Finding Sky

‘Come on, Sky, what are you daydreaming about?’ Zed asked, tugging me back into walking.

‘Oh, just stuff.’

‘You’d better snap out of it because we’ve got some serious rehearsing to do. Concert’s the day after tomorrow.’

‘Bummer. I forgot.’

‘It’s nothing. If you can operate as part of an FBI investigation, you should think nothing of a little concert to friends and family.’

Little concert? Huh, Mr Benedict, I’l be having words with you later.

Zed’s little concert turned out to be a massive gig with everyone from the vicinity crammed into the school auditorium. The mood was festive. Sheena’s cheerleaders came sporting Father Christmas hats; the basebal team had opted for reindeer horns.

Every instrument was bedecked with tinsel. The geeks had done themselves proud with an impressive video presentation of the year so far that played on the white screen over the stage. I was particularly embarrassed to see my goalkeeping debut got its own segment. It was a good save though. Parents mingled with each other, exchanging gossip and jokes. The Benedicts were out in force. I was thril ed to see Yves chatting to Zoe; she looked starry-eyed to be singled out for his attention. He was certainly making her day, proving that studious-looking guys also had some pretty cool moves. Sal y and Simon were in deep conversation with Tina’s mother. When I approached, I heard them talking not about me—sigh of relief—but about Tina’s artistic talent.

My friend beckoned me over, flashing her newly painted silver nails for me to approve. Voluntarily excluding herself from singing for the sake of our eardrums, Tina was doing a fine job sel ing programmes.

‘Sal y just offered to give you extra lessons free; she thinks very highly of you,’ I a

‘She does?’ Tina’s smile was a dazzling hundred watts. ‘Then you get this one free too then.’ She passed me a programme. ‘I see you’re playing a solo.’

‘If I don’t manage to make a run for it before Mr Keneal y shoves me on stage.’

‘Don’t you dare! I’m counting on you. I’ve been promising everyone our stunt girl wil be the star of the show.’

I wasn’t going to live that one down quickly. ‘I’l give it my best shot.’

‘Ha-ha.’

I frowned. ‘What did I say?’

‘Best shot—stunt girl?’

‘Oh. I didn’t mean the pun.’ Just then the screen flashed up an image of me shooting the chandelier.

‘Where on earth did they get that?’

‘The internet’s a bitch,’ said Tina philosophical y, before turning to bel ow, ‘Dig deep, folks. Al proceeds go to the Aspen convalescent home.’

I glanced down at the programme to find my name at the top of the bil . Surrounded by Vegas style lights of al things.

That was it—I was so out of here. Nelson and Tina had turned me into the main attraction. I bolted for the exit, only to run slap into Zed’s chest.

‘Going somewhere, Sky?’ he said with a knowing smile.

‘Home.’

‘Uh-huh. And that would be because …?’

I lowered my voice. ‘Everyone’s going to be looking at me!’

‘That’s kinda the idea when you perform.’ He steered me back behind stage.

‘Nothing you can say wil make me go out there,’ I hissed as the audience took their seats.

‘Nothing?’ His mouth quirked into a smile.

‘Nothing.’ I dug in my heels.

He bent down to my face and whispered:

‘Chicken.’

I folded my arms. ‘Too right I am. Cluck-cluck.’

He laughed. ‘OK. How about I give you another of my special boarding lessons if you do this?’

The knot of panic loosened at the happy memory of our time on the slopes together. Zed always knew what I wanted—where I needed to go to feel safe.

‘Real y?’

‘Yeah. I’l even promise to do a double axel and a somersault.’

‘Triple.’

‘Triple?’

‘Triple axel. And there has to be hot chocolate.’

He feigned a frown. ‘Good grief, girl, you drive a hard bargain.’

‘With marshmal ows. And kisses.’

‘Now you’re talking.’ He held out his palm. ‘Done.’

I couldn’t wait. Laughing, I took his hand and, before I could protest, he escorted me to the piano to the sound of applause from our friends.

‘Don’t worry,’ he whispered. ‘I won’t leave you—

not ever.’

I sat down and opened up the first piece of music.

My future looked very promising—and he was standing right beside me.

About the Author

Joss Stirling lives in Oxford and has always been fascinated by the idea that life is more than what we see on the surface. Researching Finding Sky saw her travel ing in the characters’ footsteps, from the awe-inspiring landscape of the Rockies, down a white-water river on a raft, and to the artificial skyline of Las Vegas.

You can visit her website on www.jossstirling.com More eBooks from Oxford

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