Sam in the Spotlight Read Free Page B

two children see the face at the window for the first time.
    It was brilliant to be back with everyone, messing about and having a laugh, but for some annoying reason I couldn’t stop peeking over at Adam – like every two seconds! He just looked so cute. I tried not to make it obvious, but it was like my eyes were attached to magnets or something.
    When it was time to leave, I told Mandy I really, really wanted to be Laura, and she said she’d give out the scripts next week and that the auditions would be in a few weeks’ time. I tried to find Ellie to ask her who she wanted to be, but she’d disappeared into the loos to redo her make-up for about the tenth time. I could tell she was nervous about meeting Eddie, even though she kept saying he was just a friend, not a boyfriend. I waited for her to come out and we went downstairs together.
    Eddie was waiting in the car park. He was wearing blue Converse All Stars, and a bright blue baseball cap pulled right down over his eyes. I suppose he was quite cute in a geeky sort of way, but nothing like as gorgeous as Adam.
    â€œWe’re going into town if you want to come, Sam,” said Ellie. “I’d really like you to.” But I shook my head. I didn’t want to tag along when it was obvious they wanted to be by themselves.
    I tried to call Crystal on the way home, but it went straight to voicemail. She hadn’t been in touch for ages and I really wanted to tell her what was going on. We’ve always been close, even though she’s six years older than me, and I hated not knowing exactly what she was up to.
    When I was little we used to spend loads of time together. She’d look after me while Mum was at work. She’d do my hair and let me try on her clothes and make-up. The best was when Mum and Dad went out in the evening. As soon as they left she’d make us hot chocolate with loads of froth on top, and then let me stay up and watch DVDs till I fell asleep curled up next to her on the couch. She just had this way of making everything seem exciting, even if it was just watching old Disney movies.
    She was brilliant at keeping in touch when she first left. She rang me every week, full of news – moving in with Tyler, going to gigs, making lots of jewellery to sell. But these last few weeks, I hadn’t heard a word. I sat at the bus stop, staring at my phone. I didn’t even know where she was living, not her actual address – she could be anywhere. It was beginning to feel like she’d disappeared into thin air.

I kept on calling Crystal all weekend but she still didn’t answer her phone or call me back. It was awful. I was so used to talking to her whenever I wanted and now weeks had passed without a word. She could be ill or in trouble or anything. I thought about what I’d heard Aunty Mags say that day in Mum’s bedroom:
    Of course Crystal’s still upset, Rosy. What do you expect?
    I’ve never really understood what happened between Mum and Crystal. They used to row all the time about boyfriends and make-up and curfews – normal stuff – but then, on the night of Crystal’s eighteenth birthday, they had this massive fight – THE FIGHT TO END ALL FIGHTS – and the next day Crystal was gone.
    I wanted her to come home so much. I know lots of people move out by the time they’re eighteen – but not after a massive fight like that. If only I could find out what Mum said to Crystal that night. I had tried asking her but she always managed to come up with some excuse, like it was too difficult to explain or I was too young to understand. If I could just find out what it was, then maybe I’d be able to talk to Crystal about it and put things right – if I ever heard from her again!
    I was dying to discuss it with Ellie on Monday – ask her what she thought I should do – but she was so excited about her date with Eddie that I couldn’t get a word