Part 5 (1/2)

'Casa Rhiannah?'

She rolled her eyes. 'It's what my mates Harriet and Sara started calling it, because I lived here alone. Like a weird, crazy old loser hermit! I guess now we can call it Casa Rhiannah Tessa. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?'

'Yes,' I replied, shyly.

'So anyway,' Rhiannah went on, smiling, 'It's getting pretty close to breakfast time, so we should think about heading. I'm totally stuffed. I didn't get in 'til two, and you were dead to the world with no blankets on. You don't like blankets?'

'I was too hot.'

'Yeah, they overheat the c.r.a.p out of these rooms. I have no idea why. Maybe Princess Charlotte complained about it being too cold once.'

'You call her that, too?' I asked. 'Erin called her that.'

'Everybody calls her that. Charlotte Lord is the biggest princess this side of England. I feel so sorry for you, having to have her as your mentor.' calls her that. Charlotte Lord is the biggest princess this side of England. I feel so sorry for you, having to have her as your mentor.'

'She's not so bad,' I said, feeling like I should defend Charlotte. After all, she had been very helpful to me yesterday, showing me where everything was, and where to go, and how to act, and introducing me to people I should know.

'She's not so bad because you haven't got on her bad side side yet. And, trust me, that's really easy to do. Charlotte has very ... particular ideas about what she likes and doesn't like. It's very easy to p.i.s.s her off.' yet. And, trust me, that's really easy to do. Charlotte has very ... particular ideas about what she likes and doesn't like. It's very easy to p.i.s.s her off.'

'p.i.s.s her off?'

I hadn't heard that expression before. I mean, I had heard the word 'p.i.s.s' used as another word for urination, but I a.s.sumed (and hoped) that Rhiannah wasn't wasn't talking about urination. That would be rather odd. And unsanitary. talking about urination. That would be rather odd. And unsanitary.

'You know, make her angry,' said Rhiannah.

'Strange expression,' I murmured.

'Yeah, I suppose it is.' She nodded thoughtfully. 'Anyway, enough about Her Royal Up-herself-ness. Just take the warning on board, okay? If you want to be all matey mate with her, that's your choice and I won't think any less of you, but just, you know, be careful. And I would also advise against telling her anything personal. That girl might only be a princess in most ways, but she is definitely the queen queen of gossip at Cascade Falls. Be a bit wary, okay?' of gossip at Cascade Falls. Be a bit wary, okay?'

'I will,' I said, nodding.

'Right! Now we've sorted that one out, what is your stance on waffles?'

'Waffles?'

Another word I didn't know. I wondered if it had something to do with urination too. I hoped not.

'Oh, geez! Wow. You don't know waffles? Seriously? Okay, mate. Here's the plan: we get up, we go and shower '

'Shower?'

I could feel the scars on my back begin to burn and throb. I winced. They'd hurt before, but not like this. The pain was bad, but my anxiety was worse.

I didn't want to shower.

I didn't want anybody else to see my scars.

I didn't want them to think I was strange strange.

My heart started beating very quickly and the palms of my hands felt sticky with sweat. 'Do we ... I mean ... the showers ...'

'Oh, they're really good showers here, don't worry!' said Rhiannah. 'If you've been to other boarding schools, with cold water, or water that cuts out after a minute or, you know, no shower curtains or whatever, this is not like that. You get your very own big stall, and those posh nozzles where you can change the water pressure, and they have sw.a.n.ky smelly shampoo and soap and moisturiser in these pump things that stick on the wall, and heated towel racks and everything! It's heaven!'

'So, it's private?' I asked. I didn't care about water pressure or pump things or hot towels. All I wanted to know was that n.o.body else was going to see my scars.

'Oh, yeah!' said Rhiannah, smiling. 'No ripping back the curtains to check you're was.h.i.+ng properly here. I mean, you have a timer so you don't waste water, but that's about it. So, plan? Shower time and then waffle time?'

'I really do want to know what a waffle is is before I say it is waffle time,' I said, firmly. I didn't want to get myself into anything unsavoury. before I say it is waffle time,' I said, firmly. I didn't want to get myself into anything unsavoury.

Rhiannah rolled her eyes. 'Can't you just trust me? No? Okay, it's a breakfast item. And it's good. That's all I'm going to tell you. Is that enough?'

I nodded. 'That's enough.'

'Well, thank Mother Earth for that. Shall we go?'

Rhiannah held out a pale hand to me and I took it. I watched as the copper bangle slid down her arm and settled on her wrist. Her eyes followed me. 'It's a family thing,' she said, very casually considering the way she had reacted yesterday. 'An heirloom. You really like it, don't you?'

I nodded.

'That's a worry,' she said.

Have you ever had waffles, Connolly?

If you haven't, and I mean this with the utmost fervour and seriousness, you really must do it! must do it!

Waffles are just the most wondrous thing that was ever invented! They are crunchy and yet soft; sweet and yet savoury; filling and yet oh, so very light and I loved them so much I had four! With ice cream as well! The smell of them hit me long before I reached the dining hall (the cafeteria cafeteria). 'Oh, they smell wonderful!' I exclaimed.

'You can smell them already?' asked Rhiannah, her eyebrows raised, and I was reminded yet again how things sights, smells, noises happen more powerfully for me than for others. I was embarra.s.sed again, but the feeling faded as soon as I took my first bite. I swear to you, Connolly, I had never eaten anything so heavenly. If it wasn't for the fear that I might get fat, and weak, weak, I would have eaten I would have eaten five five waffles! waffles!

As I ate, I looked about the cafeteria at my new schoolmates. I was disconcerted to see that some of them were looking back at me. Some smiled when I caught their eye. Some looked away quickly and whispered to their friends.

'They're just interested in you 'cos you're new,' said Rhiannah's friend Harriet. 'It was the same when we we started. Don't worry about it. They'll get sick of you.' started. Don't worry about it. They'll get sick of you.'

I nodded mutely. I could feel my heart quickening, and a p.r.i.c.kle of sweat on the back of my neck. The cafeteria was just a bit too busy. There were too many people. I was used to quiet.

The hospital was quiet.

And maybe I had liked quiet before before as well. My aversion to the bustle and clatter seemed to come from deep within me. as well. My aversion to the bustle and clatter seemed to come from deep within me.

I am Tessa. I like quiet.

'Of course, you know they're completely bad for you,' said Rhiannah, pointing at the waffle suspended midway to my mouth. 'You'll be as round as a wombat if you eat even one more. And then Princess Charlotte will definitely hate you. Although, to be honest, I actually don't think she likes you all that much right now. Not that that's a bad thing.'

'Why doesn't she like me?' I asked, swinging my head around to look for Charlotte's table.

Sure enough, Charlotte and every single one of her pretty friends were very obviously glowering at me. It was quite a terrifying sight.