Read Party at Silver Spires for Free Online

really pleased, because my parents had drummed it into me that I had to keep working hard throughout my time at Silver Spires, otherwise there was a chance I might have my scholarship taken away. And it was only because of the scholarship that I was at the school in the first place. I remember when we were buying my uniform, Mum kept on biting her lip and frowning as she looked at the prices of the different items, because it all seemed so expensive and we still had the PE kit to buy. Poor Mum. I was determined never to do anything except my total best in lessons, so then I wouldn’t risk losing my precious scholarship.
    Of the girls in my dorm, I was the only one to be put in all top sets. The others were in a mixture of top, middle and bottom, except for Antonia, who was in all bottom sets. That was only because of her problem with the language though. I’d heard Mrs. Pridham explaining to her that as she got better at English, her teachers would be able to assess her better and she might find she changed sets. In the meantime she would get lots of extra help with her English. And it was true, she was already understanding much more of what we all said. Suki wasn’t in the same set as me for anything, thank goodness, so that was one worry I could strike off my list.
    And soon I was able to strike off another one. As far as lessons were concerned, I felt as though I was fitting in fine, and I certainly wasn’t the only one to be in all top sets. I still didn’t want anyone to find out about my scholarship, though, but at least no one thought I was geeky or odd. And then once, when the six of us were in our dorm together, all sitting cross-legged on our beds, Izzy actually said to the others, “Isn’t it great that we’ve got Nicole in Emerald? I’m very proud of your big brain, Nicole!”
    â€œYes, we’ve got our own personal factfinder and problem solver!” said Bryony.
    I felt a bit embarrassed. “As long as you don’t think I’m showing off or anything…” I mumbled.
    â€œNo!” they all chorused loudly.
    â€œNo way,” added Emily.
    Then Antonia echoed, “No way,” and we all laughed, because it was the first time we’d ever heard her use such an English phrase. I probably laughed the loudest, because I was so happy that she was joining in, especially with a kind of compliment to me.It was difficult to work Antonia out. Most of the time she seemed quite aloof with everyone, but I couldn’t help feeling it was all of the time that she was aloof with me, and I felt anxious again that we’d got off to a bad start in the dining hall.
    Meanwhile, the big problem about what to wear for the party wouldn’t go away, although there was one piece of good news that I was clinging to like mad. At lunchtime on Thursday, Sasha suddenly started talking about a shopping trip at the weekend.
    â€œIt’ll be really cool. We get to go in the school minibuses and we’re free to wander round on our own as long as we’ve got at least one other person with us. I’m going to buy some shoes for the party, because I don’t like the ones I’ve got all that much.”
    â€œHow do you know about the shopping trip?” I asked.
    â€œYes, why didn’t we know anything about it?” asked Bryony.
    â€œIt’s on the noticeboard,” said Izzy. “But Sash and I also heard some of the Year Eights talking about it in the common room last night. They said there are shopping trips just about every weekend, and the Year Sevens are always desperate to go, but by the time you get to Year Eight, you’re not that bothered any more.”
    â€œI’d love to go,” I said, thinking that this was the perfect solution to my problem. I’d simply buy a new dress or new trousers or a new top. Immediately after I’d had the thought I started to feel guilty, though, because I didn’t have all that