New Girl Read Free Page B

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!’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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?
    â€˜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!’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜Could I ask you both a favour before we go inside?’ asked Kiki, straightening up again.
    â€˜Of course!’ said Bimi.
    â€˜Sure,’ mumbled Twink. Maybe she’s going to ask if she can have my cupboard, too, she thought.
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜No,’ said Twink dully. She couldn’t feel very sorry for Kiki, somehow.
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜Hi,’ said Kiki, putting down her bag. ‘What a great branch!’
    â€˜Well, we like it,’ laughed Sooze. She came flitting over with a few of the others to say hello. Twink