The Inn On Bluebell Lane — Episode 37
The Inn On Bluebell Lane
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- 37. The Inn On Bluebell Lane — Episode 37
- 38. The Inn On Bluebell Lane — Episode 38
- 39. The Inn On Bluebell Lane — Episode 39
- 40. The Inn On Bluebell Lane — Episode 40
“Are you ready for this afternoon?”
Jess looked into Sophie’s expectant face and tried not to show her nerves.
She’d been thinking of the audition ever since Sophie had first mentioned it, and now that the day had actually arrived, all she felt was dread.
How on earth could she stand in front of the music teacher and who knew how many students and sing?
“I don’t know . . .”
“Oh, come on, you’re not going to back out now, are you?” Sophie’s face fell. “We’ve been practising for weeks.”
“I know, and you’re brilliant,” Jess said quickly. “It’s just, I’ve never really sung in public before.”
“You have an amazing voice,” Sophie said staunchly.
“And if you don’t even audition, you’ll never know whether you would have been picked or not.
“Besides, it will only be in front of Mrs Farris, and she’s really nice.”
Mrs Farris and anyone else who was auditioning or drifted in during the lunch hour. Jess doubted it would just be the teacher.
“I don’t know,” she said again, closing her locker. “Can I think about it?”
“But we’ve signed up.” Sophie was doing her best not to look disappointed. “Why not just give it a go?”
Without meaning to, Jess glanced over her shoulder at the popular girls gathered in a tight, exclusive knot. Sophie’s mouth tightened.
“Do you really care what they think?” she asked in a low voice.
Yes, Jess thought, but didn’t want to say so.
“I’m just not sure I’m good enough.”
“To audition? That’s the whole point, to find out if you are. Come on, Jess. Don’t chicken out now just because of them.
“Do you really want to live your life in fear of people like that?”
No, she didn’t, but neither did she want to be made a fool of. Jess sighed and said nothing.
“Look,” Sophie said, “I know I’ll never be cool, and I’m not even going to try.
“I don’t want to be. I just want to be myself, and you should, as well.
“My mum says those girls aren’t even happy.”
“How would she know?”
Sophie shrugged.
“She’s a psychologist, so maybe she has some answers, I don’t know. What do you say?”
Jess glanced at the girls again; not one of them was paying her any attention and if they ever did, it would only be to tease.
No, she definitely didn’t want to live under their shadow.
“OK,” she said as her stomach swirled with nerves. “I’ll do it.”
All morning Jess felt as if she’d swallowed a swarm of butterflies as she watched the clock tick steadily towards lunch and struggled to pay attention to any of her lessons.
When the bell rang for the final lesson before lunch, Sophie met her in the music block, her face flushed with excitement.
She didn’t seem nervous at all, while Jess was jelly-legged with fear.
“Ready?” Sophie said, and Jess barely managed to nod.
She’d never, ever done anything like this before. She was afraid if she opened her mouth she might croak instead of sing.
Her heart was pounding like a drum.
Just as she’d feared, the audition room was full of people.
“I can’t sing in front of all these people!” she hissed to Sophie, who shrugged.
“It’ll be fine.”
It wouldn’t be, Jess was sure of it. She’d make a complete fool of herself, and she’d never live the embarrassment down.
It had been hard enough starting a new school, but with a big embarrassing episode to her credit as well? She couldn’t bear to think of it.
“And next we have Sophie and Jess?” Mrs. Farris looked up from the sign-up sheet she was holding. “Ready, girls?”
Sophie started forward while Jess hung back.
“Come on,” she whispered, and a ripple ran through the crowd – of amusement or derision, Jess didn’t know.
Realising it was too late to back out, she walked slowly to the front of the classroom.
