Midnight Feast (3 page)

‘A midnight feast? Oh, that's perfect!' cried Sooze. ‘It's just what we need to liven things up around here!'

The three girls were sitting on mushroom seats in the Glitterwings library – a high ceilinged, narrow room with hundreds of petal-leaf books lining its walls. Overhead, fairies flitted about the shelves like bumblebees, their wings buzzing.

Honestly, thought Bimi. It was just like Sooze to care more about
livening things up
than cheering up their friend!

‘Yes, we're having it in the Common Branch on Friday night.' Bimi tried not to let her irritation show. ‘So I just wondered if you had any ideas about –' She stopped. Sooze was shaking her lavender head firmly.

‘Not the Common Branch!' she said. ‘It's too boring! You know where we should have it?' Sooze leaned forward, her eyes sparkling.

‘Where?' asked Pix.

‘In the Dingly Dell!' said Sooze triumphantly. ‘It's this little dell not far from the school – my sister Winn told me all about it. It's supposed to be
so
glimmery. There's a stream, and carpets of flowers, and slides made from reeds – it's a real fairy fun-spot!'

.

.

Bimi and Pix looked at each other. ‘Leave the school?' said Bimi slowly. ‘Sooze, I don't know – it seems risky enough just having a party at all.'

Sooze flapped a wing at her. ‘Oh, don't be such a wet leaf! It's easy, Winn has done it loads of times. You want to have a really special party for Twink, don't you?'

Bimi's mouth tightened. ‘Of course, but –'

‘Sooze, are you
sure
it would be safe?' interrupted Pix. ‘How would we do it? Don't they lock the doors at night?'

Sooze laughed. ‘Who needs doors? We can fly, can't we? We'll just go out of one of the windows! The only thing is, they don't open from the outside, so someone will need to stay behind to let us back in again. Or else two fairies could take turns, so they each get to go to half the party.'

Bimi bit her lip. Her simple little party suddenly seemed to have become very complex and dangerous!

But Pix didn't seem to think so. She nodded thoughtfully. ‘You know, we're actually
less
likely to get caught if we're not in the school. I think that could really work, Sooze!'

‘Of course it will!' Sooze flipped back her lavender hair. ‘I told you, Winn's done it loads of times. And she says the Dingly Dell is
so
worth it – it's just the most magical place ever!'

‘What about food?' Pix took a leaf-pad out of her bag and started to write. ‘We'll need lots of it!'

Sooze grinned. ‘Well, it's lucky that it's the start of term – everyone's brought goodies from home that we can share. Plus Winn says that –'

Bimi's wings felt stiff as the two of them excitedly carried on swapping ideas,. Already the party felt as though it didn't belong to her any more. Sooze had taken it over.

I'm being silly,
she told herself.
The important thing is that Twink has a good time. Besides, she'll know it was my idea!

.

Chapter Three

In the days that followed, Twink became certain that the fairies in her branch were up to something. They were always whispering together – and when Twink asked what they were talking about, they'd insist that it was nothing at all. Even Bimi was acting strangely! Twink's best friend seemed to have something on her mind, and had gone very quiet lately.

Things came to a head after dinner on Thursday night, when Twink flew into the first-year Common Branch. Madame Brightfoot had taught them some glimmery new dance moves that afternoon, and Twink was anxious to try them out with the others. And it was the perfect time – she had just seen Mariella and Lola heading for the library. The Common Branch without those two sitting sneering in the corner was something to be savoured!

She flitted into the room and stopped short. The Daffy Branch fairies were all huddled together, and seemed to be softly arguing about something. Only Bimi, who stood off to one side with a pained expression on her face, kept silent as their whispered voices grew louder.

Her pointed ears burning with curiosity, Twink edged forward until she could hear them.

‘Well, it can't be me!'
said Sooze. ‘I'm the only one who knows the way, so I
can't
stay behind.'

‘Oh, you just don't want to miss any of the party!' laughed Zena. ‘The place can't be
that
hard to get to, if your wasp brain sister managed it.'

Sooze gave her a mock scowl, but Pix interrupted before she could reply. ‘We'll have to cast pebbles.
None
of us wants to miss any of the party, so it's only fair.'

