Friends Forever by Titania Woods Read Free Book Online

Part of her longed to tell Bimi everything – but how could she? She knew how Bimi felt about wasps.
    â€˜Bedtime, girls!’ announced Mrs Hover, bustling heavily about the branch. ‘Under the covers now, flitter-flutter!’
    Bimi reluctantly returned to her own bed, slipping under her yellow-petal duvet. ‘Twink, whatever it is, you can tell me,’ she whispered. ‘I want to help.’
    Twink hesitated. ‘I can’t. I can’t tell anyone.’
    A hurt look crossed Bimi’s face. ‘But I’m your best friend.’
    â€˜I know, but – but it’s something I just can’t talk about,’ mumbled Twink. She climbed under the covers of her own bed, not looking at Bimi.
    â€˜But –’
    â€˜I just can’t, all right?’ whispered Twink. ‘Leave me alone!’ She flopped over on to her side, clutching her petal duvet around her miserably.
    â€˜Glow-worms out!’ called Mrs Hover. The branch plunged into darkness, lit only by the moonlight streaking in from the window. Twink lay awake for a long time, listening for a sound from the bed next to her.
    But Bimi didn’t ask again.
    As the night slowly turned to dawn, Twink flew into Miss Petal’s classroom. She was quite used now to the shadowy, empty branch, and she flew quickly to the broken window. Tucking the pot of honey under one arm, she eased the latch open and started to clamber through.
    â€˜Where are you going?’ demanded a voice.
    .

    .
    Stifling a shriek, Twink swung round in the air. Bimi hovered in the classroom doorway, wearing her nightclothes.
    â€˜What are you doing here?’ cried Twink.
    Bimi flitted into the room, stopping a wing’s breadth from Twink. ‘I couldn’t sleep. I was worried about you. Then I heard you get up and sneak out – so I followed you.’
    Her eyes fell on the honey under Twink’s arm. ‘What’s that?’
    â€˜Nothing!’ Red-faced, Twink whisked it behind her back. ‘Bimi, go back to bed! I’ll tell you what’s going on later, but – but I can’t now.’
    Bimi folded her arms across her chest. ‘Are you mad? I’m not going anywhere! And if you try to go somewhere without me, I’ll fly straight to Mrs Lightwing!’
    Twink stared at her in dismay. ‘But I thought you were my friend,’ she whispered.
    â€˜I am your friend!’ cried Bimi. ‘And friends don’t turn their backs when a friend’s in trouble. Now, are we both going to go to wherever-it-is – or are we just going to fly back to bed?’
    Twink swallowed. How could she let Bimi see Stripe? But he was waiting for her, expecting his breakfast. She had to go to him.
    â€˜OK, we’ll go,’ she muttered finally. Her heart felt like a stone. ‘But, Bimi –’ She stopped. Please still be my friend. Please don’t hate me for helping a wasp!
    Bimi touched her arm. ‘What?’
    â€˜Never mind.’ Looking away, Twink tucked in her wings and squeezed through the window. ‘Come on, then, if you’re coming.’
    .

    The night wind whispered through their wings as they flew around the back of the school. They came to the little dell, and Bimi’s eyes widened.
    â€˜Isn’t this where we found that old stump cottage?’
    â€˜That’s right,’ said Twink glumly. She swooped down and hovered in front of the long blades of grass that covered its door. ‘And – and that’s where we’re going.’
    Bimi flew down beside her. ‘Is something in there?’ she breathed, peering into the gloom.
    Before Twink could answer, a buzzing noise came from inside the stump. Bimi stiffened. ‘Oh, Twink! It’s not a –’
    Twink bit her lip and darted inside. ‘Glow-worm on,’ she said to the lantern that hung near the ceiling. Immediately, a cheerful light filled the worn little room.
    Twink gasped.