After Alison stormed off, she began crying again. She couldn't believe her mother didn't care yet again. She had thought about calling her father, but wasn't sure if she'd be allowed to make an overseas call from the camp. And she was too scared that she would bawl her eyes out if she tried to ask Miss Belmont. So she just slipped into her cabin so she wouldn't wake Margeart. She crawled into bed and cried until she fell asleep.
The next morning, Alison came back from breakfast to find Miss Belmont in the cabin. Margeart was standing nearby and both were watching Erica as she lay on the floor, groaning.
"Well," said Miss Belmont finally, "obviously, I can't leave her here on her own."
"I'll sit with her," said Alison softly.
"Oh, thank you Alison. Make sure she gets plenty of fluids." The teacher looked over at Erica. "Well, that'll teach you to lock tonsils with Barry Hollis." She walked out with Margeart, leaving the two girls alone in the cabin.
"Thanks," sighed Erica.
"Please. I know you're faking it. I just wanted to get out of the stupid bush walk." She left the cabin and headed over to the camp's unused dining room to continue working on the costumes.
Almost half an hour later, Alison found herself distracted. She couldn't stop thinking about how her mother wouldn't come to the play. It brought tears to her eyes again as she thought of how much she wanted a family that was there for her and actually cared about her. A family like Erica's. It was hard for her at home, and although she could have whatever she wanted, she knew she'd never have the one thing she was missing. She never noticed Erica watching from the doorway as she continued to cry.
At lunchtime, Alison packed up and headed outside to see if the bush walk was over or not. She was surprised to see that it was since she hadn't actually expected it to be. She stopped Barry to ask what had happened.
"Kennard hurt his ankle," said Barry with a grin as he walked away.
Miss Belmont looked over and smiled at Alison. She was just about to walk over when her phone rang. A moment later, she turned to Erica and Alison.
"I don't know what the hell you two are playing at, impersonating me. Do you know how much trouble you've caused?" she asked angrily.
"But, I didn't even know..." Alison tried.
Miss Belmont cut her off. "Quiet!"
"She didn't have anything to do with it, it was all my idea," said Erica quietly.
"You expect me to believe that? You two are as thick as thieves."
"We are not..."
"She's nothing like me..." said Alison in protest.
"Enough! Alright Erica, I'm prepared to take you at your word. You're banned from participating in the play." She looked at Alison. "And you, keep your head down. I'll be watching both of you." Miss Belmont walked off.
"Alison, look, I just wanted to help..." said Erica.
Alison just glared at her and walked off angrily. She was hurt now.
After dinner, Alison joined the rest of the girls as they headed to the bathroom to get ready for bed. She was ignoring Erica, and had been since lunch. She knew that Erica was still trying to apologise to her, but she no longer cared. She was sick of the way Erica treated her- nice one minute and mean the next. It was getting to be very annoying, and if being ignored would stop it, then Alison was all for it. Ten minutes later, Alison packed up her belongings and headed off to her cabin.
The next morning, Alison woke to Margeart shouting at her. She opened her eyes slowly to see that Margeart was standing next to the desk in the room, holding a piece of paper.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Erica's gone!" exclaimed Margeart.
"Gone? Are you sure she's not having breakfast?"
"She ran away. Look."
Alison took the note fron Margeart and read it, surprised when she finished it. She looked over at the bunk bed to see that all of Erica's stuff was gone too. "Have you told Miss Belmont?"
"No. Yesterday, she almost chewed my head off for telling her that Erica wasn't feeling well."
Alison sighed. "Fine. I'll tell her then." She climbed out of bed and got dressed, then headed out to their teacher's cabin.
"Alison, what can I do for you?" asked Miss Belmont a moment later.
"Erica's run away," said Alison simply. "She left this on the desk in the cabin."
Miss Belmont quickly read the short note and sighed. "Okay. Give me a moment and then you can come with me to find her."
Alison was about to protest when the door was shut. She frowned as she leaned against the balcony railing to wait for the teacher to come out. When she finally did come out, she looked annoyed that she had been disturbed. "Follow me."
Alison reluctantly followed Miss Belmont to an old looking car that she doubted could actually be driven. She got into the backseat and sat against the seat, wishing she was anywhere but there. It took them almost an hour, but finally they found Erica, sitting at a bus stop. After five minutes of Miss Belmont standing outside the car, Erica finally realised that they were there. She stood up with a sigh and got into the car, knowing she was in big trouble. The glare she gave Alison made Alison shiver.
"Erica, when we get back, you are to follow me. Do not make any stops. Is that understood?" asked Miss Belmont once they were back on the road again. "You too Alison."
"Yes miss," the girls said in unison.
"Good." Miss Belmont didn't say another word to them until they were back at the camp.