New Girl (2 page)

.

It was far grander than any room in Twink's own home, and suddenly she felt a pang for her family's friendly, chaotic tree stump beside its woodland stream. She'd give anything to be back there now, and for none of this to have ever happened!

‘Speaking of school, I got a petal today from Mirabel,' said Mrs Bluebell, placing the pitcher back on to the table. ‘Bimi, do you remember her from that party I gave last year?'

Bimi's face lit up. ‘Mirabel Moonglow? Of course!' She turned eagerly to Twink. ‘She's one of Mum's old friends from modelling. Now she's a fashion designer, and really famous. She's in the petal mags all the time!'

‘I think I've heard of her,' said Twink, interested despite herself. ‘Were you really a model, Mrs Bluebell?'

Mrs Bluebell smiled. ‘Yes, didn't Bimi ever tell you? Mirabel's a good friend of mine from those days. She always had a flair for design. This is one of hers, in fact!' She motioned to her shimmering cobweb dress.

‘It looks lovely on you,' said Mr Bluebell admiringly. ‘You could still model now, if you wanted to – you're just as beautiful as the day I first met you!'

Twink saw Bimi grimace, and winced in sympathy. It was awful when parents started getting lovey-dovey in front of your friends.

‘Anyway, Mirabel says that her daughter Kiki is going to be starting school at Glitterwings tomorrow,' continued Mrs Bluebell. ‘She wasn't getting on very well at Emerald Leaf – she found the girls there much too snobbish.'

Bimi shuddered. ‘Oh, I've heard those Emerald Leaf fairies are awful! I don't blame her a bit, do you, Twink?'

‘Er . . . no,' said Twink. Suddenly her heart was pounding.
A new girl!
I bet she's the one,
she thought wildly.

‘Kiki's a second-year student as well,' went on Mrs Bluebell. ‘Would you look out for her, Bimi, and make her feel at home?'

‘Of course!' said Bimi. ‘It must be terrible starting a new school mid-year. We'll both be really nice to her, won't we, Twink?'

Twink felt as if her wings had turned to stone. Everyone was looking at her, waiting for her response. ‘Yes, of course,' she mumbled.

She saw Bimi's expression turn puzzled, and looked quickly down at her clover-leaf plate. Later that evening, when she and Bimi were packing their things for the next day, Twink cleared her throat.

‘What's Kiki like?' she asked casually. They were in Bimi's bedroom, a small, pretty branch filled with tiny dewdrop ornaments and delicate petal pillows.

Bimi looked up from packing her oak-leaf bag. ‘I don't know; I've never met her. Her mother's really nice, though.'

‘Well . . . what does she look like?' Twink put a stack of crisp new petal pads into her bag, thinking of the pretty lilac-haired fairy from the crystal.

Bimi's eyebrows drew together. ‘You mean Kiki? How should I know?'

Twink shrugged. ‘I just thought you might have seen a drawing of her sometime, or that maybe your mum told you what she looks like . . .' she trailed off, realising how ridiculous she sounded.

Bimi propped her hands on her hips. ‘Why would we talk about Kiki's looks? Twink, what's
up
with you? You've been acting weird since this afternoon!'

Twink forced a laugh. ‘Nothing! It's just that her mum used to be a model, so . . . so I wondered if she was as pretty as her mum, that's all. Like you and
your
mum.'

Bimi scowled in embarrassment. She was very shy about her beauty, and never liked talking about it. ‘I don't know,' she said crossly, shoving a pair of grass socks into her bag. ‘You can see for yourself tomorrow!'

‘Sorry,' muttered Twink.

Bimi took a deep breath. ‘That's OK. But Twink, it's stupid comparing me to my mum. I could never be like her, no matter what.'

‘What do you mean?' asked Twink. ‘You look just like her!'

Bimi made a face as she tucked a pair of pixie boots in alongside the socks. ‘Not
that
.
Just . . . I could never be brave enough to model, that's all.'

Twink stared at her. ‘Do you
want
to model?'

A bright flush raced up Bimi's cheeks. ‘No, of course not!' she said quickly. ‘Don't talk about it, OK?'

‘OK,' echoed Twink in confusion.
Bimi
, wanting to model? It was true that Bimi was much more interested in fashion than Twink, but she was so shy! The thought that she might want to model had never even occurred to Twink.

Feeling somehow worse than before, Twink returned to her packing. A pause lengthened and grew between the two girls.

‘Twink, what's wrong?' asked Bimi softly. ‘Please tell me – I can tell
something
is.'

The words stuck in Twink's throat. She couldn't tell Bimi the awful things she had seen, she just couldn't!

‘I suppose I'm not ready to go back to school yet, that's all,' she said finally, fiddling with the bark clasp on her bag. ‘It's been such a glimmery holiday.'

.

.

Bimi looked uncertain. ‘Twink, are you
sure
that's all it is?'

‘I'm sure,' said Twink shortly, turning away.

