Abbie looked like she was about to cry.

  ‘Are you okay?’ I asked.

  ‘I’m fine,’ she said in a croaky voice. ‘I’ll . . . I’ll see you on the bus, okay?’

  But Abbie wasn’t on the bus later that morning.

  ‘She must have slept in,’ Naira said.

  ‘Yeah,’ Mackenzie agreed.

  I stayed quiet because it was up to Abbie to tell them what was going on in her family, not me. I just hoped she was okay.

  twenty

  WHEN I HANDED MY PROJECT TO MISS BOYLE THAT morning, I didn’t feel as proud as I thought I would when I first started writing Daisy’s diary. I’d tried my hardest to remember and write down the last two entries exactly as they were, but I knew they weren’t as good as the first time. The only thing that cheered me up was seeing the huge smile on Zi’s face as she handed her project over. She’d done such an awesome job, and I was so proud of her.

  ‘Thank you so much again, Vi,’ she’d said earlier today. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’

  Abbie got to school at recess, telling everyone she was late because she’d had tummy pains. She shot me a quick look, but I didn’t say anything. I knew she’d tell our friends what was going on when she was ready. But after school, I hung back when we got off the bus to check in on her.

  ‘Are you okay?’ I asked as we walked towards the surf club for rehearsal. ‘Did you talk to your mum?’

  ‘Yep,’ she said softly. ‘Grandpa rang her after you left, and she said she was sorry I’d found out that way and that we’d talk about it properly when she gets home tonight.’

  ‘That’s good,’ I said. ‘Anyway, maybe it’s not definite that they’re moving in. It might just be something they’re talking about.’

  ‘I really hope so,’ Abbie said, her voice sounding shaky and high. ‘I couldn’t handle sharing a room with Esther. No way.’

  When we got to the surf club, we still couldn’t find the missing stool. And Bill had no idea where it was either.

  ‘Sorry, girls,’ he said. ‘I haven’t seen it.’

  Zi kept joking that it was a ghost messing with us, but I didn’t think it was very funny. Apart from missing an important part of the set, I was stressed about telling Luke that I’d lost his stool.

  As we set up the campfire and the four stools we had, I knew that this rehearsal wasn’t going to be as much fun as usual. There was a weird vibe in the air. Abbie was sad and quiet, which had an effect on everyone, and Mackenzie kept messing up her lines, getting more and more embarrassed every time.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she kept saying. ‘I thought I knew them.’

  ‘It’s fine,’ I said, trying to hide my frustration. ‘Do you want to hold the script?’

  ‘No,’ Mackenzie said. ‘I should know them.’

  We were just about to run through it again from the top, when there was a loud bang on the window, making us all jump. We looked at each other in alarm.

  ‘What was that?’ I said.

  We ran over to the window to look out, but all we saw was an empty beach.

  ‘It’s the ghost,’ Zi said.

  ‘Stop it!’ Naira scolded.

  I shrugged. ‘It was probably just a bird.’

  I wanted to believe what I was saying, but even I had to admit that there had been some strange goings-on at our rehearsals. The stool had vanished, and now there was a weird bang at the window. Had we accidentally summoned an annoyed spirit with this spooky sketch?

  No, that’s silly, I told myself. I was just tired and stressed, and so were my friends.

  ‘Let’s finish for today,’ I said. ‘We’ve got a school-free day tomorrow, so we can do a dress rehearsal then.’

  ‘Sounds good,’ Zi said.

  ‘Can you all be here at two o’clock with your costumes?’ I said. ‘It’s our final rehearsal before the show on Saturday night, so I want to see how every-thing looks.’

  As we all headed home, I thought about my chill night ahead, watching TV on the couch with Mum and Dad, and felt relieved. Maybe I’d even go to bed early and read my book. The next two days were going to be full on, so I needed all the down time I could get!

  An hour later, I was about to flop on the couch, when there was a knock at the door. When I opened it, I was surprised to find a blotchy-faced Abbie standing there.

  ‘Hey!’ I said, alarmed. ‘You okay?’

  ‘I’m sorry, Vi,’ she said, sounding as miserable as she looked, ‘but I don’t think I can be in the talent show.’

  ‘WHAT?’ I blinked at her in shock. ‘Why not?’

  Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

  ‘Mum and I just had a huge fight about Spike and Esther moving in,’ she sniffed. ‘She said she’s sorry I’m upset, but the decision has been made and it’s not going to change. I just feel . . . I can’t . . . I’m just not in the right headspace to get up onstage in front of people. Can you take my lines for yourself? Please?’

  Panic clawed at my chest. I felt bad for Abbie, but the show was only two days away. She couldn’t drop out now!

  ‘But, Abbie . . . the sketch won’t work without you,’ I said. ‘We need everyone, or it won’t be as good.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Vi,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I really am, but there’s no way I can get up in front of an audience in two days’ time and be funny.’

  twenty-one

  I HARDLY SLEPT THAT NIGHT. I TOSSED AND TURNED, and stared up at my pink-and-white ceiling, thinking about my two performances and how I didn’t feel prepared for either of them. Thank goodness we had the day off school. I’d spend some time working on my witch act, and some learning Abbie’s lines before our rehearsal at two o’clock.

  The next morning, I ate breakfast in the café, then headed to the treehouse to start going over Abbie’s lines. I’d just sat down at the table when I heard a faint rustling from below, and Abbie’s head popped up through the hole. She looked sheepish and like she hadn’t had much sleep either.

  ‘Hi,’ she said.

  ‘Hey,’ I said, trying not to sound as annoyed as I felt.

  She climbed up and sat beside me on one of the soft cushions Naira’s mum had made for us.

  ‘I, um . . . I just wanted to say I’m sorry,’ she said, ‘for quitting. I know it was a lousy thing to do just before the show, but I . . .’

  Her voice caught in her throat, and I suddenly felt so sorry for her. I couldn’t help thinking how I would feel if someone I didn’t really like was moving in with us. Into our house. Into my room.

  I’d be pretty upset too.

  ‘You don’t have to apologise,’ I said, putting my arm around her. ‘I get it. It’s a lot.’

  Abbie stared at the floor. ‘I mean, I don’t mind Spike moving in,’ she said. ‘He’s at our house so much anyway, but it’s Esther. She’s so rude and grumpy. I can’t imagine having to share a room with her every second weekend. It feels like my life is being turned upside down and I didn’t even get a say in it.’

  ‘I know,’ I said. ‘That sucks.’

  ‘And it’s not just the room.’ Abbie’s voice cracked. ‘It’s everything. It’s been Mum, Beau and me for so long, and . . . well . . . what if Mum doesn’t have as much time for me once Spike is living with us?’

  ‘That’s not gonna happen,’ I said. ‘You and Beau will always be the most important people for your mum. You know that, right?’

  Abbie sniffed. ‘I guess so.’

  ‘Besides,’ I said, ‘it might not be all bad living with an older girl.’

  Abbie made a face.

  ‘I’m serious,’ I said. ‘There might be some positives about having an older sister. Like, if I had one, I’d ask her advice all the time—about school, about clothes . . . about how not to embarrass myself in front of cute guys . . .’

  Abbie smiled. ‘Maybe,’ she said with a shrug. ‘I mean, I guess I should at least give grumpy Esther a chance.’

  ‘May as well.’ I shrugged back.

  Abbie looked at the script in my hand. ‘I thought you knew all your lines.’

  ‘I do,’ I said. ‘But I have to learn someone else’s now, remember?’

  A guilty look passed over her face. ‘Ooh, right.’ She raised an eyebrow at me. ‘Or maybe you don’t have to after all? Maybe your star performer realised she made a huge mistake and wants to be back in the show.’

  I stared at her, delighted. ‘Does she? Really?’

  ‘Yep.’ Abbie nodded. ‘Mainly because her director is a BOSS who knows exactly what to say to make her drama-queen actors feel better.’

  ‘Yay!’ I cried, throwing my arms around her in relief. ‘Thank you!’

  And suddenly, I felt happier and more awake than I had for the last couple of days. That was, until I arrived at the surf club for our final dress rehearsal that afternoon.

  twenty-two

  ‘THE CAMPFIRE IS GONE!’

  I stared at Naira in alarm. ‘What?’

  ‘And another stool is missing too,’ Zi added.

  ‘What!’ I said, even more alarmed.

  ‘I know!’ Mackenzie wailed. ‘What is going on?’

