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  “And you thought it would help you get into the role by looking like her, did you?” Sonja asked, an amused smile on her face.

  “Yeah, well, why not? Seeing as I’m in charge of the make-up, I thought it would be a good opportunity to practise.”

  “Oh, right. But aren’t you supposed to put more make-up on for this type of thing, rather than less?” Sonja quizzed. “Won’t Cinders’ face just be a blur from the third row back?”

  “Not when it’s only a rehearsal,” Cat replied, exasperated by the probing questions, and desperately trying to come up with a feasible reply. “Obviously it’ll be a lot heavier on the night. This is just to experiment with the type of look. Don’t you know anything about the theatre, Sonja?”

  “Obviously not,” said Sonja, smothering a grin. “Obviously you’re the expert - the girl who thinks she can get a career as the next soap queen by doing a beauty therapy course.”

  Catrina opened her mouth to say something cutting in reply, then closed it again. Bickering with her cousin wasn’t on, not when she was trying to get in the right frame of mind for her meeting with the director and the cast.

  Mellow out, Cat, she scolded herself. Try and be nice. Cinderella would be.

  “You’re right, Sonja.” Cat simpered instead. “I am a silly thing, aren’t I? To think I could ever really be someone special…”

  There, that’s better, she thought. Could be a line right out of the panto.

  “Are you taking the mick?” asked Sonja, who’d instantly regretted her dig about Cat’s career choice until this last sarky remark.

  “N-n-no,” Cat stuttered, “I’m just trying to be nice.”

  “Why?” Sonja demanded. “It’s not your style to be nice, Cat. Kerry’s nice. Joe’s nice. ‘Nice’ isn’t something you’re really known for. What’s up?”

  Cat was taken aback. This wasn’t going at all well.

  She wondered what Cinderella would do in a situation like this, when she was being berated by one of the Ugly Sisters. Probably carry on sweeping the floor, she thought.

  Kerry, meanwhile, stood with a bemused expression on her face. Cat was behaving oddly, for sure, but it didn’t take much to rile Sonja where her cousin was involved. She decided now was the time to butt in on the feuding cousins.

  “Come on, Son, let’s go,” she urged, “or we’ll be late for the start of the film.”

  “Oh, are you going to the pictures? How lovely. I hope you have nice time,” Cat trilled, batting her eyelashes girlishly from Kerry to Sonja and back again.

  “God, there you go with that word again!” Sonja pointed out. “Nice.”

  “Oh, I’m really sorry,” Cat bleated and, remembering a line from the panto, added, “I didn’t mean to upset you. Please forgive me, sweet sister, and I’ll try to do better.”

  Chuffed that she could run a line or two off pat like that, Cat ended by giving a little skip and a hop towards Sonja and clasped her hands together in a pleading fashion. Just as she would to one of the Ugly Sisters on the big night. If she got the part.

  Sonja looked at her cousin as if she was barking mad.

  “I don’t know what you’re up to, Cat,” she sighed, “but for one thing, I’m not your sister, and for another, you’re doing my head in.”

  She side-stepped Cat and turned to Kerry.

  “Come on, Kez,” she commanded. “Let’s leave Miss Goody-Two-Shoes here to it. We’ve got a blood ‘n’ guts action movie to see.”

  Sonja set off up the road, a baffled-looking Kerry trailing in her wake.

  “Have a lovely time! Hope it’s not too gory!” Cat called after them.

  She was off to her own battle zone. She was about to slay ‘em as Cinderella…

  CHAPTER 5

  BREAK A LEG!

  Cat’s radar was in top gear when she arrived at college. There, in the corridor outside the main hall, she spotted the boys she had to impress tonight - both the Ugly Sisters and Prince Charming.

  Ben and Jason (the sisters) were leaning against the wall, wearing for the moment the very un-ugly outfits of jeans and T-shirts. Glenn Wright, who was playing the Prince, was sitting with his back to her. Beside him sat a girl whose name Cat couldn’t remember; a girl who was playing one of the villagers in a crowd scene.

  Even from a distance, Cat could make out that they were running through lines.

