Twirling Tails #7 Read Free Page B

joke.
    Kirsten didn’t laugh. “You can be any age over five. Some of the seniors are eighteen. I like being a majorette. It’s fun.”
    â€œYou like showing off, you mean!” Helena crowed.
    â€œNo, I don’t!” Kirsten felt her jaw drop.
    â€œKirsten’s not like that,” Tracy defended her.
    â€œWhatever,” Helena drawled. “Anyway, last night I thought you said that baton twirling and marching were pathetic.”
    Tracy looked uncomfortable. “You said that. I only agreed with you because I thought you were joking!”
    â€œYou were with Helena last night?” Kirsten said to Tracy, trying to sound casual.
    Her friend nodded. “I went to help Helena with her homework. I was going to tell you. But after Molly yelled at me for being late for practice, I didn’t get around to it. You don’t mind, do you?”
    Kirsten did mind, but she didn’t want to show it. She made herself shrug. “ ’Course not. Why should I?”

    Tracy looked relieved. She smiled at Helena. “I told you Kirsten would be fine about it.”
    â€œOh good,” Helena said, smiling sweetly. “Then we can all be best friends, can’t we?”
    No we can’t , Kirsten wanted to shout. She and Tracy had been best friends since forever. They didn’t need anyone else.
    As they all made their way to school, Kirsten slipped her hand into her shoulder bag and gently petted Storm’s fuzzy little head, trying to ignore the horrible sinking feeling in her tummy. She was really glad that her new little friend would be with her all day.
    Â 
    Kirsten sat staring into space, gloomily twiddling her thumbs. She was at her usual desk behind Tracy, near the back of the class. Helena sat a couple of desks away from them both, closer to the front.
    Storm was off somewhere, sniffling around and exploring the classroom, invisible to everyone except Kirsten.
    Miss Strong took attendance. She was small and very pretty, with stylish hair. She had lots of pairs of designer glasses. Today she wore narrow, purple ones.
    â€œHere, Miss,” Kirsten answered when her name was called out.
    As Miss Strong put the class list away in her desk drawer, Kirsten caught sight of Storm.
    The tiny puppy was just backing out of an open cabinet that he’d been investigating. Storm saw Kirsten looking at him. He gave an excited little woof and almost fell over his own paws as he came trotting toward her.
    Storm plunked himself down at her feet, his pink tongue lolling out. Despite herself, Kirsten couldn’t help smiling. “Having fun?” she whispered.

    Storm nodded happily. “There are many wonderful smells in here.”
    Miss Strong’s voice rang out again, almost making Kirsten jump.
    â€œOkay, class. Can you get your art folders out, please?”
    Kirsten fished her folder out of her bag. As she spread the contents onto her desk, Storm leaped up to sit beside her. His light brown fur was trailing tiny glimmering sparks.
    Storm leaned forward curiously to see what Kirsten was doing. After quickly checking that no one was looking, she reached out to pet him. “I’m so glad that you’re my friend,” she whispered.
    â€œMe too,” Storm woofed softly.
    As Kirsten sat back in her chair, something stung her below one eye. “Ow!” she cried in surprise as a tightly rolled paper pellet bounced down onto her desk.
    Helena waved her ruler in the air, grinning triumphantly.
    â€œThat really hurt. It almost hit me in the eye!” Kirsten fumed.
    Helena rolled her eyes. “ Some people can’t take a joke,” she said under her breath.
    Miss Strong looked up at them over the top of her glasses. “Kirsten? Helena? What’s going on?” she demanded.
    â€œNothing, Miss,” Kirsten said quickly, but the teacher had already noticed the ruler in Helena’s hand. “Are you flicking things around, Helena? Do