Dreaming by Starlight by Siobhan Curham

Author:Siobhan Curham [Curham, Siobhan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Walker Books

Chapter Seventeen

Jazz led the girls through the kitchen and out onto the deck. Below them, on the beach, the firepit was blazing, casting dancing shadows on the pebbles. Thankfully her parents had kept their word and were upstairs in their bedroom.

“Wow, this place is amazing!” Allegra exclaimed, looking around. “You’re so lucky to have your own beach.”

“I know,” Jazz replied. “Come on, let’s go down there.”

She led the girls onto the beach and they made their way over to the firepit. “Hopefully this can become our regular meeting place,” she said, looking at the others shyly. “I’d love to share it with you.”

“I gladly accept that invitation!” Portia exclaimed.

“Me too,” Allegra agreed.

“And me,” Hope said quietly.

Jazz felt a tingle of relief. She so badly wanted them to like her. After the disaster at school they were the only thing stopping her from drowning in despair. She glanced at Hope, staring out across the water at the moon.

“The moon looks epic tonight, doesn’t it?” Jazz said, following her gaze.

“Why’s it so orange?” Allegra asked.

“Apparently it’s something to do with the atmosphere at this time of year,” Jazz replied. “I googled it earlier.”

“Cool.” Allegra smiled.

Jazz picked up a flask. “Anyone want some hot chocolate?” The girls nodded and she poured it out. “I have marshmallows for toasting too.”

“Awesome!” Portia exclaimed.

Jazz handed out the toasting sticks. “So, how’s everyone’s week been?”

“Crap,” Allegra said instantly.

“Really?” Jazz looked at her, surprised. Allegra looked so perfect and graceful she imagined her gliding through life like a swan, everything around her effortlessly falling into place.

“What happened?” Portia asked.

“Oh, my mum’s been a pain and –” she glanced sideways at Hope – “I just have a few personal issues to deal with. How about you?” Allegra asked Jazz, seeming eager to change the subject. “It sounded from your email like you’ve had a pretty grim week.”

“Don’t!” Jazz exclaimed. “I somehow managed to piss off the mean girls in my class and make it look as if I hate all Brits. I don’t hate all Brits,” she quickly added, passing around the bag of marshmallows. “Only the stuck-up ones.”

“Yeah, well, you’ll probably find a lot of them at Cedars.” Portia grinned.

“Tell me about it. How’s your week been?”

“OK.” Portia’s smile faded. “I think I might have discovered a dog that’s being abused, though.”

“What?” Jazz exclaimed. The other girls looked at Portia, clearly shocked.

“On my way home from meeting you guys on Sunday I heard someone yelling at a dog in their back garden. I couldn’t see if the dog was being physically abused but it was whimpering a lot, so I’m keeping the garden under surveillance. If there is anything dodgy going on, I’m going to hand their arses to the RSPCA.”

Jazz bit her lip to stop herself giggling. Portia might be tiny but she was clearly a bit of a spitfire. She turned to Hope. “How about you, Hope. How’s your week been?”

Before Hope could say a word, Allegra’s phone beeped. She looked at it and frowned. Hope was now also frowning – at Allegra.

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