Free Alice in the Middle by Judi Curtin Page A

their hands, texting madly, like it was going to go out of fashion any second. Then, during French, they kept giggling and grinning at each other. They were definitely up to something – I just wished they’d tell me what it was.
    That night should have been fun. Gloria and the other leaders had set up a treasure hunt all aroundthe school, and the winners were to get a big box of sweets to share. We were all ready to go when Gloria said the dreaded words,
    ‘Now everyone, find a partner to hunt with.’
    I wondered if she’d told Alice and Hazel that they couldn’t go together, like she had for the talent show. I soon found out that she hadn’t.
    Before I could even move, Hazel grabbed Alice’s arm, and said,
    ‘Partners?’
    Alice looked at me with a funny expression on her face.
    Was she upset because she couldn’t go with me?
    Or did she just feel guilty because this time she’d got the partner she really wanted?
    Luckily Sarah was feeling better, and she was standing near me. She came over.
    ‘Will we go together?’ she asked.
    I nodded.
    ‘Thanks,’ I said, and tried not to watch as Hazel dragged Alice across the room and far away from me.
    Two boys won the treasure hunt, but someonehad seen them cheating, so it didn’t really count. Anyway, there were enough sweets for everyone, and there was silence for at least ten minutes while we all chewed happily.
    Sarah and I hung out together for a while when the treasure hunt was over. I couldn’t really concentrate on what she was saying though, because I was too busy trying to see where Alice and Hazel had got to. Sarah was being really nice, and I didn’t want to offend her, so I said I was going to go and have an early night.
    I found Alice and Hazel up in our bedroom. They were huddled together on Alice’s bed, whispering and laughing.
    When I walked in, Hazel jumped up, looking really guilty. Alice just laughed.
    ‘It’s OK,’ she said. ‘You don’t have to worry about Megan. We can trust her.’
    I was glad she felt that way, and that she wanted to include me. But what exactly did I need to be trusted with?
    Alice grabbed my arms and pulled me until I was sitting on the bed. Hazel sat down on theother side of me.
    ‘We have a plan,’ said Alice, and that old familiar sinking feeling hit me right in the middle of my tummy. Alice’s plans always ended up being more trouble than they were worth.
    ‘There’s a really funny film out at the moment,’ she continued. ‘And tomorrow afternoon we’re going to go to and see it.’
    That didn’t sound so bad. How serious could a trip to the cinema be? My tummy began to unsink itself.
    ‘That’s great,’ I said. ‘I haven’t been to the cinema in ages. Has Gloria arranged it?’
    Hazel gave a mean laugh.
    ‘No, Dork-face. Your precious Gloria hasn’t arranged it. She doesn’t know anything about it. We’re sneaking out of camp.’
    My mouth fell open. I knew I probably looked really stupid, but I couldn’t help it.
    ‘Sneaking out?’
    My voice was all squeaky and scared. Even thinking about sneaking out made me afraid.
    Would I ever be brave enough to actually do it?
    Hazel gave another mean laugh.
    ‘Yeah, sneaking out. See Alice? I knew you shouldn’t tell little scaredy-cat Megan.’
    Alice stood up.
    ‘That’s not fair, Hazel. Don’t say that. We can trust Megan, can’t we, Meg?’
    I nodded weakly.
    I took a deep breath, and put on my bravest voice.
    ‘Tell me everything. I want to know every single detail.’
    Before Alice could say anything, there was a tap on the door, and Gloria peeped in.
    ‘Girls, you should all be in bed by now,’ she said in a pretend cross voice. ‘Lights out in four minutes.’
    There was a big scramble as we got ready for bed, and then Gloria’s hand appeared around the door, and switched out the light.
    I waited a few minutes to be sure that Gloria was gone. Then I whispered.
    ‘OK, Al. Tell me what the big plan is.’
    ‘OK,’ began Alice, but