  As she walked over to them, the group all stopped talking and turned, as one, to look at her. The new, toned-down Cat obviously took them by surprise.

  “Hello, boys. Hello, er…” she trailed off, still lost as to the girl’s name. “Have you come to cheer me on?”

  Cat’s tone was as bright and breezy as she could manage, even though her heart was hammering with nerves she wouldn’t acknowledge. It was going to be hard charming these guys, she suddenly realised. The three boys hadn’t been particularly friendly to her so far, treating her very much as a second-class citizen since she was ‘just’ the make-up girl and not a performer.

  They’re not exactly going to welcome me with open arms, she thought to herself. They’ll probably think I’ve got a cheek trying to have a go at acting…

  “Yeah, we heard you were having a bash at the lead role,” Glenn smirked. “We can’t wait to see what you can do.”

  More than you expect, you smarmy geek, she thought rebelliously.

  “Great!” she beamed, adopting her sweet Cinderella guise. “I’m looking forward to it myself. And I’m especially looking forward to playing opposite you on the big night, Glenn,” she added.

  “You sound like it’s already in the bag,” Glenn laughed with a sarcastic undertone.

  “Well, it is, isn’t it?” replied Cat, all wide-eyed and girlish. “Jeff isn’t going to find anyone else at this late stage. And I do know all the lines.”

  “You haven’t heard about Amy then?” Jason butted in, nodding over at the girl beside Glenn.

  “Amy?” Cat smiled, hoping the uncertainty over what was coming next wasn’t apparent in her face.

  “Amy’s asked Jeff if she can have try-out tonight too,” Glenn continued. “We’re just running through her lines now.”

  The four faces - Glenn, Amy, Ben and Jason -all wore the same mocking expression as they waited for Cat’s response.

  Surprise and disappointment hit Cat like a tonne of bricks. She hadn’t expected to face competition for the part; she’d assumed it was hers for the taking. But, like the natural actress she knew she was, she didn’t let it show, and kept the smile glued to her face.

  Anyway, she thought, as the thrill of the challenge sent a shiver through her, it’ll be more of a pleasure than ever to see the smug looks wiped off their arrogant faces.

  “Glad to hear it,” she cooed in Amy’s direction. “Break a leg!”

  Four pairs of eyes watched in amazement as she padded away confidently in her blue suede ballet pumps. There was absolutely no external clue to show just how literally Cat had meant that last remark!

  “I didn’t know Amy was going to try for the part.”

  “She only approached me about it this morning, Catrina,” Jeff replied, turning his attention away from the props that were being set up on the stage. “You’re all right about it, aren’t you?”

  “Oh, yes!” she nodded. “She’s one of the drama students, so of course you have to give her a go.”

  “That’s very understanding of you,” said Jeff. “But it doesn’t mean I’m not going to give you a fair hearing, Catrina, if you still want to go ahead…”

  “Of course I do!” trilled Cat. “So, how are we going to work this?”

  “Well, I thought Amy could have a bash at the opening scene…”

  Damn! thought Gat. I wanted to be first on and make my big impression.

  “…and then you take over in scene two. Then we’ll keep alternating between you as we run through. OK?”

  “Fine,” smiled Cat.

  She turned and made her way to the side door that led to the
wings. She wanted to watch Amy’s performance from these darkened partitions so no one could see her face if Amy happened to be brilliant.

  Which she isn’t going to be. Cat tried to psych herself up, as her rival, the Ugly Sisters and the Wicked Stepmother made their way forward on to the stage.

  “Jeff will cast Amy, won’t he?” she suddenly heard someone say in the shadows close by.

  “Definitely! He’d never risk giving it to that blonde bimbo from the beauty course…” she heard someone else reply.

  Cat felt her bottle go. Even though out on stage she could see that Amy was reading from a script that she hadn’t yet memorised, it didn’t give her any pleasure. The realisation that too many people were there to snigger at her rather than applaud her - who’d love to see her come a cropper - made the task ahead seem impossible.

