New Girl Read Free

between the two girls.
    â€˜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!
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜Well, goodnight,’ said Bimi, sounding bewildered.
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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?
    â€˜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.’
    .

    .
    â€˜I will,’ said Twink shyly. ‘And thank you and Mrs Bluebell for having me to stay with you – I had a wonderful time.’
    â€˜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?
    â€˜What is it, Twink?’ Bimi’s dad raised a friendly eyebrow.
    â€˜Er – nothing,’ said Twink hastily, colouring up. ‘Thanks again, that’s all!’
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜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