Emily Feather and the Secret Mirror by Holly Webb

nothing special.”
    â€œI liked it,” Emily said vaguely, shrugging. “It was interesting.”
    â€œHave you worked out what you’re going to write? I’ve got some of mine done already,” Rachel added, patting the cover of her notebook. “And Miss Gray says there are postcards of that painting in the shop, so I’ll buy one. Maybe even a poster.”
    Emily smiled, trying to put the girl’s frightened face out of her mind. She was almost sure there would be no postcards of her painting. “You really love it, don’t you?”
    Rachel nodded. “There’s something odd about it – I almost feel like I can still see the blue behind my eyes. I know that sounds stupid,” she added hurriedly.
    â€œIt doesn’t,” Emily told her. In the fuss with the security guard, she had forgotten the butterflies that had called them into that particular room. They had been sent on purpose to fetch her, she suspected. The river fairy had felt her coming, and known her, and called to her for help. The way she had helped Emily and her sisters only a few days before.
    Emily pushed her half-eaten sandwich back into her bag and sighed.
    She would just have to go back and get her.
    Â 
    â€œThere’s a horrible smell on this coach.” The voice came floating over the back of the seat, quiet but clear, and Emily flinched, staring wide-eyed at Rachel. She hadn’t noticed Katie sitting down behind them. But now she could hear Ellie-Mae laughing, and she could see her peeping between the two coach seats. Then Katie leaned round the side of the seat and smiled at Rachel.
    â€œCan’t you smell it?” she asked sweetly.
    â€œNo,” Rachel snapped back. Then she glanced at Emily, looking shocked at herself. She never, ever talked back to Katie.
    Katie seemed surprised too. A reddish flush darkened across the tops of her cheeks, and she stopped smiling. “Only someone as sad as you would be friends with her.”
    Rachel closed her eyes for a moment, as though she was nerving herself to do something crazy and dangerous, like jumping off a cliff. “I could say the same to you,” she said, gabbling it quite fast.
    â€œWhat did she say?” Ellie-Mae asked indignantly after a moment. “Does she mean me?”
    â€œYes.” Rachel actually crossed her fingers this time, Emily noticed. “You’re welcome to each other. No one else likes you. Oh, except Lara, and that says a lot, doesn’t it?”
    â€œRachel!” Emily whispered, forgetting about the river-girl in the gallery she was so shocked. She wrapped her hand round her friend’s crossed fingers. Rachel had talked brave that morning, but Emily had never expected her to actually stand up to Katie and her friends.
    â€œNo one likes you either,” Katie said furiously.
    â€œBrilliant comeback…” Rachel said in a scornful voice, gripping Emily’s hand. She’d actually gone white, and Emily really hoped she wasn’t going to be sick.
    Some of the other girls in their class were watching now, the ones sitting on the other side of the aisle and in front of Rachel and Emily. Their little bit of the coach had gone very, very quiet.
    Emily was sure that Katie had noticed this too. She moved so that she was looking over the back of her seat instead, and she stared down at Rachel. They looked just as pale as each other.
    â€œI could spit on you from here.” Katie hissed.
    â€œOnly stupid people who can’t think what to say spit,” Rachel said disgustedly, but she twitched as though she was scared that Katie would do it.
    â€œYou spit at her and I’ll tell,” Emily hissed, deciding that now was the time to join in.
    â€œOh, little smelly Emily’s going to tell,” sing-songed Katie. “Would that be Mrs Daunt you were telling, Emily? Because I don’t think you’re her favourite person right now, you know. Not