Alice in the Middle (10 page)

A
nd so the days went very, very slowly by. In the day-time, I stayed away from Alice and Hazel as much as possible. That wasn’t too hard anyway as they were doing their very best to stay away from me. The camp wasn’t all that big though, and despite our best efforts, we often bumped in to each other. Then they acted like I smelled bad, and skipped off, giggling and holding their noses.

The worst thing was, I still had to share a room with Alice and Hazel, so every night after nine o’clock it was just the three of us trapped inside the small room. I felt like a kitten being forced to share with two angry wolves.

As soon as lights went out every night, I got into bed, and cried myself to sleep. At first I tried to cry quietly, afraid that if Alice and Hazel heard me, they’d start mocking me. It didn’t matter though. They just went on with their lives as if they could neither see nor hear me. In the bedroom at night, they were so busy texting Conor and Lee, and swapping iPods, that I could have stood in the middle of the floor and jumped up and down and shrieked at the top of my voice, and still they’d have acted as if I didn’t exist.

On the third day after the sneaking out day, Gloria called me aside after lunch.

‘You and I need to talk,’ she said.

She led me into a quiet corner of the garden, and sat beside me on a bench. At first she talked about trivial kind of stuff, but I knew what she was building up to. It didn’t take her very long.

‘Is Alice giving you a hard time?’ she asked.

How could I answer that?

Alice was giving me a hard time – a very, very hard time.

But was it fair to tell on her?

Gloria folded her arms.

‘I’ll take that as a yes, then,’ she said.

I still didn’t know what to say. Even though Alice was being totally mean, I didn’t want to get her into even more trouble.

‘Would you like me to have a word with her?’ asked Gloria.

At last I was able to answer.

‘No way. I mean no. No thanks.’

Gloria smiled at me.

‘I can be very delicate. She wouldn’t have to know that I’ve spoken to you.’

I shook my head.

‘She’ll figure it out. She’s not stupid. And if she thinks I told you she was being mean to me, she’ll find a way to hate me even more than she does already.’
Gloria sighed.

‘Poor Megan. Life doesn’t always seem fair, does it?’

I shook my head.

‘That’s what Hazel said too.’

Gloria gave a small chuckle.

‘Well, Megan, between you and me, I think it’s less fair than usual when there are girls like Hazel around.’

I tried to smile. Gloria patted my hand.

‘Maybe you should just give Alice more time.’

‘But she’s had three days. Camp will be over, and she’ll still hate me.’

‘Well, I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but in the great scheme of things, this camp won’t turn out to have been so important,’ said Gloria. ‘You and Alice will get home, and in a few days, it will be like none of this happened.’
I didn’t answer. Clearly Gloria didn’t know Alice as well as I did. Alice could be the most stubborn person in the world when it suited her.

Gloria stood up.

‘You just stick with Sarah for a while. She’s a nice girl. And Sam …’ she hesitated and gave me a
funny look before continuing. ‘… is it just me or are you and Sam especially friendly?’

I knew I was going red.

Gloria laughed.

‘It’s OK, you don’t have to answer that one,’ she said. ‘And come talk with me, if things get too much for you. I’m always available.’

Gloria went back inside and I stayed sitting on the bench for a while. It was a beautiful day, and the sun was warm on my face. I even started to feel a bit better for a while, but then Alice and Hazel went past, arm in arm, and everything seemed just as bad as before.

N
ext day, (as if things weren’t bad enough), was the day of the disco.

When I woke up, Alice and Hazel were already awake. They were lying on Alice’s bed, texting as usual. As soon as Hazel saw that I was awake, she started her daily attack on me.

‘Oh look. Baby’s awake,’ she said in a silly voice. ‘Baby must be all excited about the baby disco.’

I turned my face to the wall, but Hazel went on anyway.

‘I wonder has baby got a nice new dress for the disco? And a pretty pink ribbon for her little baby hair?’

Alice didn’t say anything which made me feel a small bit better, but she didn’t ask Hazel to stop either. She just kept her eyes on her phone, texting as if her life depended on it.

