Party at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant Read Free Book Online Page A

her mind. Her own bag was in soft pink leather with a heavy silver chain strap and a silver heart on the front. It would be no wonder if she thought my little knitted thing was a bit weird.
    Izzy and Sasha were first onto the minibus and they quickly made a dive for the seats at the back, so Antonia and I joined them and I felt glad we were all together. It meant that I didn’t have to try and make conversation with Antonia on my own during the journey. I knew I’d never be able to talk about the kinds of things she’d be interested in. It was obvious from all I’d heard about her parents, their restaurant, the people they knew and Antonia’s incredible clothes, that her life was as different from my own as it was possible to be.
    We got to the town centre after about fifteen minutes and all piled out of the minibuses. Then Miss Fosbrook from Hazeldean, who’d been in the other minibus, gathered us round and told us to listen carefully because she had something important to say. First we had to put her phone number into our phone memories. “Now,” she said, “I need to see that you can behave responsibly and sensibly.” Then she explained about when and where we’d meet up later, and how we had to make sure we always stayed with at least one other person. “Phone me if you have any problems,” she finished with a smile, and added, “And try not to spend too much money. Remember, it’s only the first weekend of term!”
    I swallowed, knowing that I was just about to do exactly what she’d warned us not to do.
    Antonia and I both stayed close to Sasha and Izzy, and the four of us headed straight for Topshop. I suddenly felt very grown-up and independent. It was the first time that it had hit me that Mum and Dad had no idea what I was doing from one day to the next during term time.
    Sasha and Izzy raced round Topshop, commenting on everything they liked and didn’t like. I went much more slowly, crossing my fingers and hoping that any second I might suddenly come across the perfect outfit for the party, reduced to less than half price. Antonia stayed close by me for the first few minutes, watching what I did carefully. Every time I picked something up and looked at the price tag before putting it down, she waited a moment, then looked at the price tag too. It was quite a relief when she wandered off, but then, when I looked round after I’d been totally absorbed in a rail of tops, I saw that she was standing right by the door, next to a man who looked as though he was completely bored and was just waiting for someone.
    It suddenly dawned on me at that moment that as Miss Fosbrook had said we must stay with at least one other person, Antonia and I were kind of partners for each other, although neither of us had actually said that. Sasha and Izzy were definitely in a pair, rushing round together, so that only left me for Antonia, as everyone else seemed to be paired off too.
    Oh dear, this was never going to work. It was obvious Antonia wasn’t interested in buying clothes from a shop like this if she was used to getting really expensive labels like Dolce & Gabbana for free. And what if we did find the kind of shop she liked? Then I suppose we’d be the opposite way round. I’d be the one waiting by the door – except that I wouldn’t. I’d at least pretend to be interested. I suddenly panicked at the thought of that, and wanted Sasha and Izzy to stay with us two. I looked round for them and felt big relief as I spotted them coming down the escalator.
    â€œHave you finished in here, Nicole?” asked Sasha. “Because we have.”
    â€œWhere’s Antonia?” asked Izzy.
    â€œShe’s over there.”
    Izzy and Sasha followed my gaze. “Look! She’s talking to that man!” spluttered Izzy. “She shouldn’t be talking to strangers, should she?”
    Izzy was right, and I followed her and Sasha