Free Olivia's First Term by Lyn Gardner Page A

you go through what we’ve just practised and we’ll meet here tomorrow at the same time.” Abbie picked up her things and rushed off, humming, “You are Sixteen Going on Seventeen” under her breath.
    Olivia sighed and wandered over to the big open windows. She looked across the rooftops of London. In the distance she could see Tower Bridge. Her attention was caught by a large birdswooping on to the flat roof of the building next door. The building, which was derelict, had a low parapet around the roof with large iron spikes sticking out, and it was just below here on a sheltered ledge that the bird had nested. Olivia could see the edge of the nest. The bird hopped on the parapet, eyeing Olivia inquisitively across the five metres that separated the two high buildings. Olivia rummaged in her bag, found a half-eaten sandwich that she had bought from the school cafeteria and crumbled it on to the window ledge of the rehearsal room. The bird watched her closely, but didn’t come any nearer.
    â€œYou’re like me, little bird, you’re scared,” whispered Olivia softly. The bird tilted its head as if listening to her. “But you are freer than me; at least you can fly away. I’m stuck here doing silly ballet and stupid tap until Dad comes back for us. I can’t even practise my tightrope-walking, and that’s the only thing that makes me forget myself.” Thinking of her dad and what stunt he might be planning made Olivia feel anxious. A tear ran down her cheek.
    She crumbled the last of the sandwich on to the window ledge in the hope the bird might come and peck at it, and turned back tothe rehearsal room. She sighed and decided to practise as Abbie had suggested.
    She held on to the barre and made a few awkward movements. Immediately she was aware of stifled giggles behind her, and whirled round. Katie Wilkes-Cox, Kylie Morris, Georgia Jones and some other girls were standing in front of the plate-glass observation window. Abbie had forgotten to pull the blind down so that nobody could see in. Katie was imitating Olivia’s ungainly movements in a manner that was very cruel but also very funny. Georgia and Aeysha looked embarrassed but the others were doubled over laughing, and Katie said loudly, “Some Swan! More like an ugly duckling!”
    Peals of laughter followed the girls as they ran down the corridor. Olivia stood numbly in the rehearsal room until the sound died away and the bell went for afternoon practice.

Chapter Sixteen
    Georgia was playing the piano in one of the music practice rooms. She didn’t really want to practise, even though she had her grade-three exam coming up at Christmas, but she didn’t want to be on her own, either. Since the day of the newbies’ concert, Katie had been particularly snide and unpleasant to Georgia, as if she was testing her loyalty.
    â€œOh, look, here comes Miss Clumsy Clots!” she’d say every time Georgia came near, and she excluded Georgia from a sleepover party. Aeysha had been really apologetic about going, but Georgia didn’t blame her; if it had been the other way round she’d have probably gone too. When the Queen Bee called, they all buzzed.
    Georgia finished playing her piece andsighed. She couldn’t keep away from Katie; she wanted her approval and she wanted to be invited to the swimming-pool party that she had heard was being planned, but she hated herself for it. She felt like a puppet on a string. She wanted to break free of the puppet master but she couldn’t bear the thought of being alone at a time when home was so sad and miserable. Only that morning, her mum had said that she was going to have to make an appointment to see Miss Swan.
    â€œI promise that I’ll do anything I can to keep you at the Swan, Georgia. But I can’t promise the impossible. I want you to know that I really am trying my best.” Georgia had pushed aside her cereal bowl and given