Princess at Silver Spires (12 page)

The atmosphere backstage was electric. All the models wore loads of make-up and perfume, and the smell was overpowering. I'd got hardly any make-up on because Lara said I didn't need it, thank goodness. Nothing was different about my hair – it lay in its usual cornrows. But I had some special creamy moisturizer on my skin, which made it glow.

Miss Pritchard and Miss Owen were flitting round talking to everyone, and smiling with words of encouragement when model after model said, “I'm scared!”

“Nothing to be scared about!” was Miss Pritchard's answer. “You all look wonderful! Just enjoy it!”

Then Miss Owen stepped through the curtain and the audience burst into applause and cheering.

“My goodness! That's quite some welcome!” I heard Miss Owen say, which made everyone laugh. Backstage, we were too nervous to do more than smile shakily. “Welcome to the Silver Spires annual fashion show!” There was another round of applause. It was obvious that the audience was really excited. The hall is huge, and I knew from one or two of the designers who'd peeped through the side of the curtain that it was totally packed out.

As well as the parents of the models and designers, there were loads of students. Not everyone was interested in fashion, of course, but just about everyone in Years Ten and Eleven who wasn't a model or a designer had shown up to support the event. There were lots of Year Sevens too. I shivered when I thought about that. I was still getting bad vibes from some girls in my year, and that left me with a sad and frustrated feeling, because there didn't seem to be anything I could say or do to make them change their attitude towards me. It was obvious they'd only come tonight so they could talk about me behind my back.

I tried to shake those thoughts away and concentrate, because Miss Owen had finished her welcome speech and the music had started. Everyone backstage stood straight and still, and I could feel the tension around me. The show was about to begin.

I focused hard, feeling the beat of the music and trying to relax my body as I watched model after model leave the wings nervously, then stride out confidently to be met by a burst of applause. I knew I must do the same, however tense I felt.

And finally it was my turn. Walking down that catwalk was like a strange dream. I took a deep breath, and kept my eyes on the far wall as we'd all been told to, but pretended I was in the top corridor at Hazeldean, walking up and down past Amethyst dorm. I couldn't see anything because of the bright lights, and that made it easier somehow. But I could hear the audience and it was lovely when they clapped.

When I did the turn at the end of the catwalk, I heard a whoop and I knew it was Katy. At that moment something happened inside my head. It was as though I'd been granted permission to relax and enjoy myself and not worry about everyone watching me. I held my head high and felt my body swinging in time with the music. It was magic.

We all had to be silent backstage as we got changed, but there was lots of jostling among the designers to get to the ironing boards for last-minute smoothing out of creases. I was relieved I didn't have to worry about that. Lara's other model, Sophie, was wearing something very floaty, which was a complete contrast to my jeans and T-shirt. I really admired the way she stood completely still and looked totally calm, as Lara did up the hooks and eyes with trembly fingers.

Lara herself looked very beautiful this evening. Some of the designers had dressed right up and looked practically as glamorous as their models, with hair swept up, or falling in ringlets, or straightened and sprayed. But Lara just wore her usual ponytail, her jeans, and a sparkly dark green top that she'd made herself. Elise was wearing a blue satin evening dress with an enormous bow on the back, and around her neck was the most beautiful heavy necklace of large pale-blue shiny stones.

The audience was obviously loving the show because they kept on breaking into applause and cheering, and even when they were quiet you could hear “oohs” and “aahs” from every part of the hall. I suppose it was no wonder. Miss Owen and Miss Pritchard and the designers had worked so hard to create something utterly glitzy and perfectly professional. And with the bright lights and the pounding music, the atmosphere was the best.

I enjoyed my second and third walks down the catwalk even more than my first one, especially when I was wearing the beautiful soft aquamarine dress. I'm sure I didn't imagine that the clapping grew louder at that moment, and walking tall and straight, I felt as though I was reaching for the moon – the same moon that Abina would see all those miles away – and I even smiled then, because I was doing this for her and it felt right.

