Sinclair looks at me. “Well, either way, he has to be back in twenty minutes because he’s got to be at Mum’s welcome assembly. Think Henry’s forgotten?”
“Isn’t he answering his phone?” Tori asks.
“No, he...” Sinclair pulls his phone from his trouser pocket. “Oh, wait. He says he’s already there.”
“Oh, yeah, and you thought he’d be here, did you?” murmurs Tori, and I shiver.
“Aren’t I meant to go too?” I blurt. “To the welcome assembly?”
“Oh, bum, yeah.” Tori stares wide-eyed. “Have you got your uniform ready? You have to wear it.”
“Yeah.” Sinclair nods. “And to morning assembly too. That’s every Monday before breakfast, over there in the hall, for Mum to give out important information and notices. The rest of the time you just have to wear the trousers, polo shirt, and jumper. Full uniform’s for special occasions.”
“Such as the welcome assembly. So you need your skirt, blouse, and blazer. Shoo!” Tori shoves Sinclair backward out of my room. “And your hair has to be tied back, unless it’s too short.”
“Got it,” I manage.
“I’ll come back and check that it’s all right in a bit, if you like,” Tori promises. She smiles at me and shuts the door behind her and Sinclair.
I slip out of my jeans and T-shirt and reach for the hanger holding the uniform I’ve just picked up from Ms.Barnett. We had to send the school my measurements in advance so that it could be ordered.
They’re just new clothes, yet I feel like an entirely new Emma when, a little later, I study myself in the mirror on the back of the wardrobe door. The hem of the blue-and-green-checked pleated skirt ends just above my knees, and I’m wearing dark tights. I tuck my white blouse neatly into the waistband and knot the tie, which is worn by girls and boys alike. I like the look, but I’mglad we can swap the uniform for beige or dark-blue trousers, polo shirts, and jumpers most of the time.
I put my hair back in a quick, simple plait. I have to get Tori to show me how to do the fiddly style of plait she’s wearing, but there isn’t time now.
I slip on my blazer and shoes, then open the door. Just as she promised, Tori’s waiting in the corridor. Sinclair’s leaning on the wall beside her, whispering something to her, and they start to giggle. I can’t help smiling, even though I don’t know the joke. Somehow, I like the two of them.
“Oh, perfect.” Tori looks me over. “You can roll the top of your skirt to make it shorter.”
“That’s against the rules, Tori,” says Sinclair.
“Yeah, but you love to see it.”
He blushes and rolls his eyes.
“Let me just check the knot,” murmurs Tori, reaching for my blouse collar and straightening my tie a little. “Very good. This way!”
“Do I need anything else?” I ask, glancing back at my room.
“Only your key,” Tori says as I pick it up. “Great. Oh, you’ll need a lanyard and your student card.” She holds up her own key, which is hanging from a dark-blue fabric strap, printed with the school crest. “But we’ll sort that out later.”
I follow her down the corridor, smiling at all the new faces we pass on our way to the stairs. Tori tells me the names of a dozen girls in our year, and I instantly forget them. My head is already spinning with information.
“Has Valentine arrived yet?” Tori asks us as we walk downthe stairs. Of course, I haven’t the least idea who that is, but her supercasual tone tells me she likes him.
“Dunno. Why?” Sinclair replies. His voice is chillier now and he digs his hands into his trouser pockets. “Why should I care when the upper sixth gets here?”
“Just wondering,” mumbles Tori. “If you see him and he mentions me, tell him I said hi.”
“Why would he mention you?”
“It was so funny.” We reach the foot of the stairs and Tori points to her left. “He’s been following me on Insta for a while. A couple of days ago, he liked one of my posts.”
“Wow, that makes you practically an item.”
She simply ignores Sinclair and looks at me. “So then I liked his latest post. And he’s liked my last two. You don’t do that if you’re not interested in a person, do you, Emma?”
“I don’t think so. Sounds like he’s been stalking you,” I reply, because she seems to expect it.
