Читать книгу Magic Ballerina 13-18 - Darcey Bussell - Страница 15

Holly landed in her bedroom. “Oh my goodness,” she breathed. “I’m back.”

Her eyes flew to her clock. She felt like she had been in