The rest of the day passes uneventfully. I want to ask what results other people got, but am pretty sure that I would get in more trouble than is a good idea. Most of them will have their own factions. A few will have others. I wonder how many will be like me. Unspecified. I brush away that thought, refusing to dwell on it.

On the way home, I chatter excitedly with my friends about the ceremony tomorrow. We all have new dresses, which we went shopping for together at the weekend, and I try to initiate a discussion about how best to accessorize.

"The trouble with red and yellow," I say, "Is that they do not go together very well... I mean, I suppose I could get away with a yellow scarf or necklace... what do you think?"

"You are vain, Anna," Lucy laughs, playfully, "There isn't a faction for dress sense, remember?"

I laugh.

"That," I say, "Would be an excellent faction. Invented by people who blame all the trouble in the world on bad dress sense... If you think about it, how many evil people have you heard of who knew how to dress well?"

"Most of them," Kia says, rolling her eyes, "Many of the worst people were dictators – they had to know how to dress to become popular!"

"I'm joking, Kia," I said, "Theoretical factions and everything – you don't have to be so serious! What faction would you invent if you could?"

A look of irritation crossed Kia's face before she quickly resolved it into a smile. Joking wasn't really her thing. She thought for a moment.

"Maybe a faction for loyalty," she said, thoughtfully, "If people weren't disloyal, it might just help the world..." she trailed off, sadness registering briefly in her eyes.

"I'd create a faction for creativity," Lucy said, quickly moving on, "That would be excellent fun!"

"That would be perfect for you!" I say. Lucy's bedroom walls are covered with beautiful paintings of scenes from mythical worlds; forests with centaurs and unicorns and that kind of thing. I'm always trying to persuade her to paint my room, but don't know what I'd want on my walls and she always refuses to come up with ideas for me. Apparently it's a personal thing.

"How about you, Hayley?" I ask. Hayley doesn't respond.

"Are you okay, Hayley?" Lucy asks, "You've been really quiet today, is something wrong?"

Hayley looks as though she might cry, but shakes her head.

"Why don't you all come round mine to sort out outfits for tomorrow?" I say, more to break the silence than anything else.

"I can't," Hayley says, "I... I have a lot to think about... I'm sorry,"

I almost respond sulkily, but something in her voice prevents me.

"Okay," I say, brightly, "Kia, Lucy?"

"I can come round for a bit," says Kia, "I want to spend most of this evening with my family though,"

"Same here," says Lucy.

Back at home, I show them my planned outfit. They've already seen the dress – a gorgeous red long silky one which is flattering even on me. I plan to add a yellow scarf and bracelet, and a beaded necklace. And high heels. I like to feel tall, preferably taller than everyone else. They agree that it looks great.

I've already seen their dresses too, so we start planning their accessories. They haven't given much thought to it yet, so I have great fun planning theirs for them. I'm not convinced that they appreciate my art, but oh well. Such is life.

Then our discussion turns to earlier.

"What was up with Hayley?" I ask. Kia looks serious.

"I think... I get the feeling she might not be staying here," she says. We are all silent for a moment.

"But you two are staying, right?" I ask, "I don't want us all to split up..."

"You know we're not meant to discuss that, Anna, don't be daft," Lucy says, nudging me and smiling, "I thought you were the last person who'd get worried over this – this is your chance to dress up and parade around in front of people on a stage!" Kia laughs. I laugh too, but a little uneasily. What if this ceremony thing is more important than I had realised?