‘You’re welcome.’ She smiled. ‘Wow, you look fantastic!’ she added, eyeing my long black dress, black cape and pointy black hat.

  ‘I don’t look too scary?’

  ‘Not at all!’ she said. ‘The girls are going to love you!

  Thanks so much for doing this, Violet.’

  ‘You’re welcome!’

  ‘Now, you only need to stay for an hour,’ Mrs Josem said. ‘And it would be great if you could run the wand-making activity and the magic-wand relay. After that, you’re free to go.’

  ‘Okay, cool.’

  ‘The decorations in Emmy’s room look amazing,’ she said. ‘You girls have done such a fabulous job!’

  I had to agree. Everything looked awesome. I wished my friends were still here now, but they’d left as soon as we finished setting up for the party. It was just me and a bunch of seven-year-olds now. My witch costume looked good, and I’d worked out some stuff to say, and I knew how to run the games, but I suddenly felt a bit nervous without my support team.

  I took a deep breath, adopted my best witchy posture and expression, and walked out of the bedroom and down the hallway to the lounge room. The kids were all standing at the party table, devouring the delicious cauldron cupcakes Mum and I had made this morning. They all squealed with delight as soon as they spotted me.

  ‘Hello, little girls!’ I said in a high-pitched but not too scary voice. ‘Are you all enjoying your cauldron cupcakes? I made them myself using frogs’ legs and snail shells!’

  A couple of the kids dropped their cupcakes in horror, but the rest got the joke and giggled. A bunch of them rushed up to surround me.

  ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘Are you a real witch?’

  ‘Do you know Dorothy?’

  ‘Have you got a broom?’

  I beamed back at them as they bombarded me with questions, then spoke in my friendly witch voice again.

  ‘I’ll answer all your questions later,’ I cackled, ‘but right now, I need to find the birthday girl!’

  Emmy was standing at the back of the group, giggling and jumping up and down with excitement.

  ‘Ahhh, there she is!’ I cried. ‘Now, come over here so I can check to see if you have any frogs hiding behind your ears!’

  Her friends giggled and squealed as I walked over to a delighted Emmy, and in that moment, I knew that everything was going to be okay.

  By the end of the hour, my throat was a bit sore from the witch voice, but I was so happy with how everything had gone that I didn’t care. The cauldron cupcakes and pretzels were a hit too, and so was the wand-making activity. I’d even made up a competition for the best spell, and the girls had loved it all. I couldn’t wait to tell my Sleepover BFFs squad every detail.

  ‘Thanks, Mrs Josem,’ I said after I’d changed back into my normal clothes and I was just plain old Violet once again.

  ‘Thank YOU, Violet!’ she said with one eye on the kids, who were now outside taking turns on the trampoline. ‘What a talented actress you are!’

  ‘Thank you,’ I said, feeling a blush on my cheeks.

  ‘Is this what you want to do when you grow up?’ she asked, curious.

  ‘Yes.’ I nodded. ‘I love it.’

  ‘Well, you’re very good at it.’ She grinned. ‘I assume you know about the surf club’s talent show tonight?’

  ‘Yep,’ I said. ‘The Sleepover BFFs are doing an act.’

  ‘Wonderful!’ she said, beaming. ‘Maybe I’ll bring all the girls down for an hour to watch you. I’m sure they’d love to see their favourite actress perform twice in the same day!’

  I was on such a high when I left that I could have floated out of the door, just like a real witch!

  twenty-five

  BILL HAD SET UP A ‘BACKSTAGE AREA’ FOR THE talent show. It was really just a big black curtain strung across one corner of the surf club, but it did the job. I’d suggested to the girls that we arrive earlier than the official starting time, so we could find a good spot for our props and set behind the curtain.

  ‘Over here is good,’ I said, pointing to the corner furthest away from the stage entrance. ‘We won’t get in everyone’s way when they’re getting ready to go on.’

  ‘Good idea, Vi,’ Mackenzie said, setting the stools down on the floor.

  ‘We did such a good job with this campfire!’ Naira said as she and Abbie placed it carefully next to the stools. ‘Look how pretty it is!’

