to Ellie’s every word, giggling and carrying on as if they’d never heard of someone going out with a boy before.

  “Ellie and Eddie,” sighed Phoebe. “It sounds so romantic. I wonder who my first boyfriend will be?”

  “Your first and only boyfriend will probably be Monty B, won’t it?” I snapped.

  Phoebe swung her bag at me. “Shut up, no it won’t,” she cried, turning crimson. “What about you and Adam then?”

  “What about me and Adam?” I said, cool as anything, but I could feel my face start to burn up too and I rushed on ahead before I gave myself away. I’d been thinking about Adam non-stop since drama, whenever I wasn’t worrying about Crystal. It was like he’d got stuck inside my head, and it was driving me nuts.

  On Friday night, Aunty Mags came over for dinner. Mum was still at work so she got busy, bustling about the kitchen, making a big pot of chilli con carne. Mum runs her own florist shop called Everything’s Rosy. She’s become quite well known in the local area, doing the flowers for big weddings and other special occasions, but it means she’s off really early in the morning and often doesn’t get in until late.

  “You haven’t told me what my mum said when you had your little chat the other week,” I said to Aunty Mags, stirring the chilli so it didn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. “And what was she saying about Crystal? I heard you say something to her about Crystal being upset. I haven’t heard from her in ages, you know. I’m really worried.”

  “Listen, Sam, I know it’s difficult for you. I want your mum and Crystal to make up as much as you, but it’s going to take some time.”

  “But why do you think Crystal hasn’t been in touch? And what did they row about anyway? She used to call me at least once a week, even if it was just to say hi.”

  Aunty Mags put her arm round me and gave me a hug. “I really don’t know, lovey, but Crystal’s eighteen and she’s living her own life now. When I was eighteen I went off travelling round the world and I was terrible at keeping in touch. She’ll call you soon, I’m sure of it. Come on, you old worry guts, let’s have a boogie!”

  I wasn’t so sure that Crystal would call me, and I still didn’t know what was going on, but Aunty Mags just has this magical way of making everything seem a bit brighter. She put on an old eighties CD and we danced round the kitchen, singing at the tops of our voices, while the chilli bubbled away on the stove and we waited for Mum and Dad to come home.

  I couldn’t wait to get to drama that Saturday. Mandy was bringing the scripts for The Phantom Face and we were going to have a proper read-through.

  “Please, please, please can I read Laura’s part?” I said as soon as I walked into the hall. “I did tell you I wanted to be Laura, didn’t I?”

  “Erm, only about six hundred times,” said Mandy, laughing. “But we’re going to do things a bit differently for this production – I’ll explain in a sec.”

  When everyone had a script, Mandy asked us to get into three groups.

  “I want all the people who think they’d like to try out for Laura over there, all the people who like the sound of Ben’s part, down here, and if you fancy trying out for one of the funny characters, sit in front of me.”

  There was a load of noise and excitement as everyone got up and moved into one of the three groups.

  “Oh, I don’t know who I want to be, Mandy,” wailed Ellie. “I don’t even understand the story yet. I know there’s a face and someone called Biscuit, but that’s about it.”

  “Come into the funny group, Ellie. Just try not to lose your script this morning because I won’t find that amusing at all!”

  Once we’d sorted ourselves out, Mandy gave each group a small passage to learn from different parts of the script.

  “I’d like you to get a really good feel for the characters and then we’ll watch your scenes in about half an hour. But I’m not going to decide any of the parts today.”

  I was in a group with Catharine, Polly, Sara and Tara.

  “I’d never be brave enough to try out for a big part normally,” said Tara, pushing her glasses up her nose. “I only came into this group because Laura sounds like a timid sort of character and I thought I might be quite good at that – if I’m even brave enough to audition!”

  “I never get scared at auditions,” I said. “I can’t wait to get up there and show Mandy what I can do!”