I got dressed as quickly as I could, and ran down to breakfast. Everyone was all excited about the disco. Even the boys were talking about what they were going to wear.

I picked up my food, and brought my tray to where Sarah was sitting. I sat down next to her. She was all excited too.

‘I am
so
looking forward to the disco,’ she said. ‘I’m going to wear my denim skirt, and a white shirt, and this really cool sparkly belt my mum gave me for my birthday.’

I sighed. Why couldn’t I have the kind of mum who gave really cool sparkly belts as birthday presents? On my last birthday my mum had given me a book about gardening, four new pairs of socks, and a voucher for the local swimming pool.

Sarah interrupted my thoughts.

‘What are you wearing tonight?’

I gave another big sigh. A week ago, I’d had it
all planned. Now I had no idea. I had a funny feeling that Alice wouldn’t want to lend me the turquoise top that she’d promised me. I still had my white jeans, but all my tops seemed old and raggy. Everyone would look great, and I’d be like Cinderella – before her fairy godmother arrived.

Anyway, it didn’t matter, because I’d suddenly made up my mind.

‘I’m not going to the disco tonight,’ I said quickly.

Sarah looked at me in horror.

‘But you have to go to the disco. Everyone’s going.’

I shrugged.

‘Alice and Hazel aren’t going.’

‘Yeah, but that’s only because they’re not allowed to.’

I shrugged again, like I didn’t really care.

‘Whatever.’

We were quiet for a minute, and then Sarah said,

‘Are they talking to you yet?’

I shook my head.

Sarah made a face.

‘Why can’t they just get over themselves?’

I had to smile.

‘I don’t care about Hazel,’ I said. ‘I don’t care if she ever talks to me or not. But I wish Alice would be friends with me again.’

Sarah smiled at me.

‘She will. Don’t worry. When you get back home, and Alice is far away from Horrible Hazel, everything will be like before. Anyway, back to the disco. If you don’t go, it’s like showing Alice and Hazel that they’ve won. They’ll know that they’ve really upset you. You have to go tonight, just to show them that you don’t care.’

‘But I do care,’ I protested.

Sarah smiled again.

‘Well then you just have to pretend that you don’t. Now finish your breakfast, and come up to my room. I’ve got lots of clothes, and I’ll lend you something for tonight.’

On the way up to Sarah’s room, we met Hazel. To my horror, she was wearing Alice’s turquoise top. I knew already that I wouldn’t be wearing it any time soon, but it really hurt to see it on Hazel
– especially since it looked so good on her.

‘Like my top?’ she said. ‘My best friend Alice lent it to me.’

Sarah laughed.

‘It’s a lovely top, and you’re very lucky to have it. Are you wearing it to detention tonight?’

Hazel tossed her head, and flounced off.

I smiled.

Why could I never think of quick replies like that?

Why did my clever comments only ever come to me when it was hours too late?

Sarah is probably the kindest person I’ve ever met. She lent me a beautiful red t-shirt, and a really cool pair of jeans, and a pair of red sandals. She did my hair for me, and lent me some sparkly lip-gloss.

We met Sam on the way in to the disco, and he said,

‘You look really nice, Megan,’ Luckily it was a bit dark, so no-one could see how red I went.

All through the disco Sarah stayed with me
(except for the three times that Sam asked me to dance) and she included me with all of her school-friends, and bought me two drinks and some crisps. And she never even let on that she was bored when I kept saying how nice Sam was.

And yet all the time, I kept wishing that it was Alice who was standing beside me, that it was Alice telling me jokes, that it was Alice and me having the fun night that we’d been dreaming of ever since we’d signed up for summer camp weeks and weeks earlier.

When the disco was over, we were allowed to stay up for another half an hour. Sarah and some of her friends asked me to go for a walk in the school grounds with them. I said no. I knew Hazel and Alice would be finished their detention, and would be back in our room. I’d have to face them sooner or later, so I might as well get it over with.

