Rising Star by Cindy Jefferies Read Free Book Online

friends with me anymore.” Chloe hated the way she was sounding so pathetic, but she was near to tears, and couldn’t help her voice wobbling. Danny put the remains of his baguette down and looked at Chloe.
    â€œWho’d want friends like that?” he asked. “ I wouldn’t.”
    Chloe tried to explain. “That’s all very well, but—”
    â€œHere, let’s ask them,” he butted in. “Hey, Pop! You wouldn’t stop being friends with Chloe if she couldn’t sing, would you?”
    To Chloe’s horror, Pop and Lolly were in the dining room, coming their way. Practically everyone in the room must have heard what Danny had said! Chloe rubbed her eyes furiously and tried to look as if she didn’t care.
    Pop banged her tray down on the table and plonked herself angrily into the chair opposite Chloe.
    â€œHonestly! What a horrible thing to say, Danny!”
    â€œWhat have I done?” Danny asked. “I was only—”
    â€œWell, don’t,” said Lolly, putting her tray down quietly and sitting next to Chloe. “Can’t you see she’s upset?” She put her arm around Chloe and gave her a hug. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said. “Pop and I have been worried sick.”
    Danny finished his baguette, pushed back his chair, and got up.
    â€œGirls!” he muttered, and wandered off.
    â€œWe were at our house in Gloucestershire for the weekend,” Pop told Chloe. “It’s down in a valley. We can never get a signal for our cell phones there. It’s so boring. So Lolly only got your text on the way back to school.”
    â€œThat’s why I only texted you back an hour ago,” Lolly explained. “... And you didn’t read the message, did you?” she added, seeing Chloe’s face.
    Chloe shook her head. “I switched my phone off and packed it in my bag this morning,” she explained. “After not hearing from you over the weekend, I thought you definitely wouldn’t text me today,” she added awkwardly.
    â€œAnd after what Tara said on Friday, we were afraid you’d disappear and we’d never see you again!” added Lolly. “You did mention not being able to use the right muscles for singing at the beginning of the term, but we thought that had been fixed.”
    â€œIs it still the same problem?” Pop asked.
    Chloe told them all about it. It felt good unburdening herself to the twins. When she’d finished, Lolly gave her another hug.
    â€œWe didn’t realize it was so serious,” she told Chloe. “You poor thing, suffering all this time in silence. You should have said something.”
    â€œI know,” Chloe admitted sheepishly. “Jess talked to me about that. And don’t be mad at Danny for what he said. It’s my fault. I really was scared that if I couldn’t sing, you might not want to be friends anymore.”
    â€œHuh!” snorted Pop.
    â€œSorry,” Chloe said in a small voice.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Lolly said. “Some people really are like that.”
    â€œWe liked you right away because you were so ordinary,” Pop told her.
    Chloe couldn’t help smiling. “Thanks!” she said.
    â€œNo, really!” said Pop. “You know what I mean. We meet so many people who only want to be friends because we’re well known. We’ve gotten careful about hanging out with phonies. They only let you down.”
    â€œSometimes they’re quite hard to spot,” Lolly said. “So I’m not surprised you were wary of trusting us. But we’re not phonies, and we want to help. Tell us what to do and we’ll do it!”
    Chloe smiled a lopsided smile. If only it were that easy.
    They finished their snack and went over to Paddock House. There was no sign of Tara.
    â€œI saw her going over to the practice rooms as we arrived,” Lolly said. “I don’t