And tonight she felt even gladder about it. She was going to be Jo’s lady-in-waiting in France! On a real foreign beach, watching real film stars. A glimpse of a life away from her miserable suburban girlhood. It might even be sunny there, you never knew. Abroad was always sunny on TV. Sophie glanced at the rain drumming on the skylight window in her neat, dull little attic bedroom and wished with all her heart that nothing would go wrong; that Dad wouldn’t find some spiteful excuse to stop her. Her plan was always the same: head down and stay out of his way.

“I’m bored,” Joanna announced. She lolled against the motel bed with its thin sheets.

“Bored?” Sophie was shocked.

How could Jo be bored? She had dutifully followed her around everywhere. They’d seen all kinds of movie stars and dolly birds, and Johnny Hallyday, the famous French singer, had even winked at Jo! Sophie had seen it. They’d drunk wine (Jo had gotten plastered) and eaten baguettes and splashed in the sea. Actually, Jo spent a lot of time on the beach in that amazing red bikini of hers. Sophie had a swimsuit, but she was too shy to wear it, so she stuck to her shorts and flip-flops.

“We haven’t hooked up with anybody.”

“We had a coffee with those French girls,” Sophie pointed out.

“Huh! Girls,” Jo said with deep scorn. “I’m not here for girls. I want to meet a boyfriend. Or a movie director.” She ran her long scarlet nails through her hair, looking at her reflection in the mirror on the wardrobe door. “I’m here to be discovered.”

“Most of the men are a lot older than us.”

“So what, darling? Mature, successful men like young girls. Maybe we could get invited onto a yacht,” said Jo excitedly.

Sophie blushed. The girls on the yachts often sat there with their tops off, showing their boobs to everybody!

“I don’t think my dad would like that.”

“Your dad doesn’t like anything you do,” Jo said, cruelly but accurately. “Live a little, Soph! Or at least,” she gave a tinkling laugh, “watch me do it.” Swinging her long legs off the bed, she wrenched open the wardrobe door, which was sticky. “Cheap motel,” she said scornfully. “We should be living in luxury!”

Sophie had to chuckle. “That’s not very likely. You don’t really think you’re going to meet Prince Charming, do you?”

“If anybody can, it’s going to be me,” Jo said confidently. “Look! I’ve been saving this one. What do you think?”

She pulled out a see-through white dress and held it up against her body. It clung lovingly to her slight curves, had a dangerously low-cut bodice, and a hem that flirted with the tops of her thighs.

Sophie laughed.

“I’m serious!” Jo said. “It’ll look sexy!”

“I think it’s a bit much.”