1998

There I was, naked except for a pair of knickers. Robin and Lauren held my arms out so there was no way I could use them cover my breasts.

'What the hell?!' I yelled as I looked around and saw that every girl in here was staring but saying and doing absolutely nothing.

'Won't anyone help me?' I implored. 'Someone could at least wrap a towel around me!'

'Your little friend Penny isn't here to help you.' Robin tightened her grip. 'And no one here will help you because no one likes you.' She spat the last four words out like they were poisonous.

'No one here likes you either,' I muttered under my breath.

'What did you say?' asked Robin.

'Nothing.'

'Her boobs look weird,' remarked Lauren, screwing up her nose.

'What do you think?' asked Robin. 'Should we take off her knickers too?'

Oh god. If they did, everyone would see how unsuccessful my 17 year old self had been at giving myself a neat bikini line. Thank god I didn't have my period. If I did, this could very quickly turn into something similar to the opening scene of Carrie.

To my surprise and relief, Shona finally found her voice.

'Stop it Robin.' She walked towards me with a towel.

'I'm getting a teacher,' said Naomi Knox as she headed for the door.

This was incredible – the sisterhood was alive and well... or maybe not.

'Don't you dare!' barked Robin. 'If any of you try to help Sammy or dobs on us, I swear I'll make your lives hell for the rest of the year.'

Shona and Naomi froze. They both looked petrified. In fact, every girl in here looked terrified.

'It's okay guys, don't worry about it.' I looked around the room – at Sarah Cho nervously clutching her makeup bag to her chest, at Megan Anastas holding her hand to her mouth in shock, at Taryn McDonald's eyes darting between me and Robin. 'I can handle this.'

'I'm so sorry Sammy,' Shona said softly as she retreated back to her corner.

Robin leaned in and put her lips near my ear. The sickly-sweet smell of her Vanilla Impulse was overwhelming. 'You see Sammy, I am better than you,' she hissed.

'You've got two choices Sammy,' said Lauren. 'You either stay naked or put on the shirt.'

'You better make it quick,' added Teaghan. 'You're on stage in, like, five minutes.' She walked around to face me and threw the white shirt and a pair of brown trousers in my face. The belt buckle hit my nose before the trousers dropped to the floor.

'Fine, I'll put the shirt on.' I sighed as Robin and Lauren let me go. Hey, at least they had given me trousers. I inspected them for holes and couldn't find any.

'Hurry up, Sammy,' said Robin. 'It's show time.'

I wriggled into the trousers and eased my arms into the shirt. Surprisingly, my fingers didn't tremble as I buttoned it up.

I veered away from Robin as she tried to escort me backstage.

'I know the way,' I said gruffly.

'Okaaay.' She held her arms up in a gesture of mock innocence. 'Have fun out there.'

Holding my arms around my chest, I stepped slowly out of the change room and looked around.

'Come on Sammy,' said Lauren. 'You're supposed to be on stage any minute!'

What the hell was I going to do? Perform the rest of the play with my arms folded across my chest? It was probably my only option at this point, unless I made a run for it towards the door on the other side of the stage. I'd have to go all the way behind the stage to get there, but I could probably do it.

I took a few deep breaths. I felt like I was a gymnast about to do a run up for a trick. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, go!

I bolted and almost smacked into Martin, but I side stepped him and kept going. I ducked under the floral arch waiting to be carried out for one of Lady Olivia's scenes and jumped over a stack of cardboard swords. I was almost at the exit.

Smack.

I saw Mudsey's converse sneaker stick out to trip me up but didn't really register it because I was moving so fast. Now it was too late.

'Ow!' I howled.

'Ssshhhh!'

I lifted my head off the floor to see the faces of Mudsey and Jason, who were then joined by Robin, Teaghan and Lauren.

'Looking for your clothes Sammy?' asked Teaghan in a low voice.

Another face emerged. It was... Martin? He held a black Bonds top up with one hand. My bra dangled from his other hand. That little prick. He must be getting back at me for my quip about his hair gel and foundation lines. I should have known. He'd thrown Penny under the bus at that party just to look cool in front of these people. Robin must have sent him on a mission to see where I hid my clothes. He was kind of like one of the Wicked Witch of the West's flying monkeys.

Where was Mr. H? And Mrs. Rockman? They were probably watching the play from one of the wings, oblivious to what was going on at the back of the stage.

I hoisted myself up and wrapped one arm across my chest. I reached out to Martin with my other arm.

'Are you going to give those back to me?' I asked him.

'I didn't hear please,' he said.

'You'd better get on stage Sammy,' said Robin. Her gaze followed my bra as it sailed over my head to Mudsey, who flung it to Lauren.

'Ew, I don't want to touch her stinky bra,' she whispered. She threw it like a hot potato at Jason.

It was then that I saw Blair hurrying over.

'Guys, stop it,' he hissed. 'You're being complete dicks.' What was this? Was Blair coming to my defence?

He turned to look at me and I gave him a grateful smile. Then I yelped as my bra hit him in the face.

'Great shot Jace,' remarked Mudsey.

The girls gasped in delight.

'Real mature guys,' said Blair, shrugging off his jacket. 'Sammy, put this on. You have to go on stage.'

'Thank you,' I whispered as he wrapped it aroundmy shoulders and steered me towards the wings. I knew high school Blair had itin him to do the right thing.