Her spirits felt leaden as they finished packing. Bimi's room was so small that she was sleeping in a silken hammock near the ceiling, and when it was time for bed she flew up to it glumly.

‘Well, goodnight,' said Bimi, sounding bewildered.

‘Goodnight,' Twink mumbled back.

Bimi turned the glow-worm lantern off, and the little room plunged into shadows. Twink lay huddled in her hammock, staring into the darkness long after Bimi had fallen asleep.

For the first time in her life, she wasn't looking forward to going to Glitterwings.

.

Chapter Two

The journey from Bimi's house to Glitterwings Academy took them over sunlit meadows, rich with autumn beauty. Twink hardly noticed. She followed along after Bimi and her father, glumly aware that every wing stroke took her closer and closer to the fortune foretold by the crystal.

‘What have you girls got packed in here, anyway?' grumbled Bimi's dad good-naturedly. He was carrying both of their oak-leaf bags for them.

‘Rocks, of course!' teased Bimi.

Her smile faded as she glanced back at Twink. She let out an exasperated huff, clearly tired of her friend's mood. Twink quickly put on a smile, but Bimi had already skimmed away, talking pointedly with her dad.

Twink bit her lip and put on a burst of speed to catch up with them. The three fairies crested a hill, and then suddenly, there it was – Glitterwings Academy.

The massive oak tree looked exactly as it had in the crystal, its leaves ablaze with reds and yellows. Hundreds of tiny golden windows twisted gracefully up the oak tree's trunk, and the grand double doors at its base stood open in welcome.

Just as Twink had seen the day before, groups of brightly dressed fairies hovered about the tree, swapping stories of their summer holidays. Twink's stomach felt cold as they drew closer. Was there a fairy with curly lilac hair among them?

‘Here at last!' grinned Bimi's father as they landed. He dropped their bags with mock relief. ‘Now, you girls have a good term. Twink, be sure to write to your parents and let them know you got here safely.'

.

.

‘I will,' said Twink shyly. ‘And thank you and Mrs Bluebell for having me to stay with you – I had a wonderful time.'

‘We enjoyed having you,' smiled Bimi's father. ‘Bimi's always spent too much time on her own; it's good for her to have a friend to stay.'

Would she and Bimi still
be
friends after this term? Twink swallowed hard, wondering if she could somehow ask Mr Bluebell about crystal fortunes. Did they always
have to come true?

‘What is it, Twink?' Bimi's dad raised a friendly eyebrow.

‘Er – nothing,' said Twink hastily, colouring up. ‘Thanks again, that's all!'

‘Bye, Dad,' said Bimi, clasping him affectionately around the neck. ‘See you at the end of term!' A few moments later Mr Bluebell was skimming away over the hill, waving over his shoulder.

Bimi gave Twink a quizzical look. ‘What were you going to say to my dad?'

‘Nothing!' said Twink, smiling widely. ‘Um, I suppose we'd better get checked in. Where's Miss Sparkle?'

Bimi started to say something else, and then stopped with a sigh. ‘There she is,' she said, pointing to their year head – a serious-looking fairy with gauzy white wings you could almost see through. ‘Come on.'

Picking up their bags, they flitted across to where Miss Sparkle stood on one of the tree roots. She ticked them off her clover-leaf pad without a smile.

‘Miss Sparkle, do you know if Kiki Moonglow has arrived yet?' Bimi's pretty cheeks reddened slightly. ‘She's a new second-year student . . . our mums are friends, and my mum told me to watch out for her.'

‘I see.' Miss Sparkle still didn't smile, but her dour expression lightened slightly. She consulted her clover pad. ‘Yes, she's here. She's going to be in Peony Branch as well.'

‘Oh, she's in our branch! How funny!' burst out Bimi.

Twink couldn't say anything. It felt as if she had turned to stone.

‘She's just over there saying goodbye to her mother, if you want to go over,' continued Miss Sparkle. ‘I'm sure she'll be glad to see some friendly faces.'

Dreading what she might see, Twink looked over to where Miss Sparkle had pointed with her wing. A fairy with long, curly lilac hair and purple wings stood on the lawn nearby, talking to an older fairy who was clearly her mum.

A chill swept over Twink. It was her! The fairy from the crystal.

‘Ooh, yes, that's Mirabel Moonglow!' said Bimi. ‘Come on, Twink, let's go and say hello.'

Feeling like she was in a nightmare, Twink flitted slowly along behind Bimi. Her friend was too excited to notice the expression on her face – which was just as well, since Twink knew that her smile must look more like a sickly grimace.

‘Hello, Mrs Moonglow!' said Bimi as she landed. ‘Do you remember me? I'm –'

‘Bimi!' exclaimed the woman. ‘Of course I know you; you look just like your mum.'

.

.

It was easy to see that Mrs Moonglow used to be a model, thought Twink, hovering uncertainly to one side. She was very tall, with wavy purple hair and shimmering violet wings. Her leafy green dress swirled gracefully about her.

