Secrets of a Teenage Heiress by Katy Birchall (21)

‘But the deal’s off.’ Cal shrugged simply.

I had accosted him in the cafeteria, the first time I’d seen him at school that day. He hadn’t replied to any of my voicemails or texts, and I’d tried searching for him in the library earlier in the morning with no luck. But then as I was sliding a plate of food on to my tray at lunch, I spotted him putting his tray into the racks at the other side of the dining room, about to leave. I left my tray where it was, and raced through the cafeteria to catch him, dodging through students and causing heads to pop up curiously at the fuss. Ella, sitting in the middle of a table of girls, looked particularly interested.

‘What do you mean the deal’s off ?’ I asked, when I’d demanded that he explain why he hadn’t shown up the day before. It’s not like I hadn’t apologised in those messages and, yes, what I said wasn’t the kindest of comments but I explained in my voicemails that I hadn’t meant it, so there was no need for him to be in such a strop.

He sighed as though having to explain something very simple to an impatient child.

‘The deal between me and you.’

‘I don’t understand,’ I said, crossing my arms. ‘You said you would help me learn everything there was to know. There’s still plenty to learn.’

‘Yeah, and you said that in return you’d get me an interview with Skylar Chase and unless the Daily Post is completely mistaken, Skylar Chase took a plane back to LA yesterday.’

My heart sank. He was right. I had completely forgotten about his interview.

‘Cal –’

He cut me off coldly. ‘I held up my end of the deal and, as we found out on Saturday, you got your way. You can go to the Christmas Ball with your blogger or vlogger . . . or whatever he is. You didn’t hold up your end of the deal, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s all off. Surely you don’t need the help of a mere son of an employee any more. After all, that’s all I am, right? A nobody.’

‘No, Cal, I didn’t mean it. Didn’t you get my messages?’

‘I’ll see you around, Flick.’

I wanted to go after him as he walked away, but I didn’t know what else there was to say. I had become so involved in winning over Mum about the Christmas Ball, I’d completely forgotten the promise I’d made to Cal. And he’d wasted all that time helping me to get what I wanted, without getting anything in return.

‘Well, well, well.’

A snide voice behind me made a shiver go down my spine. I turned to face Ella, who was now standing behind me.

‘What do you want, Ella?’ I asked, feeling very drained from my conversation with Cal and not particularly in the mood for any more confrontation.

‘I’m calling you out, Flick Royale,’ she said, a thin smile creeping across her lips. The cafeteria immediately descended into a hush, all eyes watching us in anticipation. I glanced over at Olly, who stood up anxiously when he saw what was going on.

‘Ella, I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I muttered softly.

‘Don’t you? Miss High-and-Mighty Felicity Royale, friend to the celebrities – I know who you really are, and you’re a fraud.’ She pointed her bony, manicured finger at me accusingly, and the girls who had come to surround her in support gasped for effect.

‘What are you talking about?’

‘I’m sure the press would LOVE to know the real reason you’ve been hanging out with Skylar Chase.’ She cackled. ‘You just wanted to get your loser boyfriend Cal an interview. And you couldn’t even do that!’

‘That’s not why I was hanging out with Sky!’ I protested. ‘I just –’

‘You couldn’t get an interview with her because she would never grant an interview to someone who waits on her in a hotel restaurant. You claim to be best friends, but there weren’t even any photos of you with her at the party. And Ethan Duke hasn’t mentioned you ONCE in his vlogs. The truth is, you act as though you’re the most important person on the planet, when in fact you have no friends.’

She finished her speech with a smug smile as the cafeteria erupted into whispers. I’d never cried at school before – I’d never had reason to – but with everyone staring at me, my eyes began to grow hot with tears. Ella was right. She had dropped me, Cal despised me and Sky was in a different country – I didn’t have any friends. Well, I had Grace but for how long? She’d probably get tired of me too like everyone else. I clutched my fists, desperate not to let myself crumple and cry in front of the whole school. I saw Olly open his mouth to speak and I began to panic – Ella would have a bigger vendetta than ever at me if her ex-boyfriend took my side.

But I needn’t have worried.

Because the voice that next rang clearly through the cafeteria didn’t belong to Olly. It belonged to his sister.

‘Back off, Ella.’ Grace was suddenly at my side, her cheeks flushed red. The whole room inhaled at the same time, stunned by this turn of events. It was like a live soap opera.

Ella recoiled at first, but on realising who had dared speak to her like that, she relaxed into her natural sneer. ‘Sit down, Grace, this has nothing to do with you.’

‘Yes it does. Flick is my friend.’

Putting her hands on her hips, Ella looked bemused and glanced over her shoulder at her group of girls, to share this entertaining moment. But they didn’t look as comfortable about the situation as their leader.

‘I mean it,’ Grace squeaked.

‘Grace,’ Ella hissed, becoming irritated, ‘what are you doing?’

‘I’m telling you to leave her alone,’ Grace said firmly and loudly enough for the captivated audience to hear. ‘She’s my friend. So, like I said, back off.’

‘Grace, this isn’t about you,’ Ella said, rolling her eyes, ‘this is about Flick and how she –’

‘You know what, Ella?’ Grace interrupted, holding up her hand. ‘No one cares what you have to say.’

More gasps. My jaw dropped open as I stared at her determined expression. Who was this person and what had happened to meek Grace? Ella was clearly thinking the same thing.

‘How dare you!’ she snarled.

‘Grace,’ I whispered out the side of my mouth, as Ella’s face grew redder and redder, ‘you don’t have to do this. I can handle –’

‘I know. But I want to.’ She turned back to Ella. ‘I think it’s cool that Flick helps out at the hotel rather than just acting as though she owns it – which by the way she does.’

‘Well, technically it’s my mum who –’

‘Not now, Flick. Ella, you’re clearly just jealous of Flick for many reasons,’ she said, shooting her a knowing look as Ella’s eyes flashed with anger. Or was it fear?

‘I am NOT jealous of her,’ Ella spat.

Grace ignored her. ‘Now, if you have nothing nice to say, I reckon this is your cue to leave.’

Ella snorted and Grace stuck her chin out defiantly.

‘That is,’ Grace continued in a quieter voice, ‘unless you want me to carry on. Because I have some very interesting stories from when you were dating my brother . . .’

It was as though someone had slapped Ella round the face. Flustered, she looked behind her, her eyes searching frantically for support, but her cronies refused to make eye contact. They knew a losing side when they saw one. Ella let out a small sob, and pushed past us to run out of the cafeteria and into the toilets. No one followed her. The cafeteria burst into raucous applause as Grace breathed a sigh of relief.

‘That felt good.’ She smiled, linking her arm through mine. ‘Want to sit with me for lunch?’

‘You know what?’ I nodded slowly. ‘I really do.’