Spurt by Chris Miles

Author:Chris Miles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Published: 2014-05-23T16:00:00+00:00

The crew had piled their gear back into the van. ‘I’ll be in touch soon,’ Delilah promised Jack. She climbed into the front passenger seat, and a moment later the van was gone.

The crowd that had gathered to watch the filming began to roll slowly into school. Glances were cast back at Jack. He heard people whisper the words ‘Jack Sprigley’ and ‘reunion episode’. The Year 7 girls jumped up and down, clutching each other as they scurried away to home room, like they needed to be physically convinced of the miraculous event that had just taken place before them.

‘So that was us, being filmed for TV,’ said Darylyn. She nudged Reese. ‘I’m prepared to bet you’ll look even more handsome on TV than you do in real life.’

Reese smirked, then glanced awkwardly at Jack.

Vivi held out her release form. Along with the forms, Delilah had given them each a stamped envelope pre-filled with the Bigwigs production office address. ‘What are they going to do if my parents don’t sign this?’

‘They’ll probably just pixelate your face,’ said Sampson. ‘That happens sometimes. Though I’ve never heard of them doing it on Bigwigs.’ He paused. ‘Not that I’m an expert.’

Vivi gave Sampson a puzzled look, then led the way into school. Reese hung back, letting Vivi and Sampson and Darylyn get a little way ahead. He turned to Jack.

‘Why are you doing this, dude?’

‘Doing what?’

‘All this big-talking yourself in front of the camera. You never did that the first time you were on Bigwigs. I’ve seen the clips. And what have you got against fish all of a sudden?’

Jack shrugged. ‘Things aren’t the same as when I was on Bigwigs the first time. Things are different now.’

Reese looked away. ‘Dude, I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry things have changed, okay? I feel crappy about it. But it wasn’t planned, you know? It just happened. Like, nine years of knowing each other and suddenly it’s like, “Dude! You’re awesomeness in girl form!”.’ He paused. ‘Hey, why am I saying sorry?’

‘You think this is all because of you and Darylyn?’

Reese shrugged. ‘Isn’t it?’

Jack sighed as Reese put his earbuds back in. Reese was right: he didn’t need to apologise. It wasn’t Reese’s fault that Jack was slowly but surely humiliating himself in front of the Bigwigs cameras. It wasn’t Darylyn’s fault either, or Vivi’s, even though she’d brought Sampson into the group. (He decided it was at least partly Sampson’s fault – just because.)

But one thing was certain: his return to Bigwigs was not working out the way he’d hoped.

‘Maybe you were right,’ said Jack. ‘Maybe I’m not ready for this. Maybe I don’t belong back on Bigwigs.’

Jack looked ahead and saw Vivi swat Sampson with her rolled-up release form. Apparently he had just said something super hilarious.

Reese pulled out his right earbud. ‘What did you say?’

Jack stared ahead at Vivi and Sampson. ‘I said, maybe I don’t belong.’

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