Midnight Feast Read Online Free Page B

jealous of anything to do with Sooze!
    â€˜Thank all of you,’ she added hastily, looking at Bimi. ‘I can hardly wait for tomorrow night.’
    â€˜Well, anything to cheer you up!’ said Sooze. The others laughed, jostling Twink with their wings and making teasing comments – but Bimi just made a sour face and turned away.
    Twink stared after her, hurt. What was wrong with her? Didn’t she want Twink to have a party?
    Sooze hooked an arm through Twink’s. ‘Come on, Opposite – I’ll show you all the food for tomorrow night. Winn told me about a loose knothole, and we’ve been hiding everything there!’
    Still stung over Bimi’s reaction, Twink allowed herself to be lead away. At least you never had to worry about Sooze being in a funny mood! The lavender-haired fairy was always bright and fun.
    The next day Twink could hardly concentrate on her lessons. Madame Brightfoot sighed loudly at her fumbling of dance moves, and Miss Petal, their Flower Power teacher, stopped her demonstration on how to heal buttercups.
    â€˜Twink Flutterby, have you been listening to a word I’ve said?’ demanded the pretty young teacher.
    Twink started. She had been gazing out of the window, dreaming of the Dingly Dell. ‘Oh – yes, Miss!’ she said hastily.
    Miss Petal smiled sweetly at her. ‘Good. Then perhaps you’d like to come and demonstrate how to help this poorly buttercup.’
    Oh, wasps! Twink glanced at Bimi for help, but her friend just shrugged and looked away.
    Twink’s stomach tightened. Bimi had hardly said a word to her since the night before.
    â€˜ Now, Twink – not next solstice,’ said Miss Petal.
    Someone snickered. Mariella, of course! Reluctantly, Twink rose from her mushroom seat and fluttered to the front of the branch.
    The buttercup sat in a walnut-shell pot, its leaves and petals drooping pitifully. Remembering her Flower Power lessons from last term, Twink put her hands on the flower’s leaves. Closing her eyes, she sent the buttercup happy thoughts as hard as she could.
    My birthday’s today. My friends are having a midnight feast for me, and we’re going to the Dingly Dell! Smiling, Twink opened her eyes – and then gasped in dismay. The flower hadn’t changed at all!
    â€˜You weren’t listening,’ chided Miss Petal. She tapped her yellow wings together. ‘I was just saying that buttercups are very relaxed flowers. Happy thoughts don’t invigorate them – they need rousing thoughts. Going for a mile-long flight, that sort of thing!’
    Twink nodded, red-faced. ‘Sorry, Miss. I–I was thinking of something else.’
    â€˜Ooh, I wonder what?’ whispered Sooze loudly. A giggle ran through the class. Twink grinned despite herself at the look of cross confusion on Mariella’s face.
    â€˜That’s enough, girls!’ said Miss Petal. ‘You can sit down now, Twink.’
    When Twink took her seat again, Bimi was gazing out of the window, ignoring her. Twink’s heart sank.
    â€˜Bimi, what’s wrong?’ she murmured as Miss Petal put the buttercup away.
    One of Bimi’s wings lifted coldly. ‘Why don’t you ask Sooze ?’ she muttered back.
    Oh! Twink let out an angry breath. She knew Bimi was hurt that she was being friendly with Sooze, but it was so unfair! Sooze was planning a party for her – of course Twink was going to be friendly to her. And why couldn’t she have two friends, anyway?
    Scowling down at her petal book, she didn’t look at Bimi again for the rest of the lesson.
    At dinner that night, Twink and Bimi sat apart for the first time since the new term had begun. Telling herself that she didn’t mind, Twink made a point of laughing and talking with the others.
    Sooze nudged her with a wing. ‘Don’t eat too much, Opposite! You want to save your appetite.’
    â€˜Save it for what?’