Free Midnight Girls by Lulu Taylor

thought we were really in trouble there for a moment!’
    Sophie frowned, disarmed by Romily’s friendliness. Then she laughed. ‘Well, this
is
a turn up for the books, isn’t it? You’re at my mercy now, aren’t you? I could have you out of here by lunchtime tomorrow.’ She bit her lip and looked mischievous. ‘Gosh, it’s tempting.’
    ‘You won’t tell on us, will you?’ Romily said swiftly, still smiling. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Allegra stiffening, responding to Sophie’s challenge.
    ‘How on earth could you make it worth my while not to?’ She looked down her nose at Allegra and then Imogen.
    You stupid girl
, Romily thought fiercely.
Can’t you see how pointless it is to take us on like this? No one can win. We need to find a way that we can get out of this situation
. But she kept her face serene and her voice calm. ‘We don’t have to turn this into a big deal, you know …’
    Sophie turned back to her. ‘OK. If you really want me to keep quiet … well, I can think of a few things that might help. I’ve always fancied those Prada trainers of yours, actually. And your Rouge Noir nail polish.’
    Allegra frowned and started to speak, but Romily quietened her with a look and said, ‘OK. They’re yours.’
    ‘You can’t let her blackmail us like this!’ hissed Allegra.
    ‘It’s fine, let it go.’ Romily raised her eyebrows meaningfully.
    ‘But she’ll never be satisfied and anyway—’ Allegra began, her dark blue eyes sparkling with fury on Romily’s behalf.
    ‘Allegra, no,’ interrupted Imogen fearfully.
    ‘What’s going on?’ Sophie demanded, eyes darting, noticing the tension between them.
    Allegra took a step towards the other girl. ‘I don’t want Romily to give you her trainers and nail polish. There won’t be any end to it if she does. You’ll start demanding all her stuff.’
    ‘So what? She can afford it.’
    ‘That’s not the point. It’s blackmail.’
    ‘It’s put up with it or be expelled,’ Sophie said airily, ‘it all depends which you’d prefer, doesn’t it?’ Her eyes turned cold suddenly and her face hardened.
    Don’t do it, Sophie
, Romily begged silently.
You don’t know what you’re starting
.
    But Sophie went on regardless, her voice spiteful now. ‘You think you’re so great,’ she spat at Allegra. ‘With your title, and your castle, and your little tame pets.’ She shot scornful glances at Imogen and Romily. ‘The teachers think the sun shines out of your ladyship’s aristocratic arse, don’t they? Well, the rules are the rules and, if you break them, you pay like anyone else. Maybe you’ll find out at last that your title and Frenchie’s money and Mousie’s A grades can’t get you out of trouble after all.’
    Imogen gasped and stared over at Romily, her expression appalled. They both knew that Sophie had thrown down the gauntlet. But she didn’t realise it.
    Allegra stepped forward, even closer to Sophie now. She seemed very calm and cool. ‘You’re only revealing your own jealousy, you know. And you ought to be very careful before you start all this. We’re not the only ones breaking the rules, after all … are we?’
    Sophie narrowed her eyes. ‘What do you mean?’ She laughed nastily. ‘Jealous of you? I don’t think so.’
    ‘Well, how did you find us?’
    ‘I told you.’ She smirked. ‘I heard voices and came to find out what was happening.’
    ‘I don’t believe you. I think you were on your way to one of your little assignations.’
    There was a chilled silence after Allegra said these words.
    It’s out now
, thought Romily. A dull horror enveloped her.
It’s begun
. She looked over at Imogen whose eyes were staring and huge in her gleaming, cream-covered face. Neither of them could move to intervene, only watch in frozen fascination as the other two squared up to each other.
    Sophie’s mouth dropped open but she swiftly got control of herself. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘You know very