Free You Don't Know Me by Sophia Bennett Page A

opinion.
    â€˜You’re such a doofus, Linus. I totally disagree. Let them stay together. I don’t think they’ll go that far, if I’m completely honest. But splitting them up like that? School friends? That’s just perverse.’ He shrugs.
    Linus grins at Sebastian. It’s clear he loves a fight.
    â€˜Not just schoolgirls,’ he counters. ‘I think they’ve got a look. Think the Spice Girls, remember? Or even Destiny’s Child.’
    As soon as he says Destiny’s Child, Jodie squeezes my hand so hard I think she’s going to break it. Beyoncé’s old band: home to my other favourite pop star, apart from Roxanne.
    â€˜Roxy?’ Linus says. ‘It seems you might have the casting vote.’
    Roxanne takes a deep breath and smiles wryly for the nearest camera.
    â€˜Oh God, this is So. Hard,’ she complains. She looks up at the four of us. ‘I mean, it’s tough, girls, but I guess Linus has a point. We’re here to deliver the good news, but the bad news too. The bad news is that sometimes a group just doesn’t fit the way you hoped. But the good news is that the three of you could really make it as a trio. I see that in you. I do.’
    She beams at us like what she just said is a good thing. But a trio is not good. Not when there are four of you.
    She didn’t seem to think that before. What happened?What went wrong?
    â€˜Guitar girl,’ Linus calls out, making me jump. He checks his notes. ‘Er, Rose, right? . . .This is tough on you, I know. What do you think?’
    Rose Ireland. The ‘stand-out’ girl who could sing all of us off the stage without even thinking about it, never mind playing the piano like an angel and the guitar like a dream.
    She dips her head forward to the mic in front of her and says in a clear, low voice: ‘It’s a band decision. I’ll do whatever the girls want to do.’
    Jodie steps forward.
    â€˜Er, I think we’ll stick together,’ she mutters.
    Nell and I nod. I mean, obviously.
    At the judges’ table, Linus shrugs. ‘OK. But I want you to think about this. It’s all nice and lovely if you all stick together and I’m sure you’ll be an OK school band. But I don’t think you get it. I’m not just talking about making the final nine here. I could make you into recording stars. I’m serious. Take fifteen minutes. Think about it.’

 
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    Fifteen Minutes: Part 2
    F inal nine. Recording stars. No Rose. My head feels as if it’s about to explode.
    Shell-shocked, we’re led out of the room by Janet, who’s busy radioing details of what’s happening to the central control centre. She pauses in the corridor outside and turns to us.
    â€˜We’ve got a room nearby. You don’t mind if we bring the cameras in, do you?’
    We shake our heads without really considering it. We’re used to the lenses, lights and cables by now. Besides, we have more important things to think about.
    I walk quickly down the corridor to catch up with Rose, who’s stormed ahead of the rest of us.
    â€˜Are you OK?’ I ask.
    â€˜Sure,’ she mutters gruffly. ‘Of course I’m OK. It’s only a competition.’
    She glares at me briefly, then looks away. Her cheeks are burning. She won’t let me put my arm through hers. Instead, she wraps her arms around herself.
    â€˜I could see this coming,’ she goes on. ‘I knew I was crazy to come here.’
    â€˜But you’re not. You’re amazing. You know it.’
    She just glares at me and shivers.
    Janet tries a couple of locked doors, then finds one that opens onto a small, airless meeting room, with four chairs set around a white-topped table. We each take a chair.
    â€˜You have fifteen minutes,’ Janet says, glancing at her watch. ‘Actually, twelve now. But wait until I get the cameras before you say