Friendship Dance Read online

  Tilli sighed. ‘Oh, I don’t know. My mother went to Emerald Leaf, and my aunt’s a teacher there. They both seem really set on my sticking it out.’

  ‘That’s too bad,’ said Twink sympathetically. She unpacked her petal books, along with a small box of fairy dust that she had brought along to practise with. Her teachers had all given her work to do while she was away, and Twink was determined that she wasn’t going to fall behind.

  Jena pulled her purple hair back into a ponytail. ‘Yes, but Emerald Leaf is still an excellent school, Tilli,’ she pointed out. ‘So at least you’ll get a good education.’

  Snow gaped at her in horror. ‘But we don’t just go to school to learn, we go to make friends, too! And anyway, Tilli, if you do change schools, you should go to Sparklelight, because – oh, look!’ Snow interrupted herself as she opened a little box. ‘Sapphire earrings!’ She dangled them in front of her ears with a pout, and everyone laughed.

  ‘Do you know why you were chosen for the Friendship Dance, Twink?’ asked Jena. She tied a violet ribbon around her ponytail.

  Twink shook her head. ‘My school used a sparkle-seeker, but I think it must have made a mistake,’ she admitted. ‘I don’t see how I can bring anything to the dance.’

  ‘None of us know why we were chosen either,’ said Tilli. ‘But I’m glad I was. A two-week holiday from Emerald Leaf, hurrah!’ She punched the air.

  ‘I wonder what the boys will be like?’ said Snow. She bounced on to her bed, still playing with the earrings.

  ‘Boys?’ Twink stopped unpacking and stared at her.

  ‘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.’

  ‘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.

  ‘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!’

  ‘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.

  ‘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!’

  .

  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.

  ‘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!

  ‘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.

  ‘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 bright green hair and purple wings. Maximus fussed around the two of them, moving them this way and that.

  ‘Hmm,’ he said, squinting his eyes in thought.

  Twink and the boy exchanged a bewildered glance. Master Greenbranch looked as if he were trying not to laugh, and Twink bit her lip to hold back her own giggle.

  ‘No, that won’t do at all,’ said Maximus suddenly. He motioned the green-haired boy back with the others. ‘Master Sparkworth, please.’

  A boy about Twink’s height came forward, with bright crimson hair and white wings. He stood with his nose in the air, not looking at her.

  ‘Perfect!’ exclaimed Maximus, clasping his hands together. ‘You two will be partners in the Friendship Dance. Now, who’s next?’ he continued. ‘Miss Wintersong, please step forward . . .’

  Twink stood uncertainly in place while Maximus decided on the other partners. Snow ended up with the first boy, and gave a little skip of delight. Twink rolled her eyes. She supposed he had been the ‘swoony’ one!

  While Maximus dithered over the final two pairs, Twink glanced at her own partner. She supposed she might as well be friendly, if they were going to be stuck together for the next two weeks.

  ‘Hi, I’m Twink,’ she whispered. ‘What’s your name?’

  Slowly, the boy turned to face her. His lip curled as though he smelled something bad. ‘Why do you want to know?’ he drawled.

  ‘Why?’ Twink gaped at him. ‘Well – we can’t call each other “Miss” and “Master” for two whole weeks, can we?’

  The boy sniffed. Why ever not? his expression seemed to say. ‘I’m Chauncey-Oberon,’ he said finally. ‘And I’m actually Master Sparkworth the Third, if you must know.’

  Chauncey-Oberon? What a funny, stuck-up name! ‘But your friends don’t call you that, do they?’ ventured Twink. ‘Don’t you have a nickname?’

  The boy glared at her. His school uniform included a long purple cape, and he swept it importantly over one arm. ‘As I said, I’m called Chauncey-Oberon. What’s wrong with that?’

  ‘Nothing,’ said Twink, taken aback. ‘It’s just – well, it’s such a long name, so I thought –’

  ‘What of it?’ demanded the boy. ‘Is Twink all you’re called? How common!’ He turned away, spreading his wings wide to block Twink out.

  Twink’s fists clenched as hot anger swept over her. What an awful boy! And she actually had to dance a friendship dance with him?

  She was still seething as
Maximus formed the four partners into a square. ‘We shall learn the first steps today,’ he announced. ‘Everyone hold hands.’

  Gritting her teeth, Twink held Chauncey-Oberon’s hand as lightly as possible. At least he looked as revolted as she did.

  The portly fairy was surprisingly graceful as he demonstrated a series of moves. ‘Girls to the left . . . boys to the right . . . now turn!’ The footwork was tricky, and Twink had to concentrate to master it – a task made all the more difficult by Chauncey-Oberon’s sneers.

