Lightning Strikes (Hudson 2)

"Ah, cherie,'" Leslie cried, "we've been waiting for you. Meet Fiona and Sarah," she said. The strawberry blonde, named Fiona, smiled at me, but the girl with the flaxen blond hair looked unfriendly, suspicious.

"Hi, I'm Fiona Thomas." I took her thin, long hand into mine.

"Rain Arnold." I looked at the other girl.

"Hello," she said, barely moving her lips. "I guess you can figure it out that I'm Sarah, Sarah Broadhurst."

The French girls were still in their dancing tights, but both Fiona and Sarah wore long skins and loose, frilly collared blouses.

"Hi," I said to Sarah. Her lips dipped in the corners. "Are you the girl who was discovered on a school stage in America?" she asked.

"I guess so," I said. "Where were you

discovered?"

"Under a rock," a male voice cried from behind me and I turned to look into the soft blue eyes of Randall Glenn. He roared at his own joke. Leslie and Catherine laughed as well, but Fiona looked shocked, "Hi," he said extending his hand. "I'm Randall Glenn. I figured you were the new student when I saw you looking through the window. Are you in the dormitory, too?"

"No, I'm living with a friend's sister," I said.

"Where?" Fiona asked.

"Holland Park," I said. She looked at Sarah who smirked. "We're not far from you. I live on Notting Hill Gate and Sarah lives in South Kensington."

"Was that the only play you were in?" Sarah asked me. She looked worried that I might have more theatrical experience.

"Yes, the one and only."

"Discovered at your debut? That is impressive," Randall quipped. "Don't you think so, Sarah?"

"I'm not the one to ask," she said. "Ask Mr. MacWaine."

"Sarah's worried she might have competition for the part of Ophelia in our cut from Hamlet this month. The school has a showcase night every two months," Randall explained.

"I'm hardly worried," she remarked but she looked at me with narrowed eyes for a moment before turning around.

I sat and Randall chose a seat across from me just as Mrs. Winecoup entered the room.

"Good morning, everyone," she said and smiled at me. "Has everyone met our newest pupil, Rain Arnold?"

"Yes, Mrs. Winecoup," Randall said. "We were all properly introduced."

His silly grin brought a smile to my face. He winked at me and then he turned to our teacher.

"Lovely. Welcome, Rain. You have the textbook, I see. We've just begun an analysis of Hamlet in preparation for a night of theater, dance and song we'll be having in a fortnight. Did you ever have the chance to read it?" she asked.

"Yes," I said, "but not very closely."

Sarah finally smiled.

"Good," Mrs. Winecoup said to my surprise, "maybe we'll get some fresh interpretations,"

Sarah's smile evaporated. Randall looked like the little boy who had just stolen cookies from the cookie jar, and the French girls were lit up with glee. Fiona gazed at me as if I had already made some significant statement, and I felt as if my tongue had just been glued to the top of my mouth.

They don't take long to put you in the spotlight here, I thought.

But after all why I was sent.

I think.