Film Star by Rowan Coleman Page A

part. That’s why I got called back. Because what the star says goes.” Nydia raised an eyebrow.
    â€œSo not because you were any good then?” she asked me, turning on her heel and walking off down the corridor.
    â€œNydia!” I called after her. “I can’t believe you are being like this!”
    â€œI was better than you,” she said as I caught up with her. “I was better than you, but I didn’t get called back because I’m big and ugly and nobody in the world would believe that a big fat girl was Imogene Grant’s sister!”
    â€œNydia, I…” I didn’t know what to say. I remembered how I felt when I looked at Anne-Marie, so tall and pretty and blonde, sparkling like a diamond when she came out of the audition. I felt like the ugly ducklingthen, and I suppose Nydia must have felt the same since the moment she didn’t get called back.
    â€œNydia,” I said, “maybe you’re right. Maybe it isn’t fair. You probably were better than me. And it probably does have something to do with Kensington Heights. But—what could I have done about that? Not gone to the audition? Said, ‘No thanks very much, I’ll pass’?”
    Nydia shook her head and looked at her feet, sighing heavily.
    â€œI’ve got an audition,” she said in a quiet voice. “Ms Lighthouse put me forward for it. It’s for three episodes of Holby City. It’s a proper part, with lines and everything. A lot of lines actually.”
    â€œNydia! Your first ever speaking part. I bet you’re excited!” I hugged her impulsively, but she didn’t hug me back. “That’s wonderful,” I said, a little less enthusiastically.
    â€œIt’s for a morbidly obese teenager with early onset diabetes,” Nydia said miserably. “That’s all I ever get—fat roles, funny roles, idiot roles. I’ll never be like you or Anne-Marie.”
    â€œNobody will ever be like Anne-Marie!” I said, trying to make a joke and failing.
    As Nydia looked up at me her eyes were shining with tears. “Nothing ever happens to me, Ruby,” she said.“Things always happen to you. I just wish, I just wish that sometimes things would happen to me.” I picked up her hands.
    â€œI bet you get this part in Holby City, ” I said.
    â€œMaybe,” she said. “But I don’t want that part! I want to be an action hero, a romantic lead. But no, I’m stuck inside this stupid fat ugly body and I can’t get out! And I’m jealous of you. I’m jealous and angry that no matter how good I am, even when I’m better than you I’ll never beat you. I’ll never get a part we both go for. Unless it’s the part of a fat ugly person.”
    We stood, both of us, in the empty corridor, the bell calling us to class ringing in our ears.
    â€œI don’t know what to say,” I said at last as the chimes died away and we were both officially late. “I didn’t know how unhappy you were. I thought you were happy with how you looked. Always joking about it.”
    â€œBefore anybody else does,” Nydia said.
    â€œWell, Nydia, if you are unhappy then things don’t have to stay the same, they can change—you can change. And I’ll help you.”
    â€œHow will you help me?” Nydia asked me.
    â€œWell, you could talk to the school nurse for starters. Ask her about a healthy-eating plan. And maybe she could talk to your mum for you.”
    â€œMum will kill me if she thinks I’ve been talking about her cooking to anyone,” Nydia said.
    â€œBut does your mum know how unhappy you are?” I asked. She shook her head. “I think your mum would kill you if she knew that you had been hiding it from her.”
    â€œYou must think I’m a greedy fat pig,” Nydia said quietly.
    â€œNydia!” I said. “Of course I don’t. I think that you and me