Chapter 27: Mistakes and Lies

                                    

                                          


                          
On Monday morning, Yuna is waiting for me at the school gates, and I'm glad to see her, I really am. She smiles and hugs me, quickly, warmly, and I find myself telling her everything, that Yeji has gone, that Nayeon hasn't called, that I've made about a million mistakes and only just realized it. I tell her about the little fox too, and see her eyes widen, her mouth curve into a grin.
                          
"Wow," she says. "Wow!"
                          
Yuna links my arm and tells me things will all work out, and although I don't believe her, it still helps to hear it. It helps to have Yuna by my side.
                          
There is no sign of Nayeon, or Yeji, but still, I held my head high.
                          
Everyone is talking about S'cool magazine, and I'm grateful that today is launch day, because that means I'll be too busy to worry for long about the mess I've made of my life. "Keep smiling," Yuna says. "Come on."
                          
We sell a shedload of copies from our stall in the lobby during registration and break, and in English we break into teams and head off to flog what's left all around the school. At first it's just the Year Sevens and Eights buying the copies, plus a few polite teachers, but as the morning wears on a buzz starts to grow and everyone wants their own copy of S'cool.
                          
By lunchtime, we're all back in Room 17, sold out. Mr. Chris declares the project a complete success. "Well done, all of you!" he says. "You've worked so hard, given me your very best. The mag is creative, cool, compulsive reading... and you made it. You're stars, every one of you!" A ragged cheer erupts.
                          
"You'd think Nayeon would have turned up to see how things turned out," Zac Efron says. In the cold light of day, his eye is not so much black but a dozen shades of green, purple and mustard, but he doesn't seem to care. "She's the editor, after all. Besides, I want to know if she found my camera... I kind of mislaid it, what with all the confusion at the end."
                          
"The fight, you mean," Emma Watson says.
                          
Zac shrugs. "Hazard of the job for a paparazzi like me. I need that camera, though. Seriously, some of those shots I could sell to the tabloids."
                          
Mr. Chris rolls his eyes. "I think it might be a good thing the camera got lost," he says. "Come on, you lot. Canteen... I'll treat you all to a celebration lunch!"
                          
We grab a big, central table and get stuck into pizza and chips, toasting Mr. Chris in Coke while teachers and pupils alike stop by to congratulate us on the magazine. 'So, Sir, when do we start work on the next issue?' Robin asks.
                          
"You want to do another?"
                          
"Of course!" Yuna insists. "We have tons of ideas. This magazine thing, it's addictive, isn't it?
                          
"Definitely. I'd love it if S'cool was a regular thing," Mr. Chris says. "It'll have to be a strictly afterschool activity, next time, but I'll give you all the help I can, and you can use Room 17 as a base."
                          
Mr. Robert Downey Junior walks over, brandishing his copy of S'cool. "Not bad," he declares. "Not bad at all, from a rabble like you lot. Perhaps a math page next time, Mr. Chris? Something to stimulate the brain" 
                          
"Perhaps," Mr. Chris says politely. "Praise indeed," he adds quietly as the old math teacher walks away. "I'd hoped Miss Emma Stone might have given me her verdict, though. I left a copy of the mag on her desk first thing,"
                          
"I think she's holed up in the office with some troublemaker." Yuna says.  "The red light's been on all morning. Must be serious."
                          
"Hwang Yeji?" Zac quips. "Perhaps she's giving her saxophone lessons?'