Party? Twink stood rooted to the spot, wings frozen. ‘What
are you talking about?' she burst out.

Suddenly the Daffy Branch fairies all looked as if they had swallowed ladybirds! ‘Oh, Twink, you weren't meant to hear!' wailed Sili.

Twink put her hands on her hips. ‘But I
did
hear! What are you up to? What party?'

Sooze grinned suddenly. ‘We might as well tell you in that case! Twink, we –'

‘No!' cried Bimi, flapping her wings. ‘It's meant to be a surprise!'

Twink looked at her friend in astonishment. Bimi had been so quiet lately, but suddenly she almost looked like she was going to cry.

Sooze rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, the surprise is already ruined, so why not!' She flitted over and squeezed Twink's hand. ‘Listen, Opposite – we're all going to have a midnight feast for your birthday tomorrow night. Well, except for Mariella and her little mosquito friend, of course!'

Good-natured grumbles came from the other fairies. ‘Oh, trust Sooze not to keep a secret!' scoffed Pix. ‘Twink, we meant to
surprise
you!'

‘A midnight feast?' gasped Twink. ‘Really?'

.

.

‘Even better than that!' said Zena. She leaned forward and whispered, ‘Sooze has had the best idea – we're going to have it at the Dingly Dell!'

Pix nodded. ‘She's thought of everything. It's going to be the best party ever, Twink.'

Twink's wings tickled with excitement. The Dingly Dell! She had heard all about it from Sooze – it sounded like the most wonderful, magical spot in the world.

‘Oh, how glimmery!' she breathed. ‘Sooze, thank you!'

She saw Bimi's face fall, and groaned to herself. Oh, no – she might have known that Bimi would be jealous of anything to do with Sooze!

‘Thank
all
of you,' she added hastily, looking at Bimi. ‘I can hardly wait for tomorrow night.'

‘Well, anything to cheer you up!' said Sooze. The others laughed, jostling Twink with their wings and making teasing comments – but Bimi just made a sour face and turned away.

Twink stared after her, hurt. What was wrong with her? Didn't she want Twink to have a party?

Sooze hooked an arm through Twink's. ‘Come on, Opposite – I'll show you all the food for tomorrow night. Winn told me about a loose knothole, and we've been hiding everything there!'

Still stung over Bimi's reaction, Twink allowed herself to be lead away. At least you never had to worry about Sooze being in a funny mood! The lavender-haired fairy was always bright and fun.

The next day Twink could hardly concentrate on her lessons. Madame Brightfoot sighed loudly at her fumbling of dance moves, and Miss Petal, their Flower Power teacher, stopped her demonstration on how to heal buttercups.

‘Twink Flutterby, have you been listening to a word I've said?' demanded the pretty young teacher.

Twink started. She had been gazing out of the window, dreaming of the Dingly Dell. ‘Oh – yes, Miss!' she said hastily.

Miss Petal smiled sweetly at her. ‘Good. Then perhaps you'd like to come and demonstrate how to help this poorly buttercup.'

Oh, wasps! Twink glanced at Bimi for help, but her friend just shrugged and looked away.

Twink's stomach tightened. Bimi had hardly said a word to her since the night before.

‘
Now,
Twink
–
not next solstice,' said Miss Petal.

Someone snickered. Mariella, of course! Reluctantly, Twink rose from her mushroom seat and fluttered to the front of the branch.

The buttercup sat in a walnut-shell pot, its leaves and petals drooping pitifully. Remembering her Flower Power lessons from last term, Twink put her hands on the flower's leaves. Closing her eyes, she sent the buttercup happy thoughts as hard as she could.

My birthday's today. My friends are having a midnight feast for me, and we're going to the Dingly Dell!
Smiling, Twink opened her eyes – and then gasped in dismay. The flower hadn't changed at all!

‘You
weren't
listening,' chided Miss Petal. She tapped her yellow wings together. ‘I was just saying that buttercups are very relaxed flowers. Happy thoughts don't invigorate them – they need
rousing
thoughts. Going for a mile-long flight, that sort of thing!'