  “Don’t pay any attention,” a voice whispered in her ear. “They’re just being morons.”

  Beside Cat stood Vikki Grant, the larger than life black girl who was determined to play the most over-the-top Fairy Godmother that any Cinderella had ever had.

  Vikki was Cat’s favourite person to make up in the cast; she had demanded that Cat go mad with the glitter, to be in keeping with her amazing pink net confection of a costume. And after the offhand way Glenn and some of the others talked to her when they were sitting in front of the make-up mirror, it was always a pleasure to hear Vikki’s throaty laugh and have a giggle with her.

  “Thanks, Vikki” smiled Cat, some of her confidence seeping back at the girl’s kind words.

  “So, do you know the lines or are you going to read off the script like madam?” Vikki nodded her head towards Amy.

  “I know them off by heart.”

  “Good,” whispered Vikki. “Well, you’ve got one over her for a start. Just get up there and belt ‘em out. And remember - it’s a panto; you can go overboard if you want to. Which is what too many of this bunch of precious actorrrs seem to be forgetting.”

  Cat studied Amy’s well-acted but very subtle style and knew Vikki was right. That performance wasn’t going to hold any audience’s interest for an hour and a half.

  “Go get ‘em!” whispered Vikki, as the first scene ended and it was Cat’s turn to step on to the stage.

  “Don’t worry, I will…” growled Cat with a determined glint in her eye.

  Cat gulped the water from the plastic cup and hoped it would cool her down quickly. Apart from feeling so hot, her head was thudding now the rehearsal was finished - though whether it was from belting out the songs or because of the improvised dance steps she’d done at the same time, Cat didn’t know.

  What she did know was that she’d done the best she could. Amy’s performance - reading from the script aside - was confident and assured. Cat’s had been like an explosion in a fireworks factory, with no one, including Cat, sure of what was coming next.

  “Well done, Cat,” came Jeff’s voice as he appeared at her side. “That was a very, uh, spirited effort. You did a really good job under the circumstances. Thank you.”

  “So - have I got the part?” Cat blurted out.

  Jeff stroked his chin thoughtfully before he answered.

  “Why don’t I give you a call some time tomorrow?” he said evasively, putting his hand on her shoulder and steering her out of the hall and out of earshot of the others. “We can discuss it in more detail then.”

  That’s it, Cat thought despondently as she padded along the echoing corridor. That’s just a nice way of saying thanks-but-no-thanks. I’ve blown it.

  CHAPTER 6

  OH YES HE IS?

  It was late by the time Sonja got home from the cinema. The rest of her family seemed to be in bed which was where Sonja heading as soon as she’d made herself a coffee.

  As she got to her bedroom, she saw a bright pink Post-it note stuck to the door.

  Owen called, it said. Ring any time before midnight.

  Sonja felt her insides give a little jolt of pleasure. She loved it when Owen called out of the blue like this. They had an unspoken agreement where they usually talked once every week or so, often late in the evening, and usually about nothing in particular - they just liked hearing the sound of each other’s voices.

  Sonja looked at her watch.

  Eleven thirty. Perfect, just perfect.

  She went into her room, closed the door quietly behind her and picked up the extension by the side of her bed. She tapped in the number that was imprinted on her brain and listened to the dialling tone at the other end, her insides fluttering in nervous excitement.

  It took eleven rings for Owen to answer the phone. When he did, his voice sounded husky, as though he hadn’t spoken to anyone for days.

  “It’s me,” Sonja said. “I didn’t get you out of bed, did I?”

  “Sonja, hi. No, I was vegging in front of the telly. Must’ve dozed off. How’re things?”

  “Great. I’ve just got back from the flicks with Kerry. We went to see this dreadful Keanu Reeves film. It was hilarious, I can’t tell you how bad it was. Everyone was laughing in all the wrong places it was so terrible.”

  “I’ve heard about that one,” Owen said. “It’s had awful reviews. Why on earth did you go and see it?”

  “Because Kerry used to fancy him and there was nothing else on. I guess we’d have been better off staying at home and watching Family Fortunes.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. And Les Dennis is so much hunkier than Keanu Reeves, isn’t he?”

