‘It’s great.’ Olly smiled.
‘This is the most amazing party in the world,’ Grace enthused. ‘Apparently the fireworks start soon?’
I looked over at Fritz, who was being shifted from his chair on to a velvet cushion before being rushed out of the room by Jamie.
‘Yes,’ I replied knowingly. ‘That’s the signal. Fritz hates fireworks. Jamie takes him for a snack in the kitchens when they’re getting ready to start. The fireworks are amazing. The terrace is a good view but the best view is –’ I suddenly had an idea. ‘Hey, do you guys want to get out of here?’
‘Uh, no?’ Grace snorted. ‘I am not missing a moment of this party. George Clooney is here and I haven’t asked him to sign my arm yet.’
‘I mean, to get a better view of the fireworks,’ I explained. ‘Wait for me in the corridor, I’ll be with you in a minute. Seriously, go on.’
I ushered the two of them back in the direction of the door and pushed through the crowd to Sky, who was listening to Prince Gustav telling her and a group of friends about the time he accidentally bought a canoe.
‘Prince Gustav,’ I said, interrupting his flow of conversation, ‘would you mind if I borrowed Sky for a moment? I promise I’ll bring her back.’
‘Where are we going?’ Sky whispered as I led her away.
‘I’ll show you,’ I explained as we approached the others in the corridor. Grace’s eyes widened to saucers when she saw who I was with. After hurried introductions – during which Grace just stared at Sky, not uttering one word – I led the way down the hall towards the lift. Just as I pressed the button, Ella and her parents came through the revolving doors. She saw me and froze, midway through taking off her coat.
I don’t know if a sudden Christmas spirit descended upon me or something, but seeing her alone, staring at us all together, I felt a wave of sympathy for her. I told the others to wait as I went over to where she was standing.
‘Oh, Flick, hi!’ Her mum smiled, fiddling with her earrings. ‘Don’t you look wonderful. You’ve really managed to find a good colour dress for that hair of yours. That must be so difficult. Did you know it’s Ella’s first year at the ball? We never miss it, of course.’ She waved at someone standing in the archway of the ballroom. ‘Oh, there’s Sally. I’ll leave you girls to chat.’
She swanned off, dragging her reluctant husband with her.
‘It’s good to see you, Ella,’ I began apprehensively.
She didn’t say anything.
‘I’m really sorry we fell out this term,’ I continued, taking her silence as nervousness. ‘I hope we’ll all be OK back at school. I know the others would like that too. We’re about to go and watch the fireworks. You want to join?’
She looked at those waiting for me at the lift. Her eyes lit up when she saw Sky and for a moment I thought everything might be OK, but then her gaze shifted over to Olly and Grace, and she flinched, returning quickly to her unimpressed facial expression.
‘Why would I want to hang out with you?’
‘Because we’re going to get the best view in the place. Trust me, I know.’
Her lip curled mockingly. ‘No, thanks. I think I’ll skip the staff quarters, and join the real guests. See you at school.’
She threw her coat to the porter and without another word, she swanned down the corridor and towards the ballroom, patting her coiffed hairdo neatly into place. I watched her go and then ushered the others into the lift, pressing the button for the fifteenth floor.
Grace patted my arm comfortingly. ‘You tried.’
‘You know what?’ I sighed, as the doors shut. ‘I have a feeling next term is going to be interesting.’
After our first ever fight, Cal found me on the roof of the hotel.
We were eight years old and I had accidentally broken this weird robot thing he’d been letting me play with. He wouldn’t let me go near it for weeks because he’d saved loads of pocket money to buy it, but I eventually wore him down and he lent it to me the day of that year’s Christmas ball. I was so scared when I broke it, that I hid it in my room and went to the ball with my mum, thinking I’d just tell him later. But he must have gone to get it back before coming to the ball, and he was so angry with me when he found it, that he came to find me and he yelled all these mean things at me. I was so upset, I left the ball and ran back up to the flat. But Mum had locked the door and I didn’t have keys, so I went out on to the fifteenth floor’s fire escape, and climbed up on to the roof.
Cal came to find me a few minutes later and must have seen the fire-escape door wedged open. He climbed up and sat down next to me as I continued snivelling. He didn’t say anything, he just put his arm round me and then the fireworks started and we realised we’d happened upon the best view in the city.
‘Look at all those lights,’ Grace whispered, when we got to the top and the four of us took in London’s glittering skyline in the cold night air. I was pleased they were all impressed because, let me tell you, it had not been easy getting three girls in ballgowns and heels up the rungs of a fire escape.
I think Olly was scarred from the experience.
‘That’s what I call a view!’ Sky exclaimed, getting her phone out to take photos. ‘And to think the actual royal family have to make do with the first-floor terrace.’
‘How did you find this place?’ Olly asked.