When the last model had done the third walk, the music rolled seamlessly into another piece for the finale that we'd practised in the last rehearsal. Some of the models had to quickly change back into outfits from the two previous categories, so that when we walked back out, in pairs and with our own designers this time, we were wearing a mishmash of outfits. I was happy because I was able to keep my aquamarine dress on. The choreography that Miss Pritchard had done was a total masterpiece, because it had been quite easy to learn and yet it looked stunning. Sometimes there were only three people on the catwalk, sometimes six, and so on, up to twenty-four, and we moved smoothly in and out of shapes and patterns in our threes, stopping for several seconds so that the audience could connect up the designers with the models. The crowd didn't stop cheering and whistling and clapping from start to finish. At one point I had to pass Tansy, and she gave me the first real smile she'd ever given me. That was another lovely moment.

After the finale there was a fifteen-minute break while refreshments were served to the audience, and we got to sip sparkling mineral water and eat chocolates backstage, but we could only manage a thin little mint crisp or two because we were all so nervous waiting for the judges to make their decision. I'd never seen Elise looking so tense.

“Don't talk to me, I've got a terrible headache,” she said dramatically at one point.

Miss Owen asked us all to set out chairs on the stage, so that when the curtains opened for the judges' speeches we would be seated neatly with our designers. Lara squeezed Sophie's and my hands as we sat down together, then whispered to us both, “Thank you for being the bestest of the bestest models!”

Then the audience was back in its seats and the chief judge stepped onto the stage to rapturous applause. She was a very elegant lady, who really was a
lady
– Lady Alexandra Cooling. Apparently she used to be a fashion designer before she retired. Lara said she was inspirational, and I'm sure she was, but I was more interested in peering out into the audience and trying to spot Mum and Dad. The bright lights were shining full in our faces because we were still on show, so it wasn't easy to see, but I scanned every single row as far back as I could, looking for Mum's gold and white headdress with the folds of white that fell into her wrap. I was expecting to see it at any moment, or Dad's box-shaped golden headdress. But there was no sign of them. My parents simply weren't there. My heart sank, and I realized I'd been looking forward to seeing them and making them proud, ever since Dad had told me he was relying on me and looking forward to seeing me on the catwalk. Then I told myself not to be silly. They were obviously sitting further back than I could see through the glaring lights.

As the television cameras rolled, Lady Alexandra started off by saying that she couldn't understand how the standard at Silver Spires just got higher and higher every year. She praised the choreography, especially of the finale piece, and the overall organization, and then she went on to talk about the designers, going into quite a bit of detail on the three different categories, and explaining what she and the other two judges had been looking for.

“So now for the moment you've all been waiting for,” she eventually said. “First I'd like to present vouchers to the two runners-up. In third place…” She paused dramatically. “Elise Finnigan-White!” Everyone cheered. “And in second place…Charley Respighi! Please come up, girls.”

All eyes were on Charley and Elise as they went to get their vouchers, and I clapped and clapped along with everyone else. Elise shook Lady Alexandra's hand first, and I caught a glimpse of her face as she flounced back to her place. She didn't look at all happy and even rolled her eyes at Tansy as she sat down. Charley was smiling broadly and the audience rewarded her with an extra round of applause when she gave them a big enthusiastic wave.

“And now for our winner,” said Lady Alexandra.

Beside me, Lara flinched and looked down, and I suddenly desperately wanted her to be the winner, because she so deserved it. She'd worked harder than anyone and her outfits were amazing. But a little voice at the back of my mind was reminding me that Lady Alexandra had chosen two very flamboyant designers as the runners-up, and Lara's outfits were probably just too simple.

“And so it is with great pleasure that I would like to present the first prize to…” My heart beat faster in the electric silence. “…Lara Hall!”

The sudden applause was deafening, and when Lara leaped to her feet, Sophie leaned over and gave me a big hug and kissed me on both cheeks. I clapped until my hands stung, and felt so happy for Lara. The brightest of spotlights shone on her as she shook Lady Alexandra's hand, and the two of them stayed in their smiling pose as the audience rose to its feet and camera after camera flashed and flashed, and the video camera rolled.