  I felt completely dazed and a bit teary. ‘I have no idea.’

  It was the day before the talent show and we were missing three of our main set pieces. How was this possible?

  ‘Did you take them home the other day, Violet?’ Abbie asked.

  ‘No.’ But I doubted myself even as I said it. Did I take them home? I’d carried a lot of stuff back and forth over the past few days, so maybe I did . . . but I didn’t think so.

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’ Naira smiled. ‘Two of us can just sit on the floor. No big deal.’

  ‘Luke won’t be happy that we’ve lost two of his stools,’ Abbie said.

  ‘But what about the campfire?’ Zi frowned. ‘That’s a big part of the whole scene.’

  ‘Exactly,’ I said, an ache starting in my chest. ‘And it took me so long to make.’

  ‘It’s okay, Vi,’ Abbie said gently.

  ‘No, it’s not,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘Nothing’s been okay this week. I’m exhausted all the time, and I ruined my history project, and I embarrassed myself at the café, and I keep losing things and forgetting where I’ve put stuff.’

  I tried to hold back the tears, but a couple slipped out. ‘It just feels like I’m massively failing at everything.’

  ‘That’s not true, Vi,’ Naira said softly, putting her arm around me.

  ‘Violet, you’re not failing,’ Abbie said firmly. ‘You’re just doing too much.’

  ‘You’re amazing, Violet,’ Mackenzie said. ‘Just look at the awesome script you’ve written. I could never do that!’

  ‘And what about how you made time to help me with my project, even when you were so busy with everything else,’ Zi said. ‘It’s because you care so much—about the act, about your family, about us. It’s just been a lot this week, but the act is gonna be awesome, even without the campfire and stools!’

  ‘What if it’s not awesome?’ The fears I’d been having all week started tumbling out, and once I started saying them aloud, I couldn’t stop. ‘What if I go out there and make a total fool of myself in front of the whole town? What if everyone in Keegan River finds out I’m not as good at acting, writing and directing as I think I am . . . or want to be?’

  ‘That’s not gonna happen.’ Abbie smiled. ‘Because you’re the best actor, writer and director in Keegan River. We know it better than anyone!’

  ‘We all cracked up at the first rehearsal, remember?’ Naira said. ‘And the audience tomorrow night will do the same, you wait!’

  ‘You are SO far from a failure, Vi,’ Mackenzie said kindly. ‘You’re one of the bravest people I know. You’ve got this.’

  The ache in my chest started to fade.

  ‘We’re here for you,’ Abbie said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. ‘Always.’

  I took a deep breath and wiped my eyes. ‘Thanks, guys,’ I said. ‘But I would LOVE to know what I’ve done with that campfire and those stools!’

  ‘Okay,’ Naira said. ‘Let’s go to your house right now and have a look.’

  ‘Just to be sure,’ Zi added.

  I nodded. ‘Okay. Just to be sure.’

  twenty-three

  CHRISTOS WAS HEADING TOWARDS US CARRYING his board when we all walked out of the surf club.

  Oh no! I thought. I can’t let him see me like this! Another embarrassing moment to add to the list!

  ‘Hey,’ I whispered to Mackenzie, ‘let’s go round the back and—’

  ‘Christos!’ Zi shouted, waving at her surfing buddy.

  Great. Perfect.

  ‘Hey, Zi.’ Christos grinned, walking over to us.

  I turned my face away and pretended to be suddenly fascinated by the kayaks on the grass behind us.

  ‘You guys heading out for a surf today?’ he asked Abbie and Zi. ‘Waves look good.’

  ‘Nah, we might go out later,’ Zi said.

  ‘We’ve got rehearsal now,’ Abbie added.

  ‘Cool,’ Christos said. ‘How is it going?’

  ‘Yeah, good,’ Zi said. ‘Except that the surf club has gremlins.’

  ‘Huh?’

  I sneaked a look at Christos’s confused expression.

  ‘Some of our props and stuff are missing,’ Abbie explained. ‘We thought we left a campfire and stools here yesterday, but they’re gone.’

  Christos frowned. ‘Did you say a campfire?’

  ‘Yeah, why?’ Abbie said.

  ‘Um, I think Yasmin and Piper carried something that looked like that out of here this morning,’ Christos said. ‘I came down early for a surf and saw them walking out with it.’

