Term-Time Trouble (3 page)

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Chapter Three

‘Really?' Sooze's eyes lit up. ‘But that's glimmery! If
you're
in charge, that means we can get away with whatever we like! We can have midnight feasts every night! We can have flying pillow fights! We can –'

‘Sooze, no!' cried Twink. They were sitting with the others in the second-year Common Branch, sprawled about the fire rocks – enchanted rocks that glowed warm in winter and cool in the heat of summer.

‘Don't you see?' she went on. ‘
I'm
the one who'd get blamed. It's not fair.'

‘That's right, Sooze,' said Pix. ‘In fact, we'll have to be doubly
good, just to make sure that Twink stays out of trouble. Right, everyone?' She glanced at Bimi, Sili and Zena, who all nodded seriously.

Sooze stared at them, aghast. ‘
Doubly
good? When Twink's in charge? Are you all mad?'

Twink saw Bimi start to say something and then stop, her face flushing angrily. Twink knew she was thinking how irresponsible Sooze was being – and for a change, Twink was beginning to see what she meant!

She took a deep breath and tried again. ‘Sooze, look. If –'

‘Well, we'll at
least
do one more prank, though? Right?' Sooze hopped up on to a fire rock, looking at Sili and Zena for agreement. They hesitated, glancing doubtfully at each other.

‘No!' burst out Twink, flapping her wings. ‘No more pranks. I mean it, Sooze.'

Sooze's eyebrows shot up, and Twink's heart sank. She usually went along with whatever Sooze said – what would her Opposite think of her now?

But finally Sooze gave a sulky shrug. ‘Oh, all right, Great Leader. Anyway, we definitely won with the blue noses, didn't we?'

‘Definitely!' agreed Twink in relief.

The next step was to talk to the Jasmine Branch leader, and this, too, proved easier than expected. Miss Shimmery had put a quiet, thoughtful fairy called Taya in charge, and she was just as eager as Twink to call an end to the mischief.

‘I just wish that we'd had a chance to play one last prank on you,' she said cheerfully as she and Twink touched wings to seal their promise. ‘We had a glimmery one!'

Twink grinned. ‘It's just as well you didn't. Then
we
would have had to play one last prank on
you.
'

.

Bimi smiled broadly when Twink told her the news. ‘Oh, well done you! I have to say, I'm glad it's all over with now.' The two fairies were flying to Dance class, enjoying the sun on their wings as they skimmed across the field to the ring of enchanted mushrooms near the wood.

‘Me too,' admitted Twink, banking to avoid a ladybird flittering past. ‘Like Miss Shimmery said, it all got a bit silly, I suppose – but still, I wonder why she put
me
in charge?'

Bimi looked surprised. ‘Well, why not? You did a glimmery job!'

Twink laughed. ‘You're mad! Anyway, I'm just glad there won't be any more trouble, now that the pranks are finished. Being in charge of Sooze isn't much fun!'

‘Quickly, girls, quickly – everyone else is here!' Madame Brightfoot clapped her hands from the centre of the circle as Twink and Bimi touched down. Her dramatic purple hair was piled atop her head, and her silvery cobweb robe sparkled as she moved.

‘Today we learn a new dance!' she announced. ‘A very, very special dance.'

The fairies all held their breath, wondering what the new dance would be. Madame drew herself up regally and announced, ‘Today . . . we shall communicate with the earthworms!'

Oh. Twink's wings sagged in disappointment as the Peony Branch fairies grimaced at each other. Communicating with earthworms didn't sound very exciting!

‘Ooh, glimmery,'
whispered Sooze. ‘We can hear about how thrilling it is to tunnel around in the dirt.'

Madame scowled as a giggle swept through the class. ‘Enough! Petal position, quickly.'

As the fairies moved into a circle and clasped hands, Madame flitted to the centre and patted her hair into place. ‘You must listen hard during this dance – the worms will sound very faint at first. You might hear the thoughts of the fairies on either side of you as well, but ignore them. Concentrate on the worms!'

Twink glanced curiously at Jax, who stood on her right. The spiky-haired fairy's usual scowl became even more pronounced at Madame's words. She didn't look pleased at the idea of anyone reading
her
thoughts.

Just then a slight commotion caught Twink's attention. Across the circle, Lola had left Mariella's side, slipping in between Pix and Zena.

‘Lola, where are you going?' hissed Mariella.

Lola's cheeks were rose-petal red. ‘I . . . I just felt like a change, that's all.'

Mariella gaped at her. ‘But you always stand beside me!'

Lola looked at the ground. ‘I know, but . . .' Her voice trailed off, but she stayed where she was. Mariella's eyes narrowed.

‘Hush, we are starting!' called Madame, clapping her hands. ‘Wings touching, everyone.'

As Twink opened her wings so that they touched Bimi's wingtips on her left and Jax's on her right, she thought that she'd seldom seen Mariella look more incensed. Fancy Lola standing up to her!

‘And we begin! Twirl in place! Tiptoe left! Tiptoe right!' Madame hovered in the centre of the circle as the fairies followed her movements. ‘Concentrate, concentrate! Listen for the earthworms!'

