Rebecca is Always Right (17 page)

Oh, how could Jenny do it? How could she?!

I’ve been trying to behave normally to Rachel, but I can’t talk to her without thinking of my terrible secret and how upset she’d be if she knew about it. But that wasn’t half as bad as trying to behave normally to Jenny, who of course, as luck would have it, I seemed to meet every five seconds today. It was like she was haunting me. It didn’t help that I had to go into the library before class to give back my library books. I was hoping it wouldn’t be her day on the desk, but of course there she was.

‘Hey, Bex,’ she said cheerfully. ‘How were the books?’

Normally, I would have chatted to her and told her to read
Code Name Verity,
but I could barely stomach the sight of her so I just said, ‘Good. Here you go.’

I turned to go, but Jenny said, ‘Rebecca? Are you okay?’

‘Fine,’ I said. ‘See you.’

And I went out because I couldn’t bear to look at her a
minute longer. I felt ferocious with rage.

And of course I couldn’t talk about it to Cass or Alice because it didn’t seem fair that they should know about it when Rachel didn’t. So I felt like my feelings were all bottled up. Though it was a relief to be able to talk about liking Sam – I did tell Alice about that. She was typically sensible and Alice-ish about it, which is always strangely comforting.

‘Well, he definitely likes hanging out with you,’ she said. ‘Though of course you know that already. So I would be cautiously optimistic.’

That is what I will be. Not that I have much energy to think about him at the moment, what with worrying about my sister’s happiness all the time. It is all very stressful. And to make matters worse, Vanessa is actually going to be interviewed about Kookie on the radio tomorrow morning, on one of the big breakfast shows!

‘I couldn’t turn them down,’ she said. ‘I have to give the people what they want.’

It’s certainly not what I want, but alas for humanity I seem to be in the minority. I saw loads of first and even some second and third years wearing Kookie badges today. When I first heard Vanessa say they might release her Kookie song as a single I thought it was ludicrous, but now I’m not so sure. If
they did, it’d probably become a huge hit and then Vanessa would record a whole album and become an international star.

In fact, what with worrying about Rachel and listening to Vanessa’s boasting, Miss Kelly’s usual doom-mongering was a welcome relief this afternoon. She was talking about population density and the terrible environmental consequences of urban developments, and it basically made me want to go and live in a field in the middle of nowhere, far away from all polluting things. Which isn’t really very practical, especially for band practices. It might be quite helpful for writing, though. At least there wouldn’t be any distractions, unlike my own house, where my parents are currently singing ‘The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly in the Plain’ in very loud voices.

As for Rachel, she’s been in her room all evening, though I heard her talking to Jenny the Evil Traitor a while ago. If this goes on for much longer, I’m going to have to tell her what I know. It’s not fair. Though what is? It’s not fair that Vanessa should go around being rude and snobby and obnoxious to everyone and then still get exactly what she wants. There really is no justice in the world.

Actually, there is one good thing. My spot has FINALLY started to disappear. I was worried it was never going to go away.

Well, now I have further proof that the world is unfair: Vanessa’s radio interview. We all knew that she was going to be on just before eight o’clock (she mentioned it every five seconds yesterday) and because I am clearly a deranged masochist (or maybe Vanessa has just worn me down?) I couldn’t resist listening. Not that I had a choice, really, because we always have that station on the kitchen radio in the mornings.

Anyway, the interview was even worse than I thought it would be, which is saying something. The presenter seemed to love Vanessa. In fact, she introduced her with the words, ‘Now, if you’ve watched any television recently, chances are you’ll have seen a new ad with a very catchy tune. The new campaign from Bluebird Bakery features a girl who’s, well, a little bit kooky. And it seems like everyone is now singing her song.’

Then they played a snippet of Vanessa singing about having a kooky little day.

‘The star of the ad is a Dublin schoolgirl called Vanessa Finn, and she’s joined us in the studio,’ said the presenter when the song finished. ‘Good morning, Vanessa!’

‘Hi there,’ said Vanessa in a smarmy voice. ‘It’s great to be here!’

‘So, Vanessa,’ said the presenter. ‘In the ad, you play a character called Kookie, and people have really taken her to their hearts. Tell us a bit about Kookie and why she’s so appealing.’

‘Well,’ said Vanessa. ‘She’s a teenage girl who likes the quirky things in life. If it’s a little bit weird or a little bit fun, then it’s totally Kookie!’

I thought I was going to get sick. I had to put down my toast. Rachel pretended to throw up. Even Mum and Dad looked a bit ill.

‘And I think that’s why people like her so much,’ Vanessa continued. ‘She’s a reminder that we all just want to sing and play!’

