Friendship Dance Read Free Page A

earrings.
    â€˜Boys?’ Twink stopped unpacking and stared at her.
    â€˜Yes, didn’t you know?’ said Jena. She pulled on a pair of bright red pixie boots. ‘The Friendship Dance is done with partners – four boys and four girls.’
    â€˜No, I – I didn’t know that,’ said Twink. Boys?
    Slowly, she placed a drawing of her family on the cabinet beside her bed. Twink had never really spoken to a boy her own age – and wasn’t at all sure how she felt about dancing with one! Why couldn’t the dance be just girls?
    Snow nodded enthusiastically. ‘I saw them earlier, when Maximus was taking them to their room. One of them is really swoony!’
    Swoony? Twink wrinkled her nose in disgust. Snow couldn’t be serious!
    Tilli’s yellow eyebrows were raised. She and Twink exchanged a glance, and burst into giggles.
    â€˜What?’ demanded Snow, propping her hands on her hips. ‘He is swoony, wait and see! He’s got green hair and purple wings, and –’
    There was a knock at the door. ‘Time for your first practice, girls,’ called Maximus. ‘Top of the palace, immediately!’
    â€˜We’re almost ready,’ returned Jena calmly. ‘Come on, you lot, hurry,’ she added, inspecting herself in her mirror.
    Suddenly Twink realised that while the rest of them had just been chatting, Jena had been quietly getting ready! Along with Tilli and Snow, she scrambled to comb her hair and smooth her dress.
    â€˜ Young ladies , I must insist on promptness!’ huffed Maximus from the other side of the door.
    Jena ignored him, snapping her mirror shut. ‘All right?’ she asked, giving them all a quick once-over. She smiled. ‘Then let’s go and show those boys what we’re made of!’

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    Chapter Three
    Twink and the other girls followed Maximus up through the winding branches. The higher they flew, the more elaborate the buildings became. Windows and jewels sparkled everywhere, and there were carvings of fairies and woodland creatures.
    A leaf brushed Twink’s face as she flitted under a branch. The bush was dense with foliage, yet sunlight danced all around them. It must be magic , thought Twink.
    Suddenly she stopped, staring upwards. A small, shadowy figure was peering at her from behind a nearby leaf. As Twink gaped back at it, an important-looking fairy flew past, and whoever it was ducked quickly out of sight.
    â€˜Come along, now!’ called Maximus. ‘We have a schedule , Miss Flutterby!’
    With a start, Twink hastened to catch up with the others. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw only leaves and branches. I probably just imagined it , she thought with a frown.
    The fairies landed in a wide courtyard. To one side rose the grandest building yet, rising up through the branches and leaves. Twink’s eyes widened as she took it in. This was clearly where Queen Mab herself lived.
    Four boys stood waiting in the centre of the courtyard, each wearing a different school uniform. Twink thought they looked just as curious about the girls as they were about them!
    â€˜This courtyard is where we shall practise; it is also where the birthday celebrations will take place,’ announced Maximus. With a wave of his hand, he introduced the two groups at lightning speed.
    â€˜Misses Flutterby, Sunlight, Wintersong and Lavender, may I present Masters Halcyon, Sparkworth, Greenbranch and Moss. Now, please line up so that I can put you in pairs.’

    Her head spinning, Twink lined up with the others. Tilli nudged her. ‘I hope you paid attention,’ she whispered. ‘There’s going to be a test later.’
    Twink smiled, and then quickly stood up straight as Maximus pointed at her. ‘Miss Flutterby, please come forward. And you, Master Greenbranch.’
    Feeling very self-conscious, Twink stepped away from the line of fairies. Master Greenbranch turned out to be a boy with