As Twink danced she became aware of Bimi's thoughts, and she smiled. They were so . . . Bimi-like! Warm and friendly, and slightly worried that she wasn't going to get the dance right.

.

.

Then Twink gasped as a wave of sadness swept through her.
I don't want to be here
, whispered a dejected voice in her mind.
I want to go home.

Twink stared at Jax as she realised she was hearing the spiky-haired fairy's thoughts. Jax made a ferocious grimace and looked pointedly away.

Twink's own thoughts spun in confusion. Was
that
why Jax was so horrible and prickly to everyone – because she was homesick? She felt a rush of shame that she had ignored Jax so thoroughly. Maybe she'd like a friend, even if she pretended otherwise.

‘That's enough,' announced Madame finally. She drifted back down to the ground, beaming happily. ‘Did you all hear the worms?'

Twink hastily nodded with the others, though she had forgotten even to listen for them. From the bored expressions on her classmates' faces, she hadn't missed much!

Once class was over, Twink hurried to catch up with the new girl as they all flew back to Glitterwings. ‘Jax, wait!' she called, putting on a burst of speed.

Jax spun about in midair, glaring at Twink. ‘What?' she snapped. Her green hair looked like a spiky explosion.

Twink gulped, suddenly unsure whether this was a good idea. ‘I just wanted to say . . . I mean . . . I'm sorry you're so sad,' she finished lamely.

Jax scowled at her. ‘
Sad?
Who said I'm sad?'

‘Um . . . well, the dance – I sort of heard . . .' Twink stopped. Jax looked as if she might explode with fury.

‘You're mad!' she snarled, clenching her fists. ‘I'm not
sad
– why should I be?'

Twink licked her lips, wishing she hadn't said anything. ‘I'm not sure, but it sounded like –'

‘Oh! This is the worst school I've ever been in!' burst out Jax. ‘For your information, I'm not sad, I'm
cross –
cross that I have to be here with all of you pathetic wasp brains!' She jetted off in an angry green flash. A bee darted out of her way with an alarmed buzz.

Twink sighed. Well,
that
had gone well. Next time, she'd keep her mouth shut!

At the end of classes every day, second-year students were expected to do an hour's study in the Common Branch – though this often consisted of fairies sitting on their mushroom desks, legs swinging as they laughed and chatted! With her petal bag over her shoulder, Twink skimmed up the trunk to begin the study time, thinking idly about her Flower Power homework.

‘
Best
friends don't have secrets, Lola! What are you hiding from me?' The voice was low and threatening.

Peering over her shoulder, Twink saw Mariella and Lola flying nearby. Lola gulped. ‘Nothing! I told you, I just fancied a change.'

Mariella glowered when she saw Twink. ‘Well, never mind!' she snapped, tossing her hair back. ‘I've got to go to my stupid Creature Kindness session now – but we'll talk about this later, Lola.'

She skimmed away down the trunk, leaving the thin little fairy looking shaken. Twink remembered that Mariella had fallen behind in her studies the previous term, and was having to do extra Creature Kindness sessions to catch up.

Adjusting the strap of her petal bag, Twink shook her head in bewilderment. ‘Lola, why do you let her talk to you like that? You should stand up to her more – like you did today in Dance class!'

Lola ducked her head down. ‘Oh, I don't know . . . she's not so bad, really,' she mumbled, and flew quickly off towards the Common Branch.

Twink stared after her for a moment, and then shrugged. It didn't make any sense to her why Lola would put up with such behaviour, but Lola's friends were her own business. If she was happy to put up with being bossed around by Mariella, then that was up to her!

After afternoon study, Twink and the others flew back to Peony Branch in a long, straggling line. ‘Hurrah! Half an hour of free time!' Twink did a midair flip, and Bimi grinned at her.

‘I've got a new petal mag, if you'd like to read it,' she offered.

‘Ooh, glimmery!' said Twink. ‘Yes, please!'

But as the two friends flitted into Peony Branch, Twink stopped short, all thoughts of the petal mag forgotten. She gaped as she tried to take in what she was seeing.

‘Twink, what's – oh!' Bimi dropped her bag as she clapped her hands over her mouth.

‘I don't believe it!' shrieked Sooze, skimming in just behind them. ‘I thought there was a truce!'

‘There is!' gasped Twink. ‘Taya
promised
me –' She broke off, fluttering her wings in agitation. Maybe Taya had promised, but it was clear that the Jasmine Branch fairies hadn't been able to resist just one more prank.

The other fairies started to arrive just then, their eyes widening as they took in the scene before them.

‘That's . . . sort of creepy,' whispered Sili.

Looking again, Twink thought that she agreed with her. Every single peony that hung over their beds had been shorn of its petals. They lay on the mossy beds below in forlorn pink piles.

‘It's not creepy, it's
hideous
,' raged Sooze. She punched her fist into her palm. ‘Ooh, those Jasmine Branch fairies! Well, they'll get what's coming to them. I've got a prank up my wing they'll
never
expect, and –'