  Soon, the other acts started rocking up, and we chatted with the other performers, most of whom we knew from the surf club or school. But we were all keeping an eye out for two performers in particular. I didn’t know what I was going to say when I saw Yasmin and Piper, but there was no way that I was going to let them think they’d got away with their terrible behaviour.

  When I finally spotted the two of them standing near the drinks table, I got up and started towards them.

  Abbie quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me back. ‘Violet, don’t,’ she said. ‘They’ll only say something to upset you, and they’re not worth it. Tonight is about us and our act. You have to focus on that, not them!’

  I knew she was right, even though I was itching to say something to wipe the smirks off their faces.

  ‘Okay,’ I said. ‘But I’m going to say something to them after the show.’

  ‘And I’ll be right there next to you,’ Abbie said, frowning over at the two teenagers.

  At least I got to see the look of surprise on Yasmin’s face when she saw our campfire and stools. When she glanced over at me, I tilted my head and raised one eyebrow as if to say, Yeah, that’s right. You’re not as smart as you think you are, girl.

  Soon, the whole backstage area was alive with a chaotic buzz. Costumes were being adjusted, kids were practising their lines and dance moves, and one kid, a boy named Rory Meschel, was strumming a guitar.

  As it got close to 7 pm, I peeked out from behind the curtain and was shocked at the sight of so many people packed into the surf club. I could see Mum and Dad in the front row, alongside Naira, Abbie, Mackenzie and Zi’s families, and behind them were Luke, Jemma, Miss Boyle, and loads of other familiar faces from town, school and the club. When I spotted Christos and his friends in the back row, my heart stopped for a beat. I’d expected him to be here, of course—he’d told us the day before that he was coming—but it still shook me. I was still staring at him when I felt a poke in my back.

  ‘Ow!’

  ‘What are you doing?’

  I turned to find Zi frowning at me.

  ‘Just having a look to see who’s out there,’ I said.

  ‘Ooh, let me see!’

  ‘Zi, just don’t yank it—’

  But it was too late. Zi pulled the curtain back so far that our faces were suddenly on display to the entire audience. I saw my parents’ expressions of surprise just before they burst out laughing.

  ‘Zi!’ I hissed, pulling the curtains back together.

  ‘Oops!’ She giggled.

  ‘I need to teach you proper theatre etiquette,’ I sighed. ‘Okay, pre-show pep-talk time.’

  Zi frowned. ‘The what-talk time?’

  ‘Come on,’ I said.

  We went back over to where the others were guarding the props and campfire.

  ‘How’s it looking out there?’ Naira asked nervously.

  ‘Great!’ I said. ‘It’s packed.’

  Mackenzie went pale. ‘I think I’m going to throw up.’

  ‘Me too,’ Naira said.

  ‘No-one’s going to throw up!’

  I took a deep breath. It was time to put my own nerves and fears aside and be a good director.

  ‘Listen, guys,’ I said, smiling brightly. ‘This is it. All our hard work has led to this moment. Just hit your cues, stay in character, and for the love of all things spooky, try not to laugh.’

  ‘Yes, boss!’ They grinned.

  ‘You’re all going to smash it,’ I said, and I was glad to see that Mackenzie and Naira were looking a bit less vomity. ‘And thank you SO much again for being the best cast, and the best friends, anyone could ask for.’

  ‘Group hug!’ Abbie cried.

  We all wrapped our arms around each other and I felt a surge of pride.

  Our act was fourth in the running order, and when Bill announced us, we gave each other one final high five, before stepping out onto the stage, where Abbie held up her torch and delivered her first line.

  ‘Look, it’s right over here! The red cabin!’

  And we were off!

  The audience was awesome. They laughed and gasped in all the right places, and they loved the end, where I went offstage to investigate a weird noise, and Abbie, Zi, Naira and Mackenzie worked themselves into a total state of paranoia. By the time I came back on as a completely different character—a little girl holding a teddy bear—the girls were all so scared that they screamed and clutched at each other.

  VIOLET: Hey, guys, I’ve been looking all over the forest for you. Mum and Dad and the rest of the grown-ups are waiting at the blue cabin next door.

  ABBIE: The BLUE cabin! Naira, I thought you said we were meeting them at the red cabin!

  NAIRA: Oops. Sorry!

  ZI: We thought you were a monster, Violet!

  VIOLET: Don’t be silly! Monsters don’t exist.

