Play the Game by Nova Weetman Read Free Book Online Page B

list was pinned,
but there were so many people crammed around it, trying to see their names, I couldn’t
see anything at all.
    I wasn’t as desperate as everyone else, because I already knew what part I’d been
given, but I still wanted to see my name on the list. I squeezed my way through the
crowd of students, closed my eyes and took a huge breath. I knew what I was going
to see, but I wanted to feel the buzz of the surprise. I slowly opened my eyes and
started scanning. I read Freddy’s name opposite Romeo, and grinned. I was going to
star in one of the most beautiful tragic love stories ever written – with the cutest
boy in school! We’d get to kiss every single night on stage!
    I looked under Romeo and found Juliet, then scanned across to see my name. I just
wanted to yell with happiness, and finally share my big news with everyone else.
But it didn’t say Edie. It said Belle. I looked again. Wait, that couldn’t be right.
    I scanned down the list and found my name. Next to my part. The part that Kerry had
referred to wasn’t Juliet. It was the Nurse. Juliet’s Nurse. All of a sudden I felt
dizzy. I stepped back from the list, and leant against the wall. My mind was spinning.
The Nurse? I tried to remember exactly what Kerry had said about my part.
    I hope you don’t feel too young to carry some of the weight of the play …
    I felt my stomach drop. She never said I was the lead. I’d heard what I wanted to
hear. All she said was that I’d done a great audition, that I’d be playing an important
role. And she was right. The Nurse was one of the major roles – but it wasn’t Juliet.
    What was I going to do? How would I ever face Tess? It was bad enough having to give
up state netball to play Juliet, but to play the Nurse?
    All around me other students were celebrating. I heard Belle squealing and Freddy
singing. I had to get out of there before I started to cry. That would be the worst.
    I pushed my way through towards the foyer, keeping my eyes down so I didn’t have
to talk to anyone. I felt so embarrassed. How was I going to tell Jean? What about
Tess? Oh god.
    Before I could make it outside a girl called Mel, who was in my English class, appeared
at my side, grinning. ‘Congrats, Edie!’
    I must’ve frowned at her. ‘Thanks,’ I said, sounding anything but happy.
    ‘Don’t you want to play the Nurse?’ she asked, surprised.
    ‘Not really,’ I said honestly. ‘It wasn’t what I’d expected.’
    She laughed. ‘Tell me about it. I’m backstage!’
    I felt awful. Here I was complaining about my role, which actually wasn’t a bad role,
and she didn’t even have a part. ‘Oh no, sorry. I didn’t mean to …’
    She laughed. ‘Actually, it’s fine. Sure, I was hoping to be on stage, but I don’t
mind the behind-the-scenes stuff, either. I still think it’ll be fun.’
    ‘Oh,’ I said, surprised at how fine she sounded. ‘But aren’t you upset?’
    A girl called Sam pushed past us, crying, and Mel pulled a face. ‘Yeah, sure, a bit,
but I’m not going to cry about it. I get it. It’s not just about being able to act
– you have to be right for the part.’
    I nodded. What Mel said made sense, but I still wanted to cry. I’d spent days imagining
myself as Juliet. I was having a hard time adjusting.
    ‘Besides, being backstage means I get to boss you guys around. Make sure you don’t
break the props!’ she said, laughing.
    Mel was being really good about the fact that she hadn’t got the part she wanted,
and what she was saying made sense, but I just couldn’t make myself see it that way.
I’d given up state netball for this.
    ‘I’m really happy for you, Edie. You’ll be great in that role. And it’ll be fun hanging
out,’ said Mel warmly.
    I managed to nod. ‘Thanks, Mel. Yeah, it should be fun.’
    I looked down the hall and saw Belle and Freddy laughing together. That’s when I
realised there was something even worse than losing the part of Juliet to Belle.
I