  Forgetting all about my blotchiness, I whipped my head around to face him.

  ‘WHAT?!’ I cried.

  ‘You’re kidding!’ Zi gasped. ‘Those little . . .’

  ‘Did you see where they took it?’ Naira asked in her calm voice.

  He pointed behind us. ‘Round the back of the club,’ he said.

  ‘Where the bins are?’ I squealed.

  ‘Thanks, Christos!’ Abbie called over her shoulder as we all raced off in the direction of the bins.

  ‘No worries,’ he replied. ‘Good luck! See you at the show!’

  Around the back of the club, I ran over to the huge industrial bin and opened the lid. There, stuffed into the furthest corner, were two of Luke’s stools and my beautiful campfire, now flattened and crushed.

  ‘Oh no!’ Mackenzie cried.

  ‘Those two are the worst,’ Zi growled.

  ‘I’m going to throttle them!’ Abbie seethed.

  ‘They were probably the ones who threw something at the window too,’ Naira said with a frown. ‘Wanting to scare us.’

  As my friends raged about Yasmin and Piper, I stared into the bin, feeling sick to my stomach.

  ‘This is my fault,’ I said. ‘I never should have made fun of them when they were dancing on the beach or said that stuff about Yasmin cheating in front of everyone. I should have known how angry they’d be at me for embarrassing them.’

  Mackenzie was outraged. ‘That’s no excuse for doing something like this!’

  ‘We have to tell Bill,’ Abbie said sternly. ‘They should be disqualified from the talent show!’

  Naira shrugged. ‘Yeah, but we can’t prove it.’

  ‘Christos could tell him what he saw and . . .’ Abbie stopped. ‘Actually, no. I don’t want to ask him to dob.’

  Zi sighed. ‘True.’

  ‘Here, give me a leg up so I can pull the stuff out,’ I said.

  Abbie and Zi put their hands out for me to step onto, and I leaned over into the stinky bin.

  ‘Pwwoooooar! It reeks in here!’

  ‘Reeks out here too,’ Naira said, holding her nose. ‘Hurry up so we can shut the lid again!’

  Once we got everything out, we realised that the stools only needed a good wash, but the campfire was ruined. Its cellophane flames had all broken off, and the cardboard was ripped and stained.

  ‘There’s no way we can use it now,’ I said sadly.

  ‘Come on,’ Abbie said. ‘We’ll go back to mine and fix it. Mum has a bunch of cellophane, and Grandpa has some empty boxes in his shed.’

  ‘Yeah!’ Mackenzie said. ‘Easy! We’ll just make another campfire, then we can come back for our dress rehearsal.’

  ‘Craft time!’ Zi crowed, cupping her hands around her mouth.

  I smiled at my friends. ‘Okay, let’s go.’

  twenty-four

  THE FIRST THING I DID WHEN I OPENED MY EYES on Saturday morning was to check that our new and improved campfire was still where I’d left it. When I saw it sitting safely in the corner of my room, I breathed a sigh of relief. No chance of Yasmin and Piper stealing it now!

  The lanterns, stools and the rest of our props were also in my room, neatly packed into a box on the floor next to the campfire. None of it would go back to the surf club until the show tonight. We weren’t taking any chances. Just thinking about what Yasmin and Piper had done made me angry all over again, but I shook the bad feelings off. I wasn’t going to let them ruin my morning.

  Today was the big day!

  A thrill of excitement tingled its way through my whole body. I was nervous but also super excited. Today, I, Violet Ricci, had two VERY exciting gigs. First was my witch performance at Emmy’s sleepover this afternoon, and then the talent-show act tonight. The girls and I had arranged to meet this morning to go over the final details for the sleepover, but I still had a bit of time to practise before they all arrived.

  I jumped out of bed, glanced in the mirror and grinned at my reflection. Time to get my witch on!

  Later that afternoon, I was in Emmy’s mum’s bedroom, putting the finishing touches on my fake nose wart, when there was a knock at the door.

  ‘Come in!’ I called.

  Emmy’s mum stuck her head in. ‘How are you going in here?’ she asked. ‘Nearly ready to make your entrance?’

  ‘Yep,’ I said. ‘Thanks for letting me change in your bedroom, Mrs Josem.’

 

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