From Geek to Goddess (Zodiac Girls) Read online

  The cat stopped, arched its back and seemed to double in size as every strand of its fur stood on end.

  “Bertie, heel, heel,” I cried, as everyone in the room looked on in anticipation.

  But Bertie wasn’t listening. He leapt to his feet and the two stood looking at each other like a couple of gunfighters, eyeball to eyeball, nose to nose. Then the cat made a run for the French windows.

  Bertie dashed after it, hitting the low table and sending the teacups, plates and sandwiches flying.

  The cat hit the window. It was closed. Bertie skidded into the cat who let out a terrible wail and clawed its way up the curtains. To Bertie, this was a brilliant new twist to the game, so he sank his teeth into the folds of material and began to shake it violently. The cat hung on, digging its claws deeper as the soft velvet spun round and round.

  “Maybe we’d better let them out,” said Rose, going to the door and unlatching it.

  “Noooo,” I cried, “not without his lead.” But it was too late; she’d done it and the cat shot off into the garden. In the few seconds it took for Bertie to realize that his prey was no longer confined to the curtain, the cat had run halfway across the garden. With a bark of enthusiasm, Bertie spotted it and the chase was on again. Over flowerbeds, around the rose bushes they raced, both getting muddier and muddier. Then the cat made an almighty leap over the high garden wall and it was all over.

  After a couple of triumphant barks and a quick scratch, Bertie trotted back over the muddy flowerbeds and re-entered the room where, blind to the scene of complete devastation surrounding him, he began hoovering up the sandwiches and biscuits that lay scattered all over the floor.

  At that moment, Matron walked in. “What the…?” she exclaimed after taking in the half-torn-down curtains, the smashed crockery, the upset chairs and tables and finally Mrs Compton-Grime, who was still tied to her chair. Matron’s eyes rolled up into the back of her head and she fainted.

  Oh nooooooo! I thought. Bertie’s third favourite game! He loves it when people play dead. He was quick off the mark – in a flash, he was on Matron’s chest, attempting resuscitation by pawing her and licking her face with great enthusiasm.

  It seemed to work.

  She slowly opened her eyes to see a large pink tongue covering her face. Behind this was what appeared to be a small bundle of furry mud, much of which was sticking to her perfect white uniform. She gave a sigh and passed out again.

  I pulled Bertie off her as most of the other old ladies, who were clearly anxious about what he was going to do next, cowered behind the sofa. Only Mrs Hamilton seemed to be unfazed by the scene. In fact, she seemed to be highly amused. I gave her an apologetic look as I picked Bertie up and held him tightly in my arms. He gave my cheek a huge lick, as though to thank me for giving him the time of his life.

  “We’re leaving, we’re leaving,” I said in an attempt to reassure the worried ladies. “He’s harmless, honestly. He won’t harm anyone.”

  “WHO is responsible for this?” asked a stern voice behind me.

  I turned to see Mrs Blain, who had just come in from the kitchen carrying a fresh pot of tea.

  All eyes turned to me.

  What could I possibly say to get out of this? I wondered as her astonished face turned my way.

  “Er… oops!”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Suspension?

  The Lady of the Beasts is in the doghouse.

  It would be funny if everyone wasn’t so cross with me.

  Dad hit the roof when he got back and found out what I had done. He apologised profusely to everyone, then made a speedy exit taking Bertie with him.

  I called Hermie as soon as I got back to school, but there was no response. In fact, the phone seemed to have gone dead. I tried to check the site but the computer kept crashing and when I finally managed to get online, there was nothing there either except a message confirming what Hermie had said in the deli. Mercury has gone retrograde. The one time I really needed him and he’d done a disappearing act.

  Mrs Blain could hardly speak to me, she was so angry. She’d marched me back up to the school and straight in to see Dr Cronus.

  “What on earth did you think you were doing?” he asked when she’d explained the situation.

  “I was trying to help, sir. I thought some of the old people might like to see a nice pet.”

  Mrs Blain clucked her tongue at the mention of the words, “nice pet”.

