Broadway Baby by Samantha-Ellen Bound Read Free Book Online Page B

her money in the innocent department.
    â€˜We started the dance for “Say Something” today,’ Paige said. ‘But don’t worry, I’ll catch you up if you like.’ She zipped another quick look at Cadence before she held out a packet of snakes. ‘We brought you some snakes in case you were hungry.’
    I looked down at the parade of snake parts on the steps, and the packet of sherbet bombs open between me and Cadence.
    â€˜Oh!’ I said. ‘Thanks, Paige, but I think we may have had enough sugar already!’
    Cadence giggled.
    â€˜Right,’ said Paige, folding up the packetand taking a step back closer to Riley. ‘That’s okay. Maybe next time.’
    â€˜I’ll have some,’ said Riley, snatching the packet from Paige and making a point of choosing one. ‘Thank you, Paige.’ She chewed on a red snake and turned her eyes to Cadence. ‘Hi,’ she said. ‘Who are you?’
    Cadence jumped up. ‘Hello!’ She dashed forward to give a dainty hug to Riley (who almost choked on her snake) and then did the same to Paige (who flinched like Cadence had thrown the whole packet at her). ‘I’m Cadence Kohdean, Ellie’s friend from Mary Poppins . You must be … hmm … Paige and Riley! Ellie talks about you all the time! She just loves Silver Shoes.’
    â€˜We know,’ Paige mumbled to the ground.
    â€˜Oh yes,’ said Riley, ‘Ellie talks about you all the time, too.’ She smirked when she said that because mostly what I’d told her and Paigeand Ash was how annoying Cadence was and how much I disliked her. Now, things had obviously changed, because here I was sitting on the steps talking and laughing and eating lollies with her almost as if she was a Silver Shoes girl herself.
    I flashed Riley a warning look to let her know that it wasn’t the right time to go causing trouble for me and Cadence. Riley just shrugged and selected another snake.
    There was a horrible silence between us four, which my mouth did not like, so it immediately opened and started babbling.
    â€˜It’s so fun, what we’re doing,’ I said.
    â€˜You should hear the song we’re working on,’ said Cadence.
    â€˜It’s so catchy,’ I hurried on. ‘I wish we could do it in jazz, except a lot of it is tap – well, the part we’re learning – well, me anyway, ’causeI’m a chimney sweep. Cadence is playing Jane, that’s the lead character.’
    â€˜I know who Jane is,’ said Riley, although I wasn’t sure she did.
    â€˜Oh! You’re a fan of Mary Poppins ?’ said Cadence. ‘Awesome! Ellie and I think it might be our favourite musical.’
    Paige looked up at that, because she knew very well my favourite musical was Hairspray since I’d made her watch it with me a million times until it became hers, too. She caught my eye but then quickly looked down. She was holding her head in that way she does when she’s trying not to get upset. It made my chest feel yucky. Of course Hairspray was my number one, but it’s easy to get carried away when you’re in the middle of doing another musical and having so much fun.
    Another horrible silence.
    â€˜Are you guys going to come watch us at the preview performance for the variety night?’ Cadence chirped. ‘It will be super fun! You’ll get to see what Ellie and I have been working on!’
    â€˜Can’t wait,’ said Riley.
    â€˜My mum’s waiting to pick me up,’ Paige said, miserably. She was clutching the bag of snakes so tight I thought they might combust. ‘Bye, Ellie.’ She walked away, looking like a fairy who’d just lost her wings.
    â€˜Yeah, bye, Ellie,’ said Riley, flashing me a look that I knew too well. ‘Bye, Cadence.’
    â€˜Bye!’ Cadence trilled.
    I watched Riley hurry after Paige and I felt my heart might break. I knew,