Brave New Girl by Catherine Johnson Read Free Book Online

from his water bottle. He looked at me. I wondered if he was thinking about the time Christina called him a loser.
    Christina folded her arms. “Keith, Miss Tunks thinks you’re good.” There was an edge to her voice. “I mean, everyone knows you know everything about films. And she’s seen your idea.”
    I looked at Keith, I couldn’t keep it in. “She has?” I said.
    Christina smirked an
I know something you don’t
smirk, and exchanged looks with Shazna.
    Keith was cool. “Thank you, Christina. That’s very kind of you to say.” He closed his lunch box and put it back in his bag. Didn’t look at them, took another drink from his water bottle.
    â€œKeith! Do I have to spell it out?” Christina said.“You’re gonna need help. Actresses? Me and Shaz?” They both nodded. They looked at him and then at each other and then back to Keith.
    â€œYeah,” Shazna said. “Miss Tunks said, it was sort of like
The Tempest
and that? And I was Miranda and everything that one time, so I pretty much know the part inside-out already.”
    Keith did up the cap on his water bottle slowly and calmly. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He took a paper hanky from his bag and wiped his hands. Then he looked up at them.
    â€œI think, girls, that might be a matter of opinion. And as I’m the director, you’ll find that I make the decisions. So, thanks, but no thanks.”
    The girls made furious, huffy noises but didn’t go away.
    â€œBut I can do it, Keith.” Shazna sounded almost desperate.
    â€œSorry.”
    The girls looked at Keith, utterly gobsmacked that anyone would ever say no to them.
    â€œActually, wait,” Keith said. “I’m not sorry. Remember last term?”
    I flushed, remembering last term, and Christina did too, bright red. She opened and closed her mouth.
    â€œI don’t know why you two would want to have anything to do with me,” Keith said coolly. “I certainly don’t want either of you in my film.”
    Christina glared at us. “It’ll be rubbish anyway.” She looked back at Keith. “With her.” She pointed at me. “You know it. You two are pond life.”
    Shazna tried her hardest at an evil look, but half her face seemed sort of frozen. I had to try hard not to laugh.
    â€œYeah,” Shazna said. They linked arms and stalked off.
    Keith took another swig of water, cool as anything.
    â€œWhat did they think? That you’d be so honoured by their offer you’d be grateful?”
    â€œWho knows?” Keith shrugged. “I wouldn’t have those two anywhere near a film of mine. They are bitchy and vindictive.”
    â€œGood word. Vindictive.” I nodded.
    â€œAnd what’s worse,” Keith went on, lowering his voice as if Christina could hear round corners, “is that thing she does with her hands when she’s on stage, no, scratch that, she does it in Drama too, when she’s acting.”
    â€œI thought it was only me who noticed that!” I said. “It does my head in! She holds her hands flat at hersides like paddles, or like those plastic doll’s hands where the fingers are all stuck together.”
    â€œI know. It makes her look as if she’s made of wood,” Keith said. “And if those two think I had forgotten how they treated us both, they must be mad...”
    I watched Christina and Shazna disappear inside the school. I was a bit surprised how good it felt. My KitKat tasted even more chocolatey and delicious than usual.
    â€œSo,” Keith said, “I want to get it all shot as soon as possible. The closing date’s in a month and I’m going to need all the editing time I can get.”
    â€œYou never told me Miss Tunks had seen your idea!” I said.
    â€œYou don’t like Miss Tunks.”
    â€œShe doesn’t like me.”
    â€œI’ve said it before, that