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

anything, please.’ She disappears into the corridor, already barking instructions into her head mic.
    For a moment, we do as we’re told, sitting in silence, until I really can’t bear it any more. I’m not going to sit here saying nothing just because the cameras aren’t here yet. Honestly.
    â€˜That man! I can’t believe he’d try to split us up. We wouldn’t be the Manic Pixie Dream Girls if it wasn’t the four of us.’
    â€˜It’s fine,’ Rose says crisply. ‘Don’t worry about it.’
    All the blood seems to have drained from her face, apart from two bright pink spots on her cheeks.
    I try to put a hand on her arm, but she pulls it away as if it’s been scorched. I’ve rarely seen her like this, and she’snever been so harsh with me before. Is she blaming me for dancing? It’s not really my fault if I can ‘jiggle’ and she doesn’t want to. There are a million things she can do and I can’t.
    There’s a long, awkward silence. Eventually, Rose breaks it. Her voice is flat, and she won’t look at any of us, not even me.
    â€˜Look, it’s clear they want you three,’ she says. ‘And to be perfectly honest, I hate the stupid song, and I hate the stupid dance moves, and I couldn’t do it anyway.’
    â€˜Of course you could!’ Nell says. ‘You were brilliant just now.’
    Rose gives us a cold stare. This isn’t like her at all. I don’t understand.
    â€˜I’m holding you back. Just forget about it. It’s only a stupid show. You do what you want to do.’
    There’s a knock on the door and it opens to reveal a cameraman and a sound recordist, with a fluffy mic held high on a boom.
    â€˜Don’t mind us,’ they say, moving in and setting up in the corner of the room. Janet hovers in the doorway.
    â€˜Right, girls,’ she says, checking her watch. ‘You can talk now, but you’ve only got about ten minutes left, I’m afraid. Then they need you back in the theatre for your decision.’ She smiles anxiously.
    Rose is already on her feet. ‘I’m coming with you,’ she says to Janet, pushing her chair back. ‘It’s easier for them if I’m not here.’
    Janet looks uncertain for a moment. She’s obviously considering the TV value of ‘decision with Rose in the room’ against the value of ‘decision without Rose in the room’. But Rose doesn’t give her the chance to makeup her mind. She’s already out of the door, and she doesn’t look back.
    Left alone together, Nell, Jodie and I stare at each other in silence for ages.
    Jodie’s the first to speak. She looks utterly dejected.
    â€˜Well, that was a waste of time. I never thought we’d get so close, though.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ Nell sighs.
    â€˜I know,’ I say. ‘Except . . .’
    They both stare at me. I wasn’t supposed to say ‘Except’. But now it’s out there.
    My God – why did I say ‘except’?
    â€˜Except what?’ Jodie asks.
    Everyone’s looking at me. My thoughts are a jumble.
    â€˜Well, Rose really didn’t want to be here, did she? She’s always been shy. I know it’s crazy, because her voice is fantastic, but think about it. She didn’t really want to do George’s party, until we made her. And she hates dancing.’
    It looks like dancing is part of the deal, and thinking back, I enjoyed that last version we did so much, when we could put in some choreography. To be perfectly honest, it was the easiest it’s ever been.
    Jodie nods slowly. ‘I suppose so.’
    Nell bites her lip. ‘I never pictured us as a trio.’
    I nod. Neither did I. Now, though, for a moment, I do. Three months ago, we were just a bunch of girls, singing stupid songs in our bedrooms. Now, thanks to Elliot Harrison, we could be on live TV, being watched by