Claire checked her watch: 3.55 p.m. She’d been here since half past three and was starting to wonder if she was in the right classroom. Drama room three. It was more of a storeroom than anything else, tucked away at the end of the corridor. But then she heard a burst of laugher from the corridor and quickly picked up her Just Seventeen magazine and started to flick through it.

‘Claire, hi! You made it! You ready?’ Claire looked at Charlotte as she got down from the desk she’d been perched on. With her permed blonde hair and slightly oily skin, Charlotte wasn’t the prettiest girl in their year but there was an aura about her, a confidence that attracted boys and girls alike.

‘Yep! Can’t wait!’

‘Good – us neither!’ Charlotte smiled at the group of girls around her and suddenly Claire felt uneasy. She tried to catch Anne’s eye, but her best friend was watching Charlotte.

‘Tiffany, close the door, would you? We don’t want anyone to hear us,’ ordered Charlotte. ‘Helen, Emma, start putting the chairs in a semi-circle.’

The girls moved to do their jobs and Claire envied the way Charlotte dominated the room.

Claire felt a thrill go through her – she’d waited a long time for this and she couldn’t wait to wear her bracelet.

As the girls began to sit down, Claire felt uncertain. What was she supposed to do? Charlotte remained standing at the open end of the semi-circle and indicated for Claire to stand opposite her. Suddenly, the hum of activity stopped, and the room went quiet.

‘Claire Sharpe, are you ready to become a member of the Queen Bees?’ asked Charlotte, her face solemn.

‘Yes,’ replied Claire.

‘Are you willing to follow the Queen Bee rules and obey all orders as directed by the Queen Bee guidelines?’

‘Yes,’ replied Claire. She was tempted to ask what the rules and orders would be but thought better of it. She could always ask Anne later.

‘Are you ready to accept your final challenge in order to secure your place as a Queen Bee?’

Claire paused. What challenge? Anne had never said anything about a challenge when she’d got inducted.

Charlotte’s eyebrows went up a fraction, impatient for her answer.

‘Wh-what challenge?’ asked Claire.

‘The Queen Bees only accept yes or no answers,’ announced Charlotte.

Of course, she knew that – Anne had told her that in advance. But why hadn’t she mentioned anything about a challenge?

‘Again – are you ready to accept your final challenge in order to secure your place as a Queen Bee?’

‘Yes,’ replied Claire firmly. Surely, it couldn’t be that bad.

‘Very good.’ Charlotte turned to pick up a plastic bowl that Vivian held out to her, which contained several folded-up pieces of paper. ‘Anne, as Claire’s nominator, could you please pick her a challenge from the bowl?’