Hazel started as soon as I entered the room.

‘Did the little baby meet a few nice little boys at the disco? Was the music too loud for her? Did she cry for her Mummy? Did she tell tales on any of her friends and get them into big, big
trouble?’

Alice sat up.

‘It’s getting boring, Hazel. Give it a rest.’

I could hardly believe my ears. Was this the moment I’d been waiting for since this whole nightmare had started?

I turned to Alice.

‘Thanks Al,’ I said.

She turned away.

‘Don’t get too excited. I still hate you for getting me into so much trouble. I’m just tired of Hazel going on about it, that’s all.’

Hazel gave me an evil look, and went to sit on Alice’s bed. She held out her iPod.

‘Here, Alice,’ she said. ‘Listen to this song, it’s so funny.’

So they listened to their song, and that was the end of the night that was supposed to be the best night of my whole life.

W
hen I woke up the next morning, Alice and Hazel were already gone out of the bedroom. I was glad. I was tired of Hazel’s sniping and picking on me. I was tired of Alice hating me.

I was glad too that it was the last full day of camp. The next day we’d be going home, and I could start trying to make it up with Alice.

I rolled over in bed and closed my eyes. I tried not to think what my life would be like if Alice stayed fighting with me. We’d been friends for so long, I couldn’t imagine life without her. When
she moved to Dublin for six months earlier that year, I thought that was the worst thing that could ever happen. I was wrong though. At least then we used to ring each other, and e-mail, and see each other every now and then. This was much, much worse. This was the very worst thing ever. Half the time we’d be living next door to each other, but we might as well be a million miles apart.

Alice and I had been friends since forever. Mum has a gross picture of Alice and me sitting on a rug, and we’re both still wearing nappies. (And as if that’s not bad enough, my nappy is an ancient, yellow cloth re-usable one, with a huge pin in the middle of it, like something a cartoon baby would wear.)

Alice and I used to watch Barney together, and play Barbies and do Postman Pat jigsaws together. We made our Communion and Confirmation together.

And now we came away to summer camp together, and we looked forward to it for weeks.

And what did I have to show for my time in
summer camp? A fancy dribble in basketball, and no best friend.

I could hear girls moving around, and getting ready to go down for breakfast. There was no time to waste – two more proper breakfasts, and then it was porridge again for me.

I got up and got dressed, and went out into the hallway. I headed for the dining hall. As I got to the second stairs on the way down, I noticed that Hazel was half way up. I sooo did not want to meet her. I looked quickly around, but there was no sign of Alice. In fact there was no sign of anyone else at all. It was just Hazel and me. All of a sudden I felt kind of afraid.

I stopped at the top of the stairs, and pretended I was tying my lace. Hazel came and stood beside me.

‘Need some help to tie your laces, little tell-tale baby-girl?’

I didn’t answer. I stood up, and set off down the stairs. I’d only gone about three steps, when Hazel was beside me again.

‘Oh, I nearly forgot, Alice asked me to tell you
something,’ she said.

I stopped walking. Why would Alice ask Hazel to bring me a message?

But then, why would Hazel lie?

‘So get on with it. Tell me,’ I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.

Hazel smiled an evil smile.

‘Alice was going to tell you herself, but then she got embarrassed, so I said I’d help her out. I loooove helping people out.’

‘Get on with it, Hazel,’ I muttered. ‘Have you got a message for me or not?’

Hazel smiled again.

‘Oh yes, the message. What was it again?’

She stopped for a moment and scratched her head like she was thinking hard. Then she said,

‘Oh yeah, I have it now. It’s that Alice hates you.’

Well that was no surprise. I knew that Alice hated me. But I was going to work on that. As soon as we got away from camp, and from Hazel, I was going to explain everything properly. When Alice listened properly, and heard how worried I
had been about her, she’d forgive me in the end. I was sure of it. All I had to do was get through one more day.

Hazel seemed disappointed that I didn’t react to her so-called message from Alice. She put her face close to mine. I could smell the expensive perfume she always wore.