  Sonja laughed. “So what were you calling me for anyway?”

  “Do I need to call you for a reason now?” Owen teased her.

  “No, of course not!” said Sonja, pretending to be hurt.

  “Well, anyway, I spoke to Anna the other night and she said you’d been missing me…”

  “I did not say that!” Sonja protested.

  “What, you mean you haven’t been missing me?”

  “Of course I have,” giggled Sonja, realising she’d backed herself into a comer. “So, will I be seeing you again soon?”

  “I have to say work hasn’t exactly been generous with the holidays - we’ve got this big contract coming up right at the beginning of January.”

  “That’s OK,” said Sonja, trying to sound like an undemanding and understanding girlfriend. If girlfriend was what she actually was.

  “Oh, sorry - told you I was half asleep,” Owen apologised as he gave a yawn. “But actually Anna asked me to come for Christmas…”

  Sonja felt a surge of emotion while Owen lost himself in another involuntary yawn. She’d been wondering whether Owen might come and visit Anna for a few days over the Christmas holiday, but hardly dared hope that he really would. And now it was true!

  Just as she was about to ask when he would arrive, a voice cut in on the line.

  “Oh, sorry,” came Lottie’s voice from one of the other extensions. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you lovebirds.”

  “Well, shut up and wait your turn, will you?” said Sonja, irritated by her.sister’s interruption.

  “Yeah, but do us a favour and make it quick. I’ve got to catch my mate before it gets too late.”

  “Yes, OK,” intoned Sonja in a bored drawl.

  A short click followed and she found herself alone - miles apart - with Owen once again.

  “Yeah, what was I saying?” Owen bumbled sleepily. “Oh, yeah, Anna had said that Mum could go to our aunt’s for once so she wouldn’t be on her own, then I said—”

  The phone line clicked into life again and Lottie’s voice became three’s company. “Finished yet?”

  “No!” snapped Sonja. “Just give us a minute!”

  The line clicked silent.

  “That’s a great idea, Owen!” Sonja picked up from where they’d left off, hardly able to contain her excitement at his news.

  He’s coming! she thought. This is the best Christmas present ever.

  “So you don’t mind?” came the slightly puzzled reply.

 
“No, not at all. Why would I mind?” Sonja giggled.

  A click cut through.

  “If I could get a turn on the phone any time this century, that would be good…” tried Lottie, still light-hearted but evidently more than a little fed up now.

  “Oh, listen, I’m going to have to go, Owen,” Sonja apologised, while mentally making a note to ask her parents if they’d consider getting an extra line put in. “I’ll talk to you later, yeah?”

  “Later…” came the sleepy voice so far away.

  As soon as the receiver was down, Sonja punched the air and hissed “yes!” at her reflection in the mirror on top of the chest of drawers.

  Owen was coming. She felt like she’d just won the Lottery.

  CHAPTER 7

  FAIRY TALE ENDING?

  Cat was in a foul mood. Since the night before she had been on an emotional roller-coaster ride, from supremely confident to desperately disappointed, and at every stop in between. One day on and she was convinced she’d made a complete fool of herself.

  At the time, she’d thought she’d given a pretty unforgettable performance - but if she had, why hadn’t Jeff offered her the part on the spot? It was obvious now that that stupid Amy girl was going to get it instead. And, in the meantime, Cat would be a laughing stock for weeks to come. The make-up girl who’d had ideas above her station.

  How very Cinderella, huffed Cat. Only I don’t get the happy ending.

  Now, as she arrived home after a rotten day at college - most of which was spent avoiding anyone involved with the Drama Department -she was feeling very angry with the world. When she got to the third-floor flat of the smart mansion block she lived in, Cat hoped her mum was still at work, as she often was at this time of day. She didn’t want to have to make polite conversation with her, not when she felt as down as this.

  Cat put her key in the lock, threw open the door, banging it against the wall, and slammed it shut again.

  “Keep the noise down, will you?” she heard her mother shout from the living room. “I’m trying to go through some figures for work.”