  All five of us turned to the audience then, holding the torches up to our faces in a creepy way.

  ALL: Or do they . . . ?

  The audience gave us a huge round of applause, and I saw tears in Mum’s eyes while Dad mouthed, AMAZING! at me.

  ‘We did it!’ I cried, wrapping my arms around my friends as soon as we were off the stage. ‘You were all SO good!’

  ‘I can’t believe I didn’t forget any of my lines,’ Mackenzie squealed.

  ‘Me either!’ Naira grinned.

  ‘Did you hear that big laugh you got at the end, Abbie?’ Zi asked. ‘And they loved your reaction when you thought you saw a drop bear, Mac,’ Zi added with a giggle.

  ‘It was Violet’s script!’ Mackenzie said, turning to me. ‘They loved it!’

  ‘Absolutely!’ Naira agreed.

  Mackenzie hugged me again. ‘Thank you so much for making me do this,’ she said. ‘I had so much fun, and Dad and Liam looked gobsmacked. I could tell they were both super proud.’

  ‘You’re welcome,’ I said, beaming around at my friends. ‘But you have to stop now or I’m going to start crying, and I can’t go back out there with a red face!’

  I was so happy that I even gave Yasmin and Piper a big smile as they walked past to head out for their act.

  ‘Chookas, guys,’ I said, which was what theatre people said instead of ‘good luck’.

  They looked so stunned that I almost laughed out loud.

  When all the acts were finished, Bill called everyone back out onto the stage to announce the winners. Yasmin and Piper came third, we came second and Rory came first with his awesome original song.

  ‘YAY!’ we shouted.

  ‘Awesome!’ Zi cried.

  Bill grinned down at the five of us when we went up to collect our prize—a 100-dollar voucher for the Echo Bay diner.

  ‘Congratulations, girls,’ he said into the microphone. ‘You all did an amazing job. That sketch ticked all the boxes! Great characters, funny script and well directed. Give them another big hand, folks!’

  I beamed at everyone, feeling so happy and proud. Then, as my eyes scanned the faces in the audience, I saw Christos smiling and staring straight at me, and was so shocked that my legs suddenly refused to work. Abbie had to lead me off the stage.

  ‘He smiled at me,’ I said to Abbie, still in a daze.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Christos!’ I beamed. ‘He was smiling right at me.’

  Behind us, Zi gasped.

  ‘Ooh! Do you like Christos?’ she squealed.

  ‘Oh no,’ I groaned, dropping my head into my hands as the others laughed.

  twenty-six

  THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WHEN I CAM E BACK from the bathroom was the popcorn avalanche covering my entire coffee table.

  ‘What happened?’ I cried. ‘I leave you guys alone for five minutes and come back to this!’

  Zi looked up from her failed popcorn tower, a kernel stuck to her cheek.

  ‘In my defence,’ she began, ‘I knew the popcorn challenge was a bad idea.’

  ‘Um, it was your idea!’ Abbie said, throwing a piece of popcorn at Zi, who caught it in her mouth, and everyone cheered.

  It was the week after the talent show, and we were having a sleepover at my house. After all the excitement, hard work and stress of the past two weeks, a night-at-the-movies-themed sleepover—complete with popcorn, milkshakes and pizza—was exactly what we all needed.

  ‘Where did you get the idea for a popcorn challenge?’ Naira asked, popping a couple of pieces into her mouth.

  ‘I wrote a bunch of challenge ideas down in my diary last night,’ Zi said.

  ‘Your diary?’ Naira frowned. ‘I didn’t know you kept a diary.’

  ‘Violet inspired me.’ Zi grinned.

  ‘The B-plus you got on your history project probably helped too,’ I added, proud of my friend for getting such a great mark.

  Zi blushed. ‘Yeah, that too.’

  I was happy with my mark—a B—especially since it had been so rushed in the end.

  ‘Good work, Violet,’ Miss Boyle had said when she handed it back. ‘There were quite a few spelling mistakes, but you had some lovely character stuff in there.’

  I knew Miss Boyle was surprised that I’d made so many errors, and also that the rewritten entries were so short, because she was used to reading my other, perfectly spelled and much wordier creative-writing assignments. But I knew it was only because that week had been so CRAZY, and had already promised myself that my next writing project would be bigger and better than ever.

