CHAPTER 4

Almost as soon as she closes her mouth, there's the scraping of chairs as about half of the audience leave. I mean, there is literally a mad exodus of the hall. Kids scrambling to get out. I'm starting to think a fire alarm has gone off and I didn't hear it.

I am not sure what to make of this, but miss Russell smirks like she knows exactly what to make of this and walks over to start taking names of the people who remain. Putting them in order and advising them when they will roughly perform and how Glee club will work. She points to me a couple of times and I guess she's explaining I'm team captain. I'm still stood on stage not sure what just happened here. I scan the hall for Harriett, she sits grinning and gives me two thumbs up. What is going on?

Lizzie and Louisa have already left. I see Harry get up to join them and Fred pulls him back down. He sees me looking, I look away but not quick enough, he's seen me staring, damn it. I look at another random group of people trying to pretend I was searching for them in the first place. Only to find them already looking at me whispering to each other anxious looks on their face. I repeat, what is going on?

As if answering my silent question, a young girl walks up to me and tells me,

"that was freaking amazing! I mean OMG! You should be on x factor of something!"

I cringe never knowing how to accept a compliment, but also at the thought of me on TV in front of millions. I'm dying to go back stage and pace up and down until I get this mess straight in my head. I performed. By all accounts it was ok, good even. So why the silence, the mass walk out? Why is Fred Wentworth still here? Why is this girl looking at me like I've just given her the winning lottery numbers?

"Er thanks, but no thanks, that was bloody terrifying."

I take her in. She's about 15, shiny auburn hair bouncing as she talks animatedly. Her friendly blue green eyes look familiar but I cant quite place them…

"I'm Sophia, Sophia Wentworth."

And there you go! My heart stops beating for the briefest of seconds and I scan the audience, and then I see him already walking towards us.

"So Soph, do you really think you're that god?" He's looking at me. He's meaning me?

"No way! I thought I could sing, but now I'm bloody terrified" she jokes using my words and winking at me.

"Don't be silly!" I pause trying to think what to say next, "of course you'll be great."

Sophia skips off to await her turn and I find myself pinned to the bottom of the steps I just walked down. He's still here. He hasn't gone to sit back down. He's stood in front of me. I bite my bottom lip thinking what to do next, I so need to pace! I risk another look at him. He has his hand on the back of his head rubbing his neck. He does that a lot. He catches me looking, grins and stops. Harriett comes bustling up to us.

"Holy shit! Anne Elliot! You are like a … a … I don't know what!" She's so exited she's practically jumping. It's infectious and I actually feel myself let a little bit of pride in. I made her feel like that just by singing. Aw, love my Hari.

"Did you fucking see her? Jesus! Did you hear her? My best friend is a fucking star!"

"Harriet!" I hiss at her language, we are supposed to be ladies after all!

Fred laughs, "my thoughts exactly!"

He answers Harriett all the while never taking his eyes off me. I feel very warm. It goes quiet again. Harriet flicks her eyes from Fred to me and back again. Then recognition falls over her face.

"Anyway, I need to get back to class now. So I'll catch you later. Anne ok?"

As she leaves she turns, walking backwards and mimes 'call me.' I try to tell her to watch out but she ends up colliding with Harry Harville. He picks her up turns her round and then carries on towards us. Towards Fred I mean! Not me. Not us. There isn't an 'us.' I so want there to be an 'us.'

When I look again Harriet has left the hall. Fred is flanked by Harry and James. They start talking about Sophia's audition and how long they're likely to wait. I realise this is my chance of a swift getaway, as I make my move, Fred steps away from them and back in front of me.

"Where are you going?"

"I… I have to join miss Russell to watch the auditions. I'm the Team Captain I'm supposed to watch and judge or something."

"Oh yeah right. I was thinking we could have watched together or something, so I could Soph some pointers. But it doesn't matter. I'll see you after?"

"Aren't you going to get off after Sophia sings? You don't have to stay until the end."

"Yeah I know, but we haven't really got anywhere to be, to be honest and besides…"

He trails off looking at me and then away and then back to me. His hand back to rubbing his neck. Why is he so nervous around me? He's not like this with everyone else. What's wrong with me?

We listen to Sophia as she takes her turn and I was right, she is good, she has the whole Norah Jones thing going on, something I've never grasped. I tell her as much as we chat later. She's so easy to talk to. We become friends immediately, bonding over 'Supermodel street dancer jealousy.' I have to laugh when Sophia does an all too accurate impression of Lizzie and Louisa, flipping their hair and trying to make their boobs appear bigger by sticking them in the boys faces.

"So are you coming to Harry's party tonight?" Sophia asks.

"Party? No. I'm not, as you would say, in with that crowd, its more Lizzie, my sister."

Sophia looks disappointed, "oh I hoped I would see you there, my friends are going, but they're a bit on the immature side, all swooning after Freddie and his mates, and you're different. I don't know, you give off this whole 'I'm not interested vibe' and its refreshing." 'Not interested vibe?' Great!

"Erm well maybe I could pop by, but I haven't even been invited and I was kind of supposed to be spending time with my best friends tonight."

Before I even get the words out, she's dragging Harry Harville over towards me. He was in conversation with some girl but immediately stopped when Sophia appeared. I chuckle to myself that this tiny little girl seems to be able to already wrap these boys around her finger. Its obvious to me that despite being Fred's little sister, they all seem to be her big brother.

"Harry, Anne. Anne, Harry. Can she and her friends come tonight or what?"

She pouts up at him with an obvious, 'this always wins' look, he eyes me up and down and then glances over to Fred who seems to be paying a lot of attention to our little scene, and then slowly nods, a wide grim appearing on his face.

"Yeah why not? I'm sure that will make you and I very popular, eh Soph?"

Sophia elbows him and goes slightly red, I stand there again not knowing what the hell is going on, as Sophia grabs my phone and starts entering her details. Harry returns to Fred slapping him on the back saying something to him that has Fred smiling and giving Harry a playful punch in the arm. Suddenly I feel anxious.

"Are you sure this is ok Sophia? I mean, what about my friends, and are you sure?"

"Don't be silly, Harry's parents are always working away so he does this all the time. Faye, his little sister will be there, as long as I agree to help with the clearing up, he lets me and my friends come too. Bring who ever you want. See you there."

In a flash she grabs the boys, and has run up the stairs and is out the hall. I sit down in the now empty hall and relay what has just happened. I sang - well, it would seem. In front of an audience. I made friends with Sophia Wentworth. Little sister of hot senior Fred. I pause, 'Freddie' she had called him. I smile, 'Freddie' hmmm. Where was I? Oh yes, then I am invited to a party with the rest of the seniors. A party my big sister will be attending and will probably not speak to me for the rest of my life if I go. Me. I chuckled to myself, threw back my shoulders and walked proudly out of the hall, head held high for the first time in a long time. Wait while Harriet hears this one, I chuckle.