  “A nice pet?” she said. “Is that what you call him? Do you call what he got up to the behaviour of a nice pet? More like a wild beast. The ladies were dreadfully upset and Mrs Compton-Grime looked like she was going to have a heart attack. Not to mention the matron. She had to go home for a lie down. And after all our good work there, now they’ve threatened to ban us.”

  Dr Cronus’s eyes were boring into me. “Do you realize how this reflects on Avebury, Whiting?”

  “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to upset anyone. I really… I’m sorry.”

  “I should think so. Taking a wild dog into an old people’s home? You must be insane. There are properly organised programmes for this sort of thing. Programmes where the animals are trained.”

  There was nothing more I could say in my defence so I hung my head, stared at the floor and waited to hear my punishment.

  Of course, news of my exploits was all round the school by Monday morning.

  “What happened?” asked Rose Watson at breakfast. “We thought you’d been expelled when you didn’t come down last night.”

  “I was sent to bed early without any supper,” I said. “Dr Cronus said I had to reflect on my actions.”

  Sara and crew suddenly appeared at the end of the table.

  “So are you going to get expelled?” asked Sara.

  I bet she’d love that, I thought as I took a half-hearted bite of my toast.

  “Leave her alone,” said Ruth. “Can’t you see she’s been through enough?”

  “Oh, the mouse speaks… or squeaks,” laughed Sara, but she did move off.

  Tasha, however, lingered behind and sat down opposite me.

  Ruth gave her a hard stare as if to say, Push off. Tasha leaned over and touched my wrist.

  “I’m not going to make fun,” she said. “I just wondered what happened. Are they going to expel you?”

  I shook my head. “Don’t think so. Dr Cronus did say that I came close to it, but as I was a new girl and it was my first offence, I was likely to just get suspended for a week. The teachers are going to discuss my case on Friday and that’s when I’ll hear. In the meantime, I’ve been forbidden to go within a hundred yards of Chiron House or I’ll be expelled.”

  “Suspension,” said Tasha. “That could be brilliant. It would mean a week at home!”

  I shook my head again. Even though a week ago I couldn’t wait to get home, I realized that it was the last thing I needed right now, not in these circumstances. A week out and I’d get behind with schoolwork, and I’d never fit in or find friends.

  “My parents will kill me. I’d never hear the end of it. And in the meantime, I have to stay in my room every night and I’m not allowed into the common room. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I thought that it must be so boring sitting in that home all day long, and seeing a pet might cheer them up. Bertie’s usually so well behaved.”

  At the table at the far end of the room, Sara, Mercedes and Lois were glaring angrily. Not only at me, but also at Tasha.

  “Won’t your friends be missing you?” asked Ruth.

  Tasha shook her head. “Don’t care,” she said, then she smiled kindly. “I wanted to check that you were okay. And… and I wanted to say that I’m sorry we… I’ve been mean to you. You didn’t deserve it.”

  I felt my eyes fill with sudden tears. I put my hands up to my face so that no one could see. “Don’t be nice to me… You’ll… you’ll… make me cry.”

  Tasha laughed. “I thought I made you cry by not being nice to you.”


  I laughed and Tasha smiled again.

  “Do you think, maybe… well, maybe we could be friends?” she asked.

  “But Sara and Mercedes…?”

  Tasha glanced over at them then pulled a face. “Between you and me, they’re not much fun. All they ever seem to do is talk about other people and be horrible about them. It can get a bit wearing, going round with people who are so negative all the time. I thought from day one when we saw you coming out of that broom cupboard that you looked like fun, and I felt really mean when they didn’t invite you or Ruth to the sleepover party. Up until now, I guess I felt scared of them, in a way. Like if I went against them, they’d gang up on me as well. And now I don’t care. After I saw you stand up to Sara that time outside, I realized I was being cowardly and it was time that I stood up to them as well.”

  “Good for you,” said Ruth, who was beginning to speak out more and more herself.

  “Tell us the bit where Bertie tied Mrs Compton-Grime up with her knitting again,” said Imogen, coming over from the next table to join us.

