New Girl (8 page)

.

But Bimi clearly didn't agree. She pulled a face, and didn't answer. ‘I suppose you think this is what I get for being
stuck-up
,'
she said finally.

Twink gasped. ‘Bimi, of course not! I'd never –'

‘Oh, leave me alone!' said Bimi, looking close to tears. ‘Don't you have to go and put on your dress?' She was already wearing hers, having reluctantly agreed that she'd still model it . . . but it was clear that all the joy had gone out of it for her.

Twink sighed and took the hint. Pushing through a group of jabbering First Years, she found an empty space and put on her dandelion-leaf dress, adjusting the spiky cap on her head. She couldn't help smiling at herself in the mirror. Kiki had been right – the unusual dress was really something special!

A hush fell over the Branch. ‘Ooh, this is it!' squealed Sili. Her silver hair shone like a waterfall over her bright blue top.

The fairies listened expectantly as Miss Shimmery greeted their parents. Then the lights dimmed, and the First Years flew out from the changing area to perform a dance they had devised themselves. Peering out through the curtain again, Twink saw them spinning and twirling in matching oak-leaf dresses.

Thunderous applause echoed through the Branch as the First Years returned, looking flushed and happy. ‘It's us now!' whispered Kiki urgently. ‘Get ready, everyone! Jax, quick, go and sort the glow-worms!'

‘And now, from our Second Years . . . a fashion show!' came Miss Shimmery's voice.

The lights dimmed again. As the cricket band started up its jazzy tune, Sooze and Lola swooped out through the curtains together. Twink heard a burst of applause as they flew down the aisle, posing and pouting like fashion stars. The audience began clapping along with the music, obviously enjoying the show hugely.

As the next pair of models flew out, Twink glanced at Bimi again – and her throat tightened. The blue-haired fairy's head was in her hands, her shoulders shaking. Kiki hovered worriedly beside her. ‘Bimi, it'll be OK! You look great, you really do!'

‘I just can't do it,' wept Bimi. ‘I look like a hedgehog!'

Twink edged closer, her heart thudding. She had to do something! Suddenly, lying on a nearby table, she saw a sharpened stone that one of the upper years had used to trim a bit of ribbon.

Without thinking, Twink snatched it up. Pulling off her cap, she started grabbing up great handfuls of her long pink hair, hacking it off as short as she could.

.

.

‘Twink, what are you
doing
?' cried Kiki, turning to stare at her. Bimi looked up too, and Twink heard her startled gasp.

Finished, Twink stared at her own reflection. Her hair stuck out in all directions, spiky and defiant. She popped the cap back on to her head and grinned at Bimi. ‘Now we
both
look like hedgehogs,' she said firmly. ‘We'll go on together!'

Bimi looked stunned. ‘But – but Twink, you –'

‘Come on, it's almost our turn!' Clasping Bimi's hand, Twink pulled her to the curtain.

As the two fairies waited to go on, Bimi whispered, ‘Twink, you were right. I – I suppose I did get carried away with it all.'

Twink looked at her in surprise. Bimi's cheeks were on fire. ‘I just . . . never enjoyed being pretty before. It sort of went to my head. But you're right; I've been acting really stupid – preening over myself like a total wasp brain! I'm sorry I got so cross with you for pointing it out.'

‘Oh, but
I'm
sorry for how I acted all term!' cried Twink. ‘I was
awful.
I don't blame you for getting fed up with me.'

‘But that crystal prophecy – you must have been so upset!' shivered Bimi. ‘I'd have acted just the same way.' She hesitated, biting her lip. ‘Twink . . . do you think we could be best friends again? I've really missed you!'

‘Oh, yes!' cried Twink.

The two fairies hugged tightly, fluttering their wings. A warm glow spread through Twink like sunshine. At last, she had her best friend back!

‘Do this later, you two!' laughed Kiki, shoving them from behind their wings. ‘You're on!'

.

.

Linking arms, Twink and Bimi exchanged a grin and flew out from behind the curtain. Jax's spotlight hit them firmly as they stopped to hover, showing off their dresses – Twink's with spikes, Bimi's with stars, and both models with matching hair!

The two friends smiled at each other as the audience cheered.

‘Now!' whispered Bimi, her eyes gleaming. And as though they had practised it for weeks, they pirouetted down the flyway together, their wings flashing.

Twink's heart felt light as a feather as she spun and twirled. She knew her parents were somewhere out there in the darkness, proud of her. And perhaps the Second Year would win the prize for best exhibition, or perhaps not . . . but Twink knew that she had already won the best prize of all!

.

The End

.

Bloomsbury Publishing, London, Berlin, New York and Sydney

First published in Great Britain in 2008 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

36 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QY

Text copyright © Lee Weatherly 2008

Illustrations copyright © Smiljana Coh 2008

The moral right of the author has been asserted

This electronic edition published in August 2010 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

All rights reserved.

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A CIP catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 4088 1349 2

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