Rivalry at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant Page B

Felissia.” She looked at me carefully in the mirror. “There’s more to it than that, though, isn’t there, Grace?”
    I fiddled with my towel and saw that her eyes were full of sympathy.
    â€œShall we call a friendship meeting so you can tell us all what’s going on?”
    I nearly said no, but I then realized there was no need to worry that they’d tell an adult any more, because two adults already knew so it wouldn’t make any difference. And I also realized that I was tired of keeping everything to myself. I couldn’t say anything about Hannah because I’d promised not to, but it would be a big relief to share my own secrets.
    â€œOkay.”
    The anxious look left Jess’s face immediately and I knew I’d made a good decision.

Chapter Nine

    I usually wake up easily in the mornings, but the morning after our friendship meeting I felt exhausted. After Miss Fosbrook had been in to check our lights were out and we were all quiet, we’d got up and sat on the round rug talking for ages and ages.
    I’d told my friends absolutely everything, except the bit about Hannah, and they’d been so kind and sympathetic that I’d felt like bursting into tears quite a few times. Mia said she thought I’d been very brave to keep it all to myself and Naomi said she was sure that everything would be sorted out once I’d had a good talk to Miss Carol. But I wasn’t so sure myself.
    Before breakfast Matron told me in a serious voice that Miss Carol wanted to see me after lunch, so I spent the whole morning worrying about what she’d say. When I went to her flat straight after lunch, I even took my swimming costume with me so I could show her.
    â€œI’ve spoken to Miss Walton properly now and she’s heard Felissia’s side of the story,” began Miss Carol, “so I just need to hear what you’ve got to say, Grace.”
    It suddenly seemed very unfair that I hadn’t really done anything wrong except for going out of the boarding house after half past eight, and yet here I was, having to explain my side of the story. I took a deep breath and reminded myself how Naomi had said she was sure it would be fine once I’d explained everything. Then I started talking. I began with the first message Georgie had got, but when I said it out loud, it sounded stupid. The expression on Miss Carol’s face didn’t change as I told her what the other messages had said. She even kept her grave look in place when I showed her the hole in my swimsuit and explained about the messages with the word “hole” in them, and I could feel my hands getting sweaty. I was careful not to mention Hannah at all, so I finished up by saying that I’d had to actually catch Felissia typing a nasty message about me to prove that she was the bully.
    â€œAnd did you catch her out?” asked Miss Carol in a low voice.
    My mouth felt dry. “Yes, she was writing, I don’t care what Grace thinks. She’ll never be able to prove anything .”
    Miss Carol blinked in surprise. “Really! Well that’s most odd, because Felissia says she wasn’t writing anything at all to do with you and that she’s never written anything about you in her life, and she had no idea why you rushed in on her like that.”
    I stared at Miss Carol in amazement and was on the point of accusing Felissia of lying when I swallowed my words. I mustn’t say anything to make things worse. “B…but what about this?” I showed her the swimsuit again. “See, it’s definitely been cut.”
    â€œYes, I agree it does look as though it’s been cut, but I’ll need to look at this carefully, Grace, because I’m afraid it’s a big leap from your swimsuit being cut to assuming it was done by Felissia.”
    â€œBut what about the messages…all about holes?”
    Miss Carol licked her lips and said, “Hmm,”