‘Oh yeah,’ she said. ‘There was something else too. Now what was it?’

She scratched her head, and did her pretend-thinking thing again.

I don’t think I had ever in my whole life hated anyone as much as I hated Hazel right then. I always used to hate Melissa, the meanest girl in my class, but she was nothing compared to Hazel.

I felt like punching her pretty face. I wondered what she’d look like if all her perfect white teeth were cracked and broken.

Would her face be so pretty if her nose was all bloody and pushed to one side?

But those were stupid thoughts. I’d never punched anyone in my life, and I wasn’t about to start now.

Hazel was still pretending to think. I’d had enough. I set off down the stairs again. Hazel put out her hand and grabbed my arm.

‘Don’t go, Megan,’ she said. ‘I haven’t got to the best bit of Alice’s message yet.’

‘So get on with it,’ I said. ‘I have to go down to breakfast.’

Hazel shook her head.

‘Children these days have no patience,’ she said.

Then she tossed her head, and spoke all casual,

‘Alice asked me to tell you that she never liked you anyway.’

I shook my head.

‘That’s not true. I know it’s not true.’

Hazel smiled her evil smile again.

‘Trust me, it’s true all right. She said she hates your stupid boring clothes and your silly laugh and the way you’re afraid of everything.’

I shook my head again.

‘I know you’re lying. Alice was always my best friend. Even when she went to live in Dublin we were best friends. She told me so. She always said it. She even sent me e-mails about it.’

Hazel laughed a cruel laugh.

‘Yeah, she told me all about that. She told me about how you kept chasing after her. She said she used to go along with it, just because she felt sorry for you.’

I stamped my foot.

‘That is so not true. Alice wouldn’t say that. She wouldn’t think that.’

Now Hazel smiled the most evil smile of all. Her eyes narrowed as she spoke.

‘Don’t believe me, do you?’

I shook my head.

‘No. Actually I don’t.’

‘Well believe this then,’ she said. ‘Alice told me all your little secrets. She told me about your mother the crazy hippy. She told me how your house is like something from an ancient history book. She said you live life like it was still the time of the dinosaurs. She told me how your mother goes on and on and on about the environment, and how you’re never allowed to do anything fun. Alice said that everyone in your family is a total loser.’

At last she stopped talking.

I didn’t know what to say.

Why would Alice betray me like that?

Why would she tell Hazel, of all people, about my mum?

Maybe what Hazel said was true.

Maybe Alice had never really liked me at all.

Maybe she just hung out with me because I was handy, because I lived next door.

I could feel tears coming to my eyes. Everything went bright and blurry. I soooo did not want Hazel to see that she had made me cry. I shook my arm until she let go of it. Then I pushed past her, and took a few more steps.

Hazel called after me.

‘Now you know the truth. Alice has hated you for years. Get over it, why don’t you?’

Now rivers of hot tears were pouring down my face. They were dripping down my cheeks and into my mouth. I had to get away from Hazel. I just had to. I had to find someone to help me. I had to find Gloria, Sarah, Sam, or even Alice – anyone who could make Hazel stop.

I started to run down the stairs. Hazel was running after me, taunting me, saying even more horrible things about Alice and me.

It was a huge curving staircase, (the one Alice had slid down on our first day at camp – that day long ago when I had been so happy). The stairs seemed to go on forever, like an enchanted stairs in a fairy-story.

I was almost half-way down, when my foot missed a step, and I stumbled. I reached out and grabbed for the banister. My fingers brushed the smooth wood, but couldn’t grip it. I lurched forwards and lost my balance. My shoulder hit the edge of a step. I rolled once, and gave a small scream as my elbow cracked hard against the wall. Things seemed to be happening slowly. One of my shoes fell off, and I could feel my back getting grazed as it slid over a step. I heard a voice calling ‘Megan!’ and then I rolled again, and hit the tiled floor with a dull thud.

I felt a sudden sharp pain in my head, and then everything went black.