‘Bimi, this is Kiki, my daughter,' went on Mrs Moonglow, putting her hand on the curly-haired fairy's shoulder.

‘Hi!' said Kiki. Close up, Twink could see that the new girl had a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. She wore a stylish rose-petal dress, and had a bright, friendly smile.

‘Hi, Kiki – welcome to Glitterwings!' said Bimi, touching wings with her. ‘I'm sure you'll like it much better here than at Emerald Leaf. I've heard that the fairies there are
horrible.
'

‘Don't remind me!' laughed Kiki. ‘But Mum said
your
mum is always saying how much you love it here at Glitterwings, so I thought I'd give it a try.'

‘Oh, it's the best school in the world!' said Bimi earnestly. ‘Isn't it, Twink? Oh, sorry – this is my friend Twink Flutterby,' she added to Kiki and her mum. ‘We're all going to be in Peony Branch together!'

‘Hi,' said Twink. Her smile felt like it might crumble away into dust. ‘Yeah, it's . . . it's really glimmery. You'll love it here.'

‘Well, I can see that you girls have it all under control,' laughed Mrs Moonglow. ‘Goodbye, Kiki – have a good term!'

After Mrs Moonglow had flown away, Bimi turned to Kiki. ‘Come on, we'll show you where our branch is, and then we can give you a quick tour of the school!'

‘Glimmery!' Kiki picked up a bulging oak-leaf bag. ‘I'm so glad you go to this school too, Bimi. It's great to have someone to show me around.'

‘I'm happy to do it!' said Bimi. ‘You can ask us anything you want – can't she, Twink?' Bimi's bright smile faded as she glanced at Twink, who stood to one side, biting her lip.

Twink quickly tried to rearrange her expression into something more welcoming. ‘Of course she can!'

‘Come on, Kiki,' said Bimi, giving Twink an odd look.

The three fairies flew towards the open double doors at the tree's base, dodging through a crowd of older fairies. Twink was silent as Bimi and Kiki chattered away. She had a sudden memory of the first day of the last term, when she and Bimi had flown into school together arm in arm.

Now Bimi was hardly even looking at her. ‘Here's the inside!' she said, hovering. ‘What do you think, Kiki?'

The inside of Glitterwings was like a high, high tower filled with soft golden light. Branches shot off in all directions, as far up as the eye could see. Fairies flitted in and out of them like darting birds, shouting and calling to each other.

‘Oh!' Kiki flew in a slow circle, staring upwards. ‘Isn't it beautiful? It just goes on for ever!'

Twink looked away. It seemed doubly cruel that not only was Bimi going to go off with Kiki, but Twink had to pretend to like her as well.
I should just leave them to it,
she thought miserably.
What do they need
me
for?

‘Peony Branch is almost at the very top,' said Bimi. ‘Come on!'

.

.

As they spiralled up the trunk, Bimi pointed out branches to Kiki. ‘That's our Creature Kindness branch. Mr Woodleaf is so funny; he's practically terrified of us! And that's where we have Fairy Dust lessons. Miss Sparkle seems really grim at first, but she's OK really . . .'

Finally they came to a branch with a large pink peony hanging upside-down over its ledge. Bimi landed with a flourish. ‘And this is our branch!'

‘Glimmery!' Kiki peered over the side. ‘Look how far up we are!'

Twink suddenly remembered something else the crystal had shown her . . . Kiki was going to have her old bed, beside Bimi.
I suppose I'll be off to the side with Mariella,
she thought sullenly, thinking of an unpleasant fairy in their branch.

‘Could I ask you both a favour before we go inside?' asked Kiki, straightening up again.

‘Of course!' said Bimi.

‘Sure,' mumbled Twink.
Maybe she's going to ask if she can have my cupboard, too,
she thought.

‘It's just . . . would you mind not saying who my mum is? Don't get me wrong, I'm really proud of her,' said Kiki quickly. ‘But sometimes fairies act strangely when they find out I'm her daughter – like wanting to be my best friend when they hardly even know me.'

Bimi gave a sympathetic shudder. ‘Don't worry, we won't say anything – will we, Twink?'

‘No,' said Twink dully. She couldn't feel very sorry for Kiki, somehow.

‘Great!' said Kiki in obvious relief. ‘I'd rather that everyone just liked me for myself. If they're going to like me at all, that is!' she added with a grin.

Bimi pushed open the door, and the three fairies flew inside. Peony Branch was a long, curving branch filled with sunlight. A large pink peony hung over each mossy bed like a canopy, and cunning little bark cupboards were tucked away here and there.

Several of the other girls had already arrived, and were chatting to each other as they unpacked. ‘Hello, Opposite!' called a fairy with lavender hair and dancing violet eyes. ‘Who have you got there?'

‘Hi, Sooze,' said Twink with a weak smile. Sooze always called her ‘Opposite', because Twink had pink hair and lavender wings – the exact
opposite
to Sooze. ‘This is Kiki . . . she's new.'

‘Hi,' said Kiki, putting down her bag. ‘What a great branch!'