CHAPTER TEN

I carry on up the stairs, thinking. A boy with melting brown eyes and slanting cheekbones. Oliver.

As I step into the light, I see a man talking anxiously to someone. He turns, hearing my step.

"Sha!" he says in relief. "We were just looking for you. I'm Kyle."

He's tall with glasses and fuzzy hair. I distrust him. I look up, not smiling, as he struggles.

"Come on," he says finally. "It's quite easy, all you have to do is give evidence. It's required."

Butterflies squiggle in my stomach.

"Come on," he repeats, and we walk over to a table. He takes me through my paces, explaining what I have to say, and tells me not to panic, it's all right. I fold my arms and pretend to listen, fiddling with a strand of hair.

"Sha? Please listen, this is important," says Kyle in exasperation. "What did I just say?"

"I don't need to panic," I say in a monotone.

"That's right, good girl. Now the meeting will start in five minutes, so be prepared."

It's all happening so fast and I don't know what to do. I feel so nervous. I didn't have any breakfast and I feel just slightly sick. Kyle doesn't notice. He's strutting around now, telling everyone what to do. I soon become bored, fiddle in my pockets and find a piece of fluffy Blu-tack. I pinch and pull at it, tugging and twisting. Then I break it into three bits, roll each bit in my hands, and pinch arms and legs from them. I don't bother with heads. Moving the Blu-tack people around, I make up little secret plays. Two skip round in a playful, giggly circle, while the third stands alone, an outsider. One tumbles from the edge of the table, and the other leaps intrepidly over to save him. They tumble together, arms clasped. Someone knocks against the table and I jump, accidentally squashing the people into one squidgy blue ball.

Pulling back into reality, I stare out of the glass window set in the wall. Someone is speaking at the front, droning on. I hear the murmur and buzz of voices.

"You're on," Kyle says suddenly, and I jump again. I feel twitchy and nervous.

I step forwards, push through the door and on to the stage.