Twink nodded, red-faced. ‘Sorry, Miss. I–I was thinking of something else.'

‘Ooh, I wonder what?' whispered Sooze loudly. A giggle ran through the class. Twink grinned despite herself at the look of cross confusion on Mariella's face.

‘That's enough, girls!' said Miss Petal. ‘You can sit down now, Twink.'

When Twink took her seat again, Bimi was gazing out of the window, ignoring her. Twink's heart sank.

‘Bimi, what's wrong?' she murmured as Miss Petal put the buttercup away.

One of Bimi's wings lifted coldly. ‘Why don't you ask
Sooze
?' she muttered back.

Oh! Twink let out an angry breath. She knew Bimi was hurt that she was being friendly with Sooze, but it was so unfair! Sooze was planning a party for her –
of course
Twink was going to be friendly to her. And why couldn't she have two
friends, anyway?

Scowling down at her petal book, she didn't look at Bimi again for the rest of the lesson.

At dinner that night, Twink and Bimi sat apart for the first time since the new term had begun. Telling herself that she didn't mind, Twink made a point of laughing and talking with the others.

Sooze nudged her with a wing. ‘Don't eat too much, Opposite! You want to save your appetite.'

‘Save it for what?' asked Mariella, drawing her eyebrows together.

‘Oh, I heard there's going to be an extra-special breakfast tomorrow,' said Sooze seriously. ‘We want to save some room for it!' Somehow everyone managed to keep a straight face.

Just then the school butterflies streamed into the Great Branch, their jewel-coloured wings glinting brightly. Some of them swooped down over the tables, clearing up dishes and crumbs, while others delivered letters to the fairies.

‘Oh!' cried Twink as three butterflies fluttered in front of her, struggling with a large leaf-wrapped package held between them.
Twink Flutterby, Glitterwings Academy
,
said the label in her mother's handwriting.

‘It's a package from my family, for my birthday!' exclaimed Twink as the tired butterflies dropped the parcel in front of her and flew away.

‘Glimmery!' Sooze flapped her wings. ‘Open it now!' Everyone at the table leaned forward, craning to see.

Twink glanced at Bimi. On impulse, she said, ‘Bimi, would you help me open it?'

Bimi looked startled, and then slowly smiled. ‘All right!'

Twink let out a relieved breath as her friend helped her to untie the strings of plaited grass. Maybe everything would be all right between them after all.

The oak-leaf wrapping fell away, and a gleaming walnut chest sat on the table. Twink creaked open the lid and yelped. ‘Look, everyone! It's chock-full of food that my gran made! There's dandelion juice, and sweet seeds – and look, a giant honey cake with my name on it! It's just perfect for tonight!'

‘Perfect for tonight?' said Pix. ‘What do you mean?' The clever red-haired fairy widened her eyes in warning, motioning towards the end of the table.

Mariella! Twink felt colour sweep her face. How could she have forgotten? ‘I – I just meant that I'll share it out in the Common Branch tonight,' she stammered. ‘There's plenty for everyone!'

.

.

She looked sideways at Mariella, and was relieved to see her talking to Lola. Phew! Perhaps she hadn't overheard after all. Twink sat down happily, gazing at the chest. Her family hadn't forgotten her. How could she have ever thought they would?

‘Oh, I wish I had a pen with me!' she said. ‘I could write to my family right now and thank them.'

Sooze lifted her violet eyebrows. ‘Well – I was going to save this for later, but –' She reached in her bag and pulled out a present wrapped loosely in a bright pink petal.

‘Here you go, Opposite.' She slid it across the table to Twink. ‘Many happy returns, and all that!'

Twink tore the wrapping off and gasped in delight. ‘A snail-trail pen! Oh, Sooze, thank you! I saw one on my hols, but I didn't have any pocket money left to buy it with!' She uncapped the pen and tested it on her hand, smiling at the sparkly silver ink. ‘It's perfect!'

She stretched across the table and hugged Sooze tightly. Sooze laughed. ‘My uncle gave it to me, but I already had one, so I thought of you!'

Bouncing back on to her seat, Twink's smile faded. Bimi was staring at her new pen, her expression stiff and strained.

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