At last the clapping faded and the spotlights dimmed as the house lights went up. Ms. Carmichael, the Head of Silver Spires, joined Lady Alexandra on the stage and gave her a big thank you. Then everyone crowded round and congratulated Lara, and the smile never left her face. I noticed Elise didn't move out of her chair, but she sent a strong glare in my direction when she saw me looking at her. I quickly looked away and, for at least the tenth time that evening, I felt an enormous wave of relief that I'd changed to being Lara's model.

A moment later I left the stage and met Katy and the others. They were full of hugs and excitement about what an amazing evening it had been, but my eyes were continually looking over their shoulders for Mum and Dad.

“Well done, darling!”

And there was Mum right by my side, with Dad smiling behind her, and I hadn't even seen them coming over. Then I suddenly realized why. Neither of my parents was dressed in traditional African costume tonight. Both of them wore ordinary plain suits in dark colours.

Dad smiled and gave me the smallest of nods. I knew exactly what that nod meant. It was saying,
Yes, we're not wearing our traditional costume, we knew you wouldn't want it.
I felt a tightness in my throat. He knew more about my feelings than I'd thought. I introduced them to all my friends, starting with Katy, and they shook hands with each one, because that's their way. When it came to Georgie, she actually curtsied, which made Mia giggle, but it was like a magnet to the television camera. Within seconds we were being filmed.

Then Miss Owen clapped her hands to get everyone's attention and said she had an announcement to make. The chatter melted away as she began to talk about how the money raised was to go to a very important charity. My heart banged against my ribs. Miss Owen added that we didn't have a grand total yet, but she knew that Just Water in Ghana would benefit enormously from our efforts, and we were proud to be supporting such a worthwhile charity. But nobody seemed all that interested, because they all went straight back to their conversations the moment they'd dutifully clapped.

“Very pleased to meet you,” said a man's voice just behind me, and I turned to see someone shaking hands with Petra, while Elise stood nearby.

“Jolly good job! Well done!” he said to Petra. And I noticed she didn't look quite so sulky now. In fact she was actually smiling at him. But with his next words the smile left her face abruptly.

“I expect Elise has told you, I'm a buyer with Topshop, so I know a thing or two about clothes!” He gave Petra a friendly smile, but she flicked round to Elise and gave her a daggers look. I felt sorry for Elise's dad. How could he have known that Elise had made him out to be an important talent spotter instead of someone with the more ordinary job of buying clothes in to Topshop?

Katy and I exchanged a look, and then I realized that a man with a microphone was standing right beside me. “What does it feel like to be one of the models for the winning designer?” he asked me brightly.

I gulped and froze. What did it feel like? What was I supposed to say?

Then I got a shock, because Elise was suddenly right beside me, smiling away as though we were the best of friends. “Naomi is involved with the charity Just Water in Ghana. I actually chose the charity myself for the fashion show, because I knew how much it meant to Naomi,” she went on in her loud voice. “Naomi has a big attachment to Ghana.”

The man with the microphone thanked Elise, then turned to me. “So what exactly is your connection?”

I took a deep breath.

“She's a Ghanaian princess,” came Elise's bright voice beside me. She smiled right into the camera and I could tell she loved being in the limelight.

For a moment time seemed to stop, as a picture of Abina trudging to the well in the dark filled my mind. Somewhere back in the real world I heard a gasp. It sounded like Katy. She must have thought I'd be upset that Elise had made her announcement.

But I wasn't. I was actually very calm. Because I knew it was okay to use my status for a good cause.

“Is that so?” asked the man, with a new brightness in his voice.

I looked at my father to see whether he wanted to speak about Just Water, but he took a step back, and that gave me my answer.

“Yes,” I said quietly to the man from the TV. “Yes, I am a princess.” Then I straightened up a little. I was ready to talk now. “I spent the half-term week in my country, learning about the work that Just Water do.”