Everyone really did seem pretty concerned when I turned up at school. A heap of kids surrounded me, asking if I was ok. The teachers all came to check on me as well. It was so nice to see that they genuinely cared, although I really didn’t want to talk about it at all. I had decided to label that day, ‘My Worst Day Ever,’ and I definitely wanted to put it out of my mind forever. Some of the kids were already talking about the next musical, but I certainly was not interested in getting involved in that conversation. I think that I’ve had more than my share of musicals for a long time. I avoided making eye contact with Sara during class that morning. The desks had been rearranged the week before and I was very glad not to be sitting next to her any longer. That definitely helped me to get through the morning. I just focused on my school work and tried not to think about her. During our lunch break though, I could see Sara surrounded by her adoring fan club. That’s what Millie called them anyway. Since the musical, apparently everyone had been raving about how great her dancing was and commenting that she was the star of our routine. But I guess that was what Sara had wanted to achieve and she’d managed to get her wish. Chatting with Millie and the others, I was glad that I had a nice group of friends whose company I could enjoy without having to feel anxious or worried about what they might do or say. That’s what I needed to focus on, I tried to remind myself. But then, without warning, I felt someone’s eyes on me and turned towards the group of kids who sat huddled together in a nearby corner, absorbed in each other’s animated conversation. With a sudden shiver of apprehension, I realized that Sara was staring in my direction. And I knew without doubt that she must be staring at me. Her blue eyes were so intense right then and the look she gave was full of attitude. Draping her arm around Blake’s shoulder, she pulled him close and whispered something into his ear. Her eyes never leaving mine, I saw them both laugh at her obvious joke. Feeling very uneasy, I looked nervously away. I had no idea what was going on in her head or what had caused the animosity that she was directing towards me and the uncomfortable sensation I was feeling, continued. With a tingling of unease, I turned my back on the group and tried to refocus on the friends sitting beside me who were consumed by their own friendly chatter. I decided that I should put Sara out of my mind. Although I wanted the mystery solved and my questions answered, I figured I should just focus on my real friends, the ones who I always felt comfortable with. And besides, perhaps it was all in my imagination. Perhaps Sara had passed on Miss Fitz’s message and I had simply forgotten about it. And perhaps my dance costume was just mislaid amongst all the chaos in the dressing room on the night of the musical. Perhaps? Or perhaps not? I really didn’t know what to think! Then a few minutes later, from directly behind, I heard the sound of a familiar voice. “Hey, Julia! Good to see you back at school!” As I looked towards the voice, a group of laughing girls suddenly emerged, heading in the direction of their classroom and I couldn’t see who the voice had come from. I was fairly convinced that it was Sara who had spoken, but I wasn’t completely sure. The tone had been friendly enough, but I didn’t know if there was a hidden meaning behind the words. Was she really happy to see me back at school or not? And was it actually Sara whose voice I had heard? “Did you see who that was?” I asked Millie. “Who what was?” she replied. “I thought I heard someone talking to me,” I answered thoughtfully. “But maybe I was imagining things.” Jumping tensely at the sudden shrill ring of the bell which signaled the end of lunch break, I glanced around once more. “Yes, it must have been my imagination,” I repeated, looking around one last time. Then I stood to follow Millie and the others back to class. I tried to get involved in their giggling and joking around, but I could not dispel the confused but foreboding sensation I had been overcome with. Was Sara trying to be friendly or wasn’t she? Did she have a hidden agenda? Or did I just have an over-active imagination? Confused thoughts raced through my mind as I headed back to class. Then, unexpectedly, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Whipping my head around nervously, I gasped in surprise. “Julia! I’m so glad to see that you’re ok! We were all freaking out the other night!” Blake’s sparkling eyes and friendly smile were enough to make my heart melt. I felt the tension ease away as we strode along the pathway and up the stairs towards our classroom, all the while chatting comfortably as we walked. “I’m so glad I came back to school,” I thought happily to myself, all thoughts of Sara disappearing temporarily from my mind. But then I entered the room. And it was at that moment, I could feel the hairs on my arms stand on end. I looked questioningly up at Blake, who was still at my side laughing easily. I was unsure what had caused the sudden chill I was feeling and rubbed my arms for warmth, attempting to fend off the cool draught that had abruptly appeared from nowhere. It was when I happened to glance towards the back of the class, that I saw a pair of penetrating blue eyes drilling into my own. The expression that had crept over Sara’s features was dark and forceful, but the disturbing thing was that her death-like stare was aimed directly at me. Completely unaware of the look I was receiving, Blake left my side and sat down in his seat in the front row. Tentatively, I made my way to my own spot and sat down, grateful to escape the wrath of her evil glare. The uncomfortable sensation lingered however, and I was forced to turn to face her once more. Still staring directly towards me, I was sure that she had begun to shake her head. It was the slightest movement, barely noticeable, but definitely betraying a hidden meaning. As I turned back towards the front of the room, I felt my throat become dry, while at the same time, confused and anxious thoughts flooded my mind. Swallowing hard, I took a deep breath and tried to ease the nervous energy I had been overcome with. But for some strange reason, it continued to linger and I remained in my seat, eyes faced forward, not daring to look behind me again. When the final bell of the day clanged loudly, I instantly stood, eager to leave the classroom as quickly as possible. But as I walked to the bus stop, I could not shake the sinking feeling that had lodged itself in the pit of my stomach. *** What lies ahead for Julia Jones? Will Sara be her friend or does she have something else in store for Julia? Find out in Book 2.