  “I never get scared either,” said Sara. “Phoebe’s the one who won’t say boo to a goose! You should see her sometimes – it’s hilarious.”

  “What’s she saying?” Phoebe called out from across the hall. “Put a gag on her, can’t you, Sam?”

  “It’s okay,” said Catharine. “I’ll make sure she behaves.” Catharine’s in Year Nine, so she’s about a year older than the rest of us. She had the main part in our first show and she’s brilliant at singing and acting. I was gutted she was even thinking about being Laura.

  “I don’t really mind who I am,” she said suddenly, as if she could read my mind. “I only came into this group because I’m rubbish at being funny.”

  “Same,” said Polly. “I had the main part last term, so I’m not expecting it this time anyway.”

  “That just leaves me then,” I said, practically rubbing my hands together. “Can I go first?” I called out to Mandy.

  “Hang on, Sam. Have you even read it through yet?”

  She was over with the group of boys who wanted to try out for Ben. There was Adam and a couple of the others – Sandeep and Jason.

  Our group had to learn the passage where Laura tells Ben about the face at the window for the first time. We spent ages memorizing it, testing each other over and over before it was time to act it out. Laura had to sound scared but excited as well. The face at the window frightens her but she can’t wait to tell Ben all about it. I tried to get the balance just right: spooked by the face, but thrilled at the prospect of solving a mystery with my big brother.

  “That was fantastic, Sam,” said Mandy, when I’d had my turn at performing. “Now after break, when everyone’s had a go, I’d like each of the Lauras to pair up with one of the Bens and we’ll put the scenes together. That’s what I meant about doing things differently this time.”

  I looked across at the group of Bens. There was no way I wanted to be with Adam. In the first Star Maker’s show, my character was actually married to his character so we did practically all our scenes together, but that was before I started blushing every time he even looked in my general direction!

  As soon as Mandy said it was time for break, I
rushed straight over to Sandeep and asked him to be my partner, willing him to say yes.

  “What do you mean?” cried Adam, pretending to sound all offended. “We’re married, in case you’d forgotten, and I don’t want you going off with anyone else, especially not Sandeep.”

  My face started to burn up and I dashed back over to the other side of the room before I said something completely moronic. There was no way I could get up on a stage and act with Adam – not if he kept saying things like that – it would be a total disaster!

  “Me and Sandeep are partners,” I announced to Mandy straight after break, just to make sure she didn’t put me with anyone else. I hung onto Sandeep’s arm and practically forced him to stand glued to my side while Mandy sorted out the pairs. I really wanted a big part and I wasn’t about to let some stupid boy ruin my chances, however cute he was.

  In the end Adam went with Catharine, Jason paired up with Polly, and Tara decided she didn’t want such a big part after all. There was no one left for Sara so Adam said he’d do the scene twice, once with Catharine and once with Sara.

  “I honestly do think I should be Laura,” said Sara. “I’m the youngest for a start and I’m so good at acting, aren’t I, Phoebe?”

  “So good at showing off you mean!” said Phoebe.

  “Yeah, you sound just like Sam,” said Monty B. “You’re not related by any chance, are you?”

  I glared at Monty B. “I am not a show-off!” I said. “I’m just sure of myself. There is a difference, you know.”

  The scene went really well. Sandeep was brilliant and I was positive Mandy would cast him as Ben when she came to choose the parts. I suppose some of the others were good as well, but we were easily the best pair. When we’d all had our turn, Mandy collected the scripts and we finished with a few games.

  We were just about to leave when Arthur turned up. He’s the man who rents Mandy the hall and we all think he’s a bit bonkers – including Mandy. In the first term he accidentally sold all our costumes at the annual church jumble sale, and last term he misprinted the programmes for our show so that they said Trash instead of Crash. He acts in a group himself, called The Players, and he’s always popping in to see what we’re doing. Mandy says it’s because he really loves acting, but personally I think it’s because he secretly loves her.