  ‘Hey,’ Abbie said, taking out her notebook. ‘We should talk about Remy’s sleepover booking for next week.’

  ‘Not tonight!’ Zi groaned. ‘I just wanna hang and chill. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.’

  Abbie grinned. ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ she said, sliding the notebook back into her bag. ‘This sleepover is perfect timing too. Esther is staying at ours this weekend.’

  ‘Have they moved in yet?’ Mackenzie asked.

  Abbie shook her head. ‘Next week.’

  ‘How are you feeling?’ Naira asked.

  ‘Okay, I guess.’ Abbie shrugged. ‘I’m still not rapt about sharing a room with the grumpiest teenager in Keegan River, but it’ll be fine.’

  ‘At least she’s not mean like Yasmin and Piper,’ Naira said.

  Abbie nodded. ‘True.’

  ‘You guys are lucky,’ I said. ‘Sometimes I think it would be nice to have siblings.’

  ‘Really?’ Mackenzie said.

  ‘Yeah,’ I said softly. ‘It can get lonely here sometimes, especially when Mum and Dad are working. I’d love to have a sister.’

  ‘I didn’t know you got lonely, Vi,’ Zi said.

  I shrugged. ‘Not all the time, just sometimes.’

  Naira looked confused. ‘But you have us.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Abbie said. ‘You’ve got four sisters.’

  ‘True,’ I said, feeling my insides melt a little. ‘I do.’

  They all beamed at me, and I suddenly clapped my hands and cleared my throat.

  ‘Okay, sisters, it’s movie time!’

  ‘Wait!’ Zi said, standing up. ‘There’s one more thing we have to do first.’

  ‘What?’ I asked.

  Zi got up and went over to her bag to take something out. When she turned around, she was hiding the item behind her back.

  ‘Violet Ricci,’ she said, speaking in a funny, posh kind of voice. ‘Your script, “The Cabin”, was awarded second place in the Keegan River Talent Show . . .’

  ‘Which is amazing, by the way,’ Mackenzie added.

  ‘Absolutely,’ Naira agreed.

  ‘However,’ Zi continued, ‘we thought you deserved an extra something special for your incredible work.’

  She brought her hands out to reveal a shiny gold trophy.

  ‘The award for best writer, director, actor, witch and friend,’ Zi said in that same posh voice, ‘goes to . . . VIOLET RICCI!’

  My friends all jumped to their feet, bursting into applause, as I smiled and collected my trophy.

  ‘SPEECH!’ Abbie cried.

  ‘Thank you, thank you,’ I boomed, giving a low, dramatic bow and hugging the trophy close to my chest. ‘Of course, I couldn’t have done it without my sisters.

  To my Sleepover BFFs, I love you all!’

  ‘YAY!’ they cheered.

  ‘But now,’ I said, ‘it’s MOVIE TIME!’

  ‘Right, what are we watching?’ Mackenzie asked as I flopped down onto the cushions we’d set up in the middle of the floor.

  ‘You have to choose, Violet,’ Abbie said. ‘It’s your house after all.’

  ‘As long as it’s not scary,’ Naira added quickly.

  ‘Don’t worry.’ I laughed. ‘I’m done with the paranormal. No more ghosts, or spooky cabins, or forests, I promise. Time for a new obsession.’

  ‘Should we all guess what it’s gonna be?’ Abbie asked, grinning around at everyone.

  ‘I haven’t decided on anything yet,’ I said, grabbing the almost empty bowl of popcorn. ‘But when I do, you all have to be in my next vlog, because you’re professional actors now. Deal?’

  Everyone laughed and raised their popcorn in the air.

  ‘DEAL!’ they shouted.

  ‘Hey, how about this?’ Abbie asked, clicking through movie options. ‘It’s about a kids’ basketball team.’

  ‘Sounds good,’ Zi said, and we all agreed.

  A basketball movie. No drama and no ghosts. It was perfect!

  We piled onto the couch to get ready to watch, and for the first time in ages, I wasn’t thinking about the talent show, or the café, or the witch performance, or a school project. I was thinking about how lucky I was to be here, right now, in this moment, with my awesome cast.

  My best friends. My sisters.

 

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