  The image of Bertie and the wool did make me smile for a moment, although it hadn’t seemed funny at the time.

  “And the old bird was okay, you know,” said Rose. “As soon as you’d gone, she sat up, right as rain. I think she’s an old drama queen who likes to cause trouble.”

  “That’s probably how Sara and her mates will end up,” said Tasha. “Bitter old ladies in a home with nothing better to do than grumble and make other people’s lives miserable.”

  “Bertie was out of order, though,” I said.

  “I guess,” said Rose, “but there was no lasting damage done, and Mrs Hamilton said she hadn’t had such a good laugh in years and we should all go back as soon as possible.”

  “Really?” I said. I couldn’t believe my ears. Last night, I thought my life was over. The old ladies hated me. The teachers were mad at me. No one at school liked me except Ruth, and yet here I was, surrounded by friendly faces, having breakfast and having a laugh. Exactly how I’d hoped it would be, I thought.

  On Tuesday evening, Rose and Imogen invited Ruth and me to a sleepover in their room. Everyone wanted to hear the story of Bertie’s visit over and over again. Even some of the Year Elevens popped in for a while to sympathise.

  “Tough,” said Fleur. “Okay, you acted irresponsibly, but you don’t deserve to be suspended. Everyone makes mistakes.”

  On the website, there was still zilch. On the phone, also zilch.

  Where are you, Hermie? I wondered as the week went on.

  By Friday, I was starting to get seriously worried about my future. Even though I’d been on my best behaviour all week and had done as I was told, the teachers were distant with me, and Mrs Blain, who was usually so friendly, treated me like an outcast.

  On Friday afternoon, half our year went off to the rehearsal for Bugsy as usual and Ruth was preparing to go to the Outreach programme meeting.

  “Are you sure you can’t come?” Ruth asked.

  I shook my head. “My case comes up this afternoon, so Mrs Blain said to sit this one out until the school has decided what to do with me. She’s given me lines to do. What are you going to do at the meeting, now that Chiron House has threatened to ban us?”

  “I guess we’re going to have to make new plans and find new places to go,” said Ruth.

  “That’s not fair,” I said. “I feel so bad, because it wasn’t anybody else’s fault. I caused the trouble. I feel rotten, especially as I think Mrs Hamilton looked forward to us going.”

  “I know,” said Ruth. “I liked her, but it seems like Mrs Compton-Grime calls the shots round there.”

  After Ruth had gone to the meeting, I sat down and began my lines.

  I will not take pets into old people’s homes.

  I will not take pets into old people’s homes.

  I will not take pets into old people’s homes.

  I wrote the line over and over. By the hundredth line, I was getting bored. I checked my phone, but there was still no message from Hermie, so I went to the astrology site.

  There were five messages.

  Sorry I’ve not been in touch, but I’ve been feeling a bit backwards lately.

  Wrongs can be made right.

  Nothing is over until it’s over.

  Keep fighting.

  Listen to your inner voice.

  Back soon. Hermie XXX

  What inner voice? I asked myself. Isn’t listening to inner voices what mad people do? I decided that I was a bit mad so why not give it a go? I sat quietly, to try and tune in to my inner voice. At first I felt stupid as various thoughts floated through my head.

  I wonder what’s for supper tonight?

  I wonder if I will be suspended, and what I’ll say to Mum and Dad? And Gran?

  It’d be nice to see Jess and the girls though.

  But they’ll all be at school, so most of the time I’ll be on my own.

  Keep fighting. How?

  And then it seemed like the floodgates had opened and my inner Gemini twins were having an argument.

  Life is what I make it. A disaster so far.

  Stay in and do my lines.

  Be myself. I’m a fighter.

  No, I’m not. I don’t want to cause trouble.

  Nothing is over until it’s over.

  I am Lady of the Beasts. Grrrr.

  I am the Zodiac Girl. Arghhh.

  What should I do?

  Stay in my room and lie low.

  Go to Chiron House and apologise.

  But I’ll get expelled.

  Go to Chiron House and apologise.