Ugh. It was all so sugary it made me want to never smile again, let alone sing or play.

‘And what about the song?’ said the presenter. ‘There are rumours it might be released as a single …’

‘And I’m happy to say those rumours are true!’ said Vanessa. “Little Bit Kooky” will be released digitally on Friday.’

Oh for goodness’s sake. Vanessa went on to say that some of the proceeds from the single will go to a charity, so I can’t actually hope it’s a huge flop. But still!

‘So what about you, Vanessa?’ said the presenter. ‘Tell us about yourself.’

‘Oh I’m just an ordinary girl,’ said Vanessa modestly, which was a reminder that she really is good at acting, as she is probably the least modest person in the country. ‘I’m from Glasnevin, and you know what we northsiders are like – salt of the earth!’

Now this is a change! Vanessa used to basically pretend she was from the poshest parts of south Dublin and acted like we, her fellow suburban north Dubliners, were essentially street urchins. Now she has clearly decided to embrace her northside roots. Though she is hardly ‘salt of the earth’ (neither am I, for that matter, but I’m not on the radio pretending I am). Her dad is an accountant and they live in a very nice Edwardian redbrick house in Glasnevin (which Vanessa used to describe as some sort of palace – it was quite a surprise when I saw it for the first time on my way to Ellie’s house back in first year).

Anyway, Vanessa kept going on about how ‘ordinary’ she
was, which initially baffled me because it was so out of character for her, until I realised she was saying all these things to highlight what a brilliant actress she is!

‘My life isn’t as colourful as Kookie’s,’ she said. ‘But being able to channel her has allowed me to bring a bit of colour into my life. I think we can all have a kooky little day, every day!’

It truly was sickening. Luckily, the presenter didn’t let her ramble on for too long.

‘Well, thanks, Vanessa,’ she said. ‘And I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from you in the future!’

Well, I know I will. Unfortunately. It all wouldn’t be so bad if it were just a little local station, but it was the biggest station in the country, so thousands, if not millions, of people have heard it while they were having their breakfasts. I just hope some of them saw through Vanessa’s sugary act on the programme and realised what a power-crazed egomaniac she is. It makes me wish that episode of
My Big Birthday Bash
had actually been broadcast. If the Irish public had seen her riding around in a giant pink tank like a frilly dictator, they wouldn’t be so charmed by her now.

When I got to school, an hour or so later, it seemed like everyone had heard Vanessa’s interview. Everyone was talking
about it when Cass and I were hanging up our coats in the cloakroom.

‘It’s so great about the single,’ said Karen. ‘You never know, maybe it’ll lead to a music career.’ She noticed me and Cass. ‘Sorry, Rebecca,’ she said snidely. ‘It looks like Vanessa’s beaten your little band to glory.’

I took a deep breath and tried to think of how Karen had stood up for Cass during the summer. I could tell Cass was doing the same thing because she just said, ‘Well, I don’t think we’re after the same market.’ Then she strolled out of the cloakroom, and I followed.

‘Well played, Cass,’ I said. ‘I knew you wanted to say something ruder than that.’

‘I did,’ said Cass. ‘But sometimes you have to, I dunno. Rise above things.’

‘Be noble,’ I agreed. ‘And I suppose Karen isn’t half as bad these days as she was last year.’

‘On the other hand,’ said Cass, ‘Vanessa is even worse. Still, you win some, you lose some.’

This is true. Apparently this weekend Vanessa is going to be doing some promotional events in big shopping centres in her Kookie guise. Imagine going all the way to a shopping centre to gawp at Vanessa. A few weeks ago I would have laughed
at the idea that anyone would turn up, but nothing would surprise me now.

Luckily, I didn’t have to talk to Jenny today. I just saw her in the corridor near the art rooms, but it was quite crowded so I could easily pretend I hadn’t seen her. I can’t avoid Rachel forever, though. Our parents are currently at their rehearsal and I’ve been lurking up in my room doing my homework (and writing in my diary), but
Laurel Canyon
is on soon and I do want to watch it. And if we’re both engrossed in telly I won’t be tempted to say anything about my terrible secret. Well, really it’s Jenny and Tom’s terrible secret, but I feel so guilty about knowing it that it might as well be mine.

Things with Rachel were fine this evening, partly because it was such an exciting and shocking episode of
Laurel Canyon
that it completely distracted both of us. I haven’t seen Rachel so animated in weeks. She was even more lively than when Vanessa’s ad had its première. Who knew it would take sexy Jack Rosenthal being accused of his best friend’s murder to get her all excited? In fact, we were still talking about it (Rachel
says there is a chance he might actually have done it, I say no way) in the kitchen when Mum and Dad got home.