  ‘Do be careful,’ he hissed when she trod on his toes by mistake. Twink scowled. Next time, she’d stomp as hard as she could!

  An hour later, Twink’s head was whirling with new steps. She was relieved when Maximus finally clapped his hands, signalling for them to stop.

  ‘We’ll begin again tomorrow morning, nine o’clock sharp,’ he said. ‘Now, follow the butterflies to your rooms – you have half an hour to freshen up before dinner. Make sure you all look presentable!’

  He gazed sternly at them, and then flitted away under a leafy arch. A pair of butterflies appeared – one bright blue, the other red. They bobbed in front of the young fairies.

  Jena laughed. ‘I suppose blue is for sapphire. Are you boys in Ruby Room, by any chance?’

  ‘How did you guess?’ grinned her partner, an older fairy called Palo.

  Twink lagged glumly behind as the little crowd fluttered off after the butterflies. ‘What school are you from?’ she heard Tilli’s partner ask her. He sounded polite and interested. In fact, all three of the other boys seemed nice.

  It’s just me who has the awful one, thought Twink. Imagine two whole weeks with Chauncey-Oberon! Even now he wasn’t looking at her, but flew with his nose in the air, gazing straight ahead.

  Snow’s partner – who Twink had learned was really called Gem, instead of Master Greenbranch – gave him a friendly nudge. ‘You all right there, Chaunce?’

  ‘Chauncey-Oberon,’ corrected Twink’s partner coldly, sweeping his cape about himself. ‘I did tell you earlier, but I suppose it was too difficult.’

  Gem rolled his eyes. ‘Well, I only go to Windy Hill, you know – not White Cloud, like some fairies.’ He and the other boys exchanged a grimace. Obviously, realised Twink, they didn’t like Chauncey-Oberon much either!

  About midway down the bush, the butterflies fluttered off in different directions. ‘See you at dinner,’ called Jena after the boys. ‘Make sure you’re presentable!’

  The moment the boys were out of earshot, Snow gave an excited bounce. ‘Ooh! Do you think he likes me?’

  ‘Who?’ asked Jena, inspecting herself in her little mirror again. Watching her curiously, Twink thought it seemed like just a habit, rather than being vain.

  ‘Gem, that’s who!’ groaned Tilli as they flitted around a branch. ‘No, I don’t think he likes you, Snow – or at least not that way. We’re all too young for that.’

  ‘You don’t?’ said Snow in surprise. ‘But . . . he held my hand, and –’

  ‘Everyone was holding someone’s hand,’ said Jena, snapping her mirror shut again. ‘Don’t be silly, Snow. It was just part of the dance, that’s all.’ Snow fell silent, looking crestfallen.

  The blue butterfly swooped to a halt in front of Sapphire Room. ‘Thanks,’ said Jena as they entered the glittering chamber. ‘Could you come back when it’s time for dinner?’ The butterfly dipped a wing at her, and floated off through the branches.

  Trying to lighten the mood as they changed out of their school uniforms, Twink said, ‘Anyway, I’m positive Chauncey-Oberon doesn’t like me. He probably wishes the sparkle-seeker had chosen any other fairy at Glitterwings!’

  Tilli grinned as she combed her bright yellow hair. ‘Yes, you really drew the short grass with old C-O, didn’t you?’ She pulled a haughty face. ‘That’s Chauncey-Oberon to you lot!’

  Twink and Snow burst out laughing. Tilli imitated the stuck-up fairy perfectly!

  ‘Yes, I wonder what the story is there?’ said Jena thoughtfully.

  ‘What do you mean?’ asked Snow. ‘He’s not a story, he’s a nightmare – and poor Twink has to dance with him!’

  Jena shrugged, giving her wings a quick polish. ‘Yes, but fairies who are so unpleasant usually aren’t very happy themselves. So I just wonder what’s made him that way, that’s all.’

  ‘Who cares?’ said Tilli, pulling a ruffly carnation-petal dress over her head. ‘Plenty of fairies have problems – that doesn’t make it all right to act like a puffed-up toad!’

  All of the girls’ parents had made sure that their daughters had a pretty dress to wear for the evenings. Twink’s own parents had sent her very nicest rose-petal dress. She tied the sash around her waist, deep in thought.

  On the whole, she agreed with Tilli: even if Chauncey-Oberon was unhappy, that didn’t mean he could treat other fairies however he pleased.

