第2章

The next day Miss Katherine came into the classroom.

She put a necklace design up on the screen and smiled.

"I have good news to announce today.

"Venetia's design, the Heart of the Ocean, has won first place in the International Design Competition. Congratulations.

"You should all learn from Venetia. She has real talent for design."

The room broke into thunderous applause.

Every student crowded around her, their congratulations and questions rising over one another.

Only I stayed where I was, cold all through.

"Miss, I drew that design."

The Heart of the Ocean took me more than three hundred days and nights and countless hours watching the sea.

It never occurred to me that Venetia's name would one day appear on it.

The room went silent.

Venetia snorted, "You? Have you ever seen the sea? Do you even know what it looks like?

"Everything you're wearing put together isn't worth two dollars, and you dare try to steal my glory!"

Miss Katherine said coolly, "Audrey, ambition is a good thing, but you cannot claim another student's honor as your own.

"This is an international award. It is a serious matter.

"I will record exactly what you said in class and give you a week of community service. You will stay after school today and cut the lawn."

Everyone in the room turned a mocking look on me.

I lowered my head and gave a bitter laugh at myself.

I had almost forgotten. Students entering the competition had to hand their designs to a teacher, and mine had been in Miss Katherine's hands the whole time.

Clearly, Miss Katherine had changed the name on my design to Venetia's.

There was no point arguing any further.

After class I went to the bathroom to wash my hands.

On my way out, Venetia and several of the noble girls were blocking the door.

Greta moved in and lifted my chin.

"Trying to take Venetia's design. You've got some nerve."

Elowen, who was closest to Venetia, took two steps forward.

"Looks like we've been too polite. Girls, let's give Audrey something to remember."

I watched them carefully.

"What are you going to do?"

Venetia leaned in the doorway with a nasty smile.

"Don't worry. Nothing serious."

Greta and Elowen took me by the arms and shoved me into the bathroom.

"You can spend the day in there."

The door was locked fast.

No matter how I shouted, nobody opened it.

Not until class was almost over did the door finally give way under my pounding.

I straightened my clothes and walked out, and noticed Venetia talking to Isaac, the football captain, her face bright red.

Isaac seemed thoroughly tired of her and left after a couple of sentences.

Greta and Elowen, who had been hiding a little way off, came over to soothe her.

Venetia turned a dark look on Elowen.

"Elowen, why was Isaac talking to you this morning? Have you been throwing yourself at him?"

Elowen waved her hands quickly.

"No! You've given Isaac all sorts of things, haven't you? He was talking to me this morning because he wants to give you something. He asked what kind of lipstick you like. I think he likes you, he's just too shy."

Venetia gave a little sniff.

"Obviously. You had better have no interest in Isaac, or you'll end up where Audrey has."

Only then did I understand. Venetia had not come after me because I bumped into her, or because I was poor, but because the football captain she liked had happened to glance at me once.

It was ridiculous.

I turned and left.

As I entered the classroom someone put out a hand to stop me.

"Hey. Miss Katherine wants you in her office."

It was the first time Miss Katherine had ever asked to speak to me.