  But I’ll get into trouble.

  Go to Chiron House and apologise.

  Go to Chiron House and apologise.

  Go to Chiron House and apologise.

  Go to Chiron House and apologise.

  Go to Chiron House and apologise.

  Go to Chiron House and apologise.

  It seemed my split personality had merged and the Gemini twins that live in my head agreed on something at last. Either that, or one of them punched the other’s lights out.

  I had to go to Chiron House and apologise.

  I tried to call Hermie and ask what he thought, but the line was still dead, so I pulled my jacket out of the wardrobe and my black woolly hat. I figured that if I pulled the hat down over my head until I got to the home, if any of the teachers saw me creeping off, they wouldn’t realize that it was me.

  Everyone was in classes when I got downstairs, so I made for the front door, then legged it as fast as I could down the driveway.

  I got within a few yards of Chiron House, then panic hit me. What was I doing? Dr Cronus had said that I’d be expelled if I went within a hundred yards of Chiron House and here I was, right outside. Did I really want to be expelled? A week ago, it would have been the answer to all my problems. I’d be back at my old school. I’d be back at home. But now, I didn’t want it to happen that way.

  I was about to set off back up the path when I saw someone behind the bushes in the back garden of Chiron House.

  “WHO’S THERE?” croaked an elderly voice.

  I ducked down behind the bushes, hoping that I could still get away. I heard the sound of footsteps shuffling behind me, and before I knew it, someone had poked me hard in the back with a walking stick.

  “OW!” I cried before I could stop myself.

  “Come out of that bush, whoever you are,” commanded the voice. “Stand up and show yourself.”

  Slowly I crawled out and reluctantly stood up, to see Mrs Compton-Grime’s angry face staring at me over the hedge.

  “You! What on earth are you doing there?” she demanded. “Explain yourself.”

  “I… I came to apologise,” I stuttered.

  “Apologise! Herumph,” she sniffed. “Bit late for that. I thought I’d told them not to let you within a hundred yards of this place.”

  “I… I know… I just…”

  “No j
ust about it, madam. Clearly you don’t know how to follow rules. Now, be off with you. Out of here. And I can tell you, the school will be hearing from me very soon about this matter.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Hell and Horlicks

  Idiot, idiot, idiot, I said to myself over and over as I made my way back up to the school. Why did I listen to my inner voices? Why did I listen to Hermie? He’s only got me into deeper and deeper trouble since day one. I wish I’d never met him. I wish I’d never found out about that stupid site. I wish I wasn’t a Zodiac Girl. Now I am going to get expelled.

  As the school came into view, I saw Ruth at the window in the dining room. She waved excitedly when she saw me, then disappeared, only to reappear at the door a few moments later.

  “Where have you been?” she asked breathlessly as I got closer. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere. You won’t believe what’s happened. Quick, come into the annex.”

  “Why? What is it?” I asked. “Has someone heard about my punishment?”

  “No, nothing like that,” said Ruth as she led me to the annex. “Come to the Outreach meeting. You’ll soon see.”

  As we got closer to the annex, I could hear shouting. Mainly from Mrs Blain.

  I opened the door and could hardly believe what I saw. It was complete pandemonium. A zoo where all the animals had run wild. And poor Mrs Blain in the middle of it all looking like she was living her worst nightmare.

  Rose was there with Boris the cat, who was desperately trying to escape up one of the wooden blinds at the window and was swinging by one paw.

  Imogen was holding on to one of the school goats. He was chewing his way through a pile of papers on the teacher’s desk.

  Grace was busy chasing a couple of hens who were clucking madly, trying to find an exit, and one of them pooped at Mrs Blain’s feet.

  Alice Jacobs had a cage containing the mice from the science lab and next to her was Marie Wilkinson with a box of frogs, also from the science lab. They gave me the thumbs-up and cheered loudly when they saw me appear at the door.

  Hannah Morrison came rushing over, carrying a fishbowl. “I’ve brought a tadpole,” she said. “Um. They don’t do much unless you swish the water round.”