Sister Secrets by Titania Woods Page A

had enough, then she had, too! She needed something to take her mind off things – and all at once she knew just the thing.
    .

    .
    Swallowing hard, Teena gazed up at the top branches of the tree. She couldn’t see it from here, but she knew the star-gazing platform was up there, waiting for her.
    A sudden idea popped into Teena’s head, and she caught her breath. Why had she wasted so much time trying to get to the platform from inside the school? All she had to do was climb out of the Snowdrop branch window, and fly right to it!
    Her hands felt clammy, and she wiped them on her skirt. Though she hadn’t admitted it to Zuzu, the thought of actually going up there made her a bit nervous. Was it really dangerous, like Miss Shimmery had said?
    Then Teena remembered Twink’s angry face, and her resolve hardened. Well, she didn’t care. She would go up there, no matter what – and that very night, too!
    â€˜Twink? Twink, wake up!’
    â€˜Um?’ Twink stirred drowsily, cuddled into her petal duvet.
    â€˜Twink! Please wake up; you’ve got to!’ The fairy shaking her sounded close to tears.
    This time the words reached her, and Twink sat up in bed, blinking. What was going on? What time was it? Then she saw who the fairy at her bedside was, and she stiffened.
    â€˜Summer! What are you doing here?’
    The younger fairy’s tear-stained face gleamed in the moonlight. ‘It’s – it’s Teena and Zuzu,’ she choked out. ‘They’ve gone up to the star-gazing platform, only that was ages ago, and they’re not back yet!’
    In the next bed, Bimi propped herself up on one elbow, listening.
    Twink snorted. ‘Oh, right! And I suppose when I fly up there, it won’t be Teena and Zuzu at all, will it? Then Mrs Lightwing will catch me, and –’
    â€˜No!’ said Summer. ‘It’s true, I promise! She’s been wanting to go up to the star-gazing platform for ages, and tonight she said she was going no matter what, and then they both went, because –’
    â€˜Hang on – you mean they’re really up there?’ cried Twink. Fear shivered through her as she recalled Miss Twilight’s description of star-struck fairies.
    Summer nodded, gulping hard. ‘Can’t – can’t you help, Twink? We’re all so scared – we don’t know why they’re taking so long –’
    Twink leapt out of bed. Grabbing her dressing gown, she pulled it on with shaking hands. ‘Bimi, go and get Miss Twilight!’ she said urgently.
    Bimi was already out of bed, shrugging into her own dressing gown. ‘I’ll be as quick as I can!’ she said, her face pale. Her bright wings glinted as she sped from the branch.
    â€˜Sooze!’ hissed Twink, gliding down from the loft space. ‘Sooze!’
    â€˜Mmf?’ muttered Sooze, lying on her stomach.
    Twink shook her shoulder. ‘Sooze, wake up! You’ve got to help. It’s that cousin of yours – she’s taken Teena up to the star-gazing platform! Bimi’s gone to get Miss Twilight, but we’ve got to hurry!’

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    Chapter Eight
    At first the star-gazing platform had been fun.
    Once Zuzu saw that Teena was determined to fly up there, she’d taken a deep breath and insisted on joining her – because what if it really was dangerous? Her twin shouldn’t be going alone if that were the case.
    So, pushing aside her fears, Zuzu had squirmed out of the Snowdrop Branch window after Teena. Spreading her wings, she bobbed in the air, feeling exhilarated by the warm spring night despite herself.
    â€˜Isn’t this glimmery?’ Teena whispered over her shoulder as they fluttered upwards. There was a full moon, looking like a huge, silvery eye peering through the tree’s branches.
    Zuzu had to agree. Her heart sang as they reached the top of the tree. She’d never flown so high before! It was dizzying and