Summary
June is nervous, scared and close to tears while at school. Can Freddie find out what's caused it?
Chapter 1
Freddie ran across the train platform ignoring her mother's cries of "Freddie wait, we still need to check you in to Miss Potts!"
The third form carriage was the last one that Freddie came across and the one she stopped at.
Freddie poked her head in through the train door and saw June sitting quietly in the corner looking out the window. Nora and Pam, who had puzzled looks on their faces were trying to involve June in their conversation but only receiving one word answers.
Pam looked at the door, saw Freddie and gave a shrug of her shoulders. Freddie walked into the train and sat herself down next to June.
"Hallo June, did you have good hols?"
June turned her brunette head and looked warily at Freddie and replied, "I guess. You?"
"Good, but tell me, what happened, why are you so dreary?"
"Nothing, I'm just a bit tired, I didn't get a very good sleep last night."
"Okay, if you're sure you're alright." Freddie said suspiciously.
"I'm fine Freddie!" June hissed irritably,and went back to staring out the window. Freddie held her hands up in mock surrender and turned to Nora and Pam.
"I wonder what's up with her. " murmured Pam with a thoughtful look on her face.
"I'm sure she'll be okay once we get to Malory Towers, don't worry." reassured Nora.
Freddie, Pam, Nora and June were the only North Tower girls on the train for this term, the latter still looking out the window while the other three chatted amicably, trying to draw June into their conversation but giving up in the end.
When they got to Malory Towers June was the first out of the coach, she ran up the steps to meet Felicity and Susan.
"Hallo Felicity, Hi Susan!" She said cheerfully, looking a great deal happier than she had on the train.
Perhaps Nora was right in that June would be okay when we got here, she seems better, thought Freddie as she rushed up to them, greeting Felicity and Susan as well.
Pam and Nora arrived (at a more dignified pace than either June or Freddie) and took the lead to Matron where they would hand in their health certificates. Felicity and Susan followed leaving Freddie and June to bring up the rear. Freddie, realising that the others had walked quite a way infront of them, took hold of June's arm and started to pull her along.
When they got to Matron she was just taking some second formers health certificates, she turned them away and asked for theirs. They all (except Nora) gave her them.
Nora was on her knees rummaging around in her night case.
"It simply has to be in here, for I was there when mother put it in."
"Well if you don't find it soon Nora I shall have to quarantine you until your parents can send a new one." replied Matron briskly.
Freddie looked at Nora with dismay and turned around to see June was stood behind her looking amused, a ghost of a smirk playing on her lips.
She made her face go quite convincingly exasperated when she noticed that Freddie was glaring at her. Then there came a cry of victory from down by their feet as Nora stood up holding the health certificate out to Matron.
"You see, Mother did put it in there but I thought it should get lost so I took it out and put it in my pocket so you shan't have to quarantine me at all Matron." Nora explained looking triumphant.
When the group had gotten to the dorm they saw that Julie, Amy and Bonnie (the other fourth form girls in North Tower) had already arrived and were unpacking noisily.
The latecomers start to unpack and the noise already at quite a deafening level, increased. June was rather quiet. Though she chatted when asked a question, she didn't try to be the centre if attention, as she put away her things in her closet.
Julie seemed to notice that June wasn't quite right because she walked up to June's bed when she had finished unpacking and said, "Anything wrong old girl, you're awfully quiet?"
But June gave the same response that she had given Freddie and though she now seemed to put more effort into smiling and laughing with the others her face kept falling into the same nervous, tired expression (that she had been wearing all morning) when she thought no-one was looking. June didn't think anyone noticed, but someone did.
Freddie.
While the others were in the bathroom that night after tea Freddie took her chance and spoke to June. She went over and sat on the edge of the girl's bed next to June who had been sitting there awkwardly, looking down and playing with her hands.
"June," Freddie began gently, "You know you can tell me anything, right?"
"Yeah, I know." replied June nervously, without looking up.
"Then please tell me what's wrong," pleaded Freddie, "Pretty please with a cherry on top."
June laughed and opened her mouth ready to speak, but at that moment the others came back into the room and she closed up again instead saying in a terse voice, "Come on Freddie we'd better get to bed or else we shall have woolly brains tomorrow."
Silently Freddie cursed at the others timing of coming into the dorm as she got into bed. She was just about to tell me couldn't they of waited just another minute. Maybe I could talk to her in the morning? No, she clearly won't say anything infront of the others so I need to get her alone. But how?
