Rock Band: Music and Misfits

No. Way. I stop completely, prompting Sabrina to do the same.

She stares at me, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

"A talent show," I gasp, partly because I'm out of breath, and partly because I can't believe it. The last time there was a talent show at Kirkland, I wasn't even a student here. Sophia Chen won it, and when she left school, she went on to be the lead actress in a huge West End musical! Now it's my time to shine, to finally grace the stage, to get a taste of the life I'm destined to live. Golden pound signs flash before my eyes too. The winner gets a cash prize! A cash prize! I can start saving for a studio session, or maybe even my very own recording equipment.

"Oh, cool!" Sabrina agrees. "We've gotta go though, Galaxy. Y'know, before Mr Ashby wakes up?"

"Oh yeah. Sorry," I stammer. "Let's go." I almost forgot we were on the run.

Before we shoot off again, I look at the poster one more time, my imagination running wild. As my feet pound the laminate, I make a mental note to sign up for the talent show first thing tomorrow. But for now, I need to focus on escaping detention without getting caught.

We crash out of the school doors and into the rain.

"I can't believe you just did that!" I shriek with laughter. 

Neither of us brought an umbrella, so we run for cover under the bus shelter opposite the school. When we get there, we catch our breath, our giggles fading.

"He deserved it. He hates me," Sabrina pants, rifling through her bag to retrieve a fresh pack of bubblegum. "Want some?"

"Thanks." I take a piece and pop it in my mouth. The fruity sweetness takes over my taste buds as I chew. "I hope he doesn't wake up and realise we're gone!"

"What's he gonna do - admit he fell asleep when he should be supervising us? They'd probably fire him!"

"You're so right."

"Anyway, I'm going that way." She points to the left and shifts her bag further up her shoulder. "Hopefully see you in detention again soon."

I wouldn't set foot back in that soul-snatching dungeon if they paid me, but I grin back. "Yeah. See you later."

I take off in the opposite direction to Sabrina, holding my blazer above my head to shield me from the downpour. I power-walk home, excited to tell Kia about what just happened.

Sometimes Mum finishes work early, but she's not home yet. Dad's still at work too. And thankfully, when I enter the house and call Zaya's name, she doesn't answer. She must be with her gaggle of super-annoying friends.

Anyway, I'm ecstatic she's not here, because now I can sing as loud as I want without anyone yapping at me to shut up. It's not like I listen anyway, but at least I can get some peace and quiet today. I chuck my sodden blazer and bag on the hallway floor then pad through to the living room and throw myself on the sofa.

My thumb dances across my phone screen to call Kia. She answers on the second ring, as always. 

"Hey, what's up?"

"Kia, the funniest thing happened in detention!" I jabber, cheerily chomping on my watermelon-flavoured gum.

Kia and I love to gossip, so I can tell she's excited when she asks, "Oooh, what?"

"It was so funny. So, first of all, I had a staring match with Francesca Gibbons!"

"No way. You were in detention with her?"

"Yeah. Can you believe it? She was trying to scare me, but obviously it didn't work. And she looked away first!"

"Good! She's not scary at all."

"I know. Ha! Anyway, that wasn't the funny part."

"What was?"

"You know Sabrina Ogwe?"

"Ugh, yeah. Of course she was there. She's so weird."

My stomach lurches. I should've known Kia would say something like this. The whole school knows Sabrina's . different. And now that I kinda like her, I just hope Kia won't think the same about me.

"Mm, yeah. So, anyway, she came in from, like, nowhere and SLAMMED the door! And I dunno if you saw her today, but she literally has bright blue hair! So, we started talking-"

"You talked to her?"

"Um, yeah? She's kinda funny."

"Oh, OK."

I try to ignore Kia's slight shift in tone and keep going. "Anyway . then Mr Ashby fell asleep! He was proper snoring and everything!" I stop to chuckle, remembering the loll of his head and the whistle of his snores. "And Sabrina went up to his desk and SPAT her bubblegum into his coffee! Like, she literally spat in his coffee! And then we escaped, and he had no idea cos he was fast asleep! It was so funny."

"Ha ha! No way," she replies.

My laughter trails off. I'm a little disheartened by the dullness in her voice. I mean, it does take quite a lot to make Kia laugh sometimes, but I expected a much better reaction to my story.

"Maybe you had to be there," I mumble. 

"Yeah, I guess."

There's a niggling discomfort in the back of my mind. Is she annoyed at me for talking to Sabrina, for having fun without her? I can totally understand that; it's always just been us. Galaxy and Kia. It must be weird to hear me talk about someone else and how much fun I had with them. Or maybe I'm overthinking. Like I said, it can be hard to make Kia laugh. Sometimes we'll be watching a funny film and I'll be doubled over in stitches, while she sits stock-still and straight-faced.

Yeah, that'll be it.

"Oh, and I dunno if you saw the poster for the talent show, but I'm gonna sign up!" I continue.

Kia gasps. "That's such a good idea! What're you gonna sing?"

"Not sure yet. Should I perform one of my own songs or something else?"

"I think something that people know. So they can sing along, y'know? Oh, by the way, I saw Rashaun after school. He was walking in front of me, but I didn't say anything to him. I swear, he's the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my life, Galaxy."

I let her babble on about Rashaun, her crush from the boys' school, for the rest of the conversation, although half of my mind is flicking through my Fave Songs playlist, trying to figure out what to sing for the talent show.

When we finish talking, I switch on the TV, clicking straight over to the music channel. This is my favourite part of the day - hogging the remote and bumping to the beats of the songs I love. A kaleidoscope of butterflies dance in my belly every time, because I know that'll be me one day.

First, the big stage at the Kirkland talent show, then on to the big screen.         

The next day, I make a beeline for the talent show poster, zigzagging through the crowd. Everything in my body fizzes with excitement. There's a sign-up sheet stuck on the wall next to it. So far, I see Lucy Guildford's name. I know she's in Year Eleven and, like, tap-dances or something. That's great and all, but we've seen it before. Gemma Miller and Abigail Muza have signed up too. I don't know who they are or what year they're in, but I'm not worried.

I fumble for the pen in my bag then jot 'Galaxy Rose' on the sign-up sheet, my heart juddering with anticipation. I text Kia to tell her the good news.

Me: I signed up for the talent show!

Kia: Wooooo! Go girl!!!

When I turn round, I spot Sabrina's blue hair. She's standing at the school reception, clutching a slip of orange paper. I cut through the throng of moody students traipsing to their classes towards her. I'm going to be late for English, but I'm desperate to know what's going on. Behind the glass panel, the receptionist, Miss Stewart, chatters away on the phone, barely acknowledging an impatient Sabrina who's sighing heavily, chewing her gum, rolling her eyes.

"Sabrina," I hiss.

She turns to look at me, nostrils flared in anger. Her face softens when she realises...