  Was he unhappy, though? Twink frowned. He didn’t act like it – he just seemed full of himself, and very, very rude! Still, she found herself wondering if there was perhaps more to Chauncey-Oberon than she’d first thought.

  I’ll keep trying to be nice to him, Twink decided, putting on her favourite necklace – a tiny daisy on a woven chain. It can’t hurt – and I’ll feel better about myself if I’m not as awful as he is.

  ‘Look, the butterfly’s back already,’ said Jena. ‘Come on, we’d better hurry!’

  The girls followed the bright blue insect as it led them upwards again. Twink was struck suddenly by how attractive the four of them looked – all in their best dresses, with hair and wings gleaming. It was as if they belonged in this grand place!

  She had forgotten all about the shadowy figure that had been peering at her earlier . . . but it hadn’t forgotten her. Something was crouched behind a large green leaf, watching her every move.

  .

  Chapter Four

  The blue butterfly led them to a large, ornate tree house. Adult fairies were swooping through the carved double doors, paying no attention to them. They all wore the finest orchids and lilies, and bright gemstones flashed everywhere.

  Twink gulped. Had she really thought that she and the others looked as if they belonged here? Compared to these fairies, they should be doing the cleaning!

  The boys were there already, and seemed just as uncertain as they did. Gem peeked through the door, and his face paled. ‘It’s all adults, sitting at a big long table. I think it’s the Queen’s counsellors – we can’t be meant to be eating with them!’

  Maximus appeared beside them, flapping his wings irritably. ‘Children! I did ask you to be prompt – that doesn’t mean hanging about like hooligans. Come along, now.’

  Maximus herded the eight of them inside. Twink caught her breath. The high, arched hall was made almost entirely of windows, showing leaves and branches all around them. As Gem had said, a long table ran down the length of it with dozens of adult fairies already seated.

  ‘You’re down here, at the bottom of the table,’ said Maximus, guiding them to their places.

  Instead of the friendly spotted mushrooms that Twink was used to at Glitterwings, the palace seats were carved from wood, each made to look like a different woodland animal. Twink’s was a frog with glistening emerald eyes. She sat on it gingerly, half expecting it to say ribbit!

  Chauncey-Oberon had seemed as daunted as the rest of them before, but now he surveyed his surroundings with a condescending look. ‘Not bad, I suppose,’ he said once Maximus had bustled off. ‘Of course, this is only the Queen’s summer palace.’

  ‘And of course you know all about it,’ snapped Palo. From the sharpness of his tone, Twink guessed that Chauncey-Oberon hadn’t been endearing himself to the other boys since they’d seen them last!

  ‘I do actually,’ said Chauncey-Oberon, stretch
ing his wings. ‘My parents are very important, you know. In fact, the Queen knows me personally. I’m sure that’s why I was chosen for the dance.’

  ‘I doubt it’s anything to do with that,’ said Jena mildly. ‘It’s a magical dance, that’s all – it needs certain fairies.’

  Chauncey-Oberon sniffed. It was clear from his haughty expression that he thought he knew far more about it than Jena.

  Twink gritted her teeth. He was even worse than before! Still, remembering that she’d planned to be nice to him, she forced a smile. ‘What’s White Cloud like, Chauncey-Oberon?’ she asked.

  He raised his crimson eyebrows, as if he couldn’t believe Twink was daring to talk to him. ‘Very nice,’ he said, sneering at her down his long nose. ‘We don’t get common fairies there.’

  ‘No, just moss brains like you,’ muttered Tilli’s partner, a slightly chubby fairy called Jay.

  Twink glared at Chauncey-Oberon, her resolve forgotten. ‘Why do you keep going on about fairies being common?’ she demanded. ‘My father says it doesn’t matter how old someone’s family is, or who they know – it’s how they act that counts!’

  ‘Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?’ said Chauncey-Oberon, stifling a yawn. ‘After all, he’s not anyone important.’

  Oh! Twink’s blood sizzled in her veins. But before she could say anything else, a rustling noise filled the long room. All of the fairies rose from their seats, standing respectfully on tiptoe.

  ‘The Queen!’ squeaked Snow, turning as pale as her hair.

  Twink’s heart thundered as she and the others leapt up. It had never occurred to her that they might see Queen Mab before the day of the celebrations.

  A pair of songbirds stood one on either side of the doors, trilling a bright fountain of notes. There was an expectant silence . . . and then Queen Mab fluttered in, with four attendants behind her.

  Twink let out a breath. The Queen was just as beautiful as she remembered, with long, flowing golden hair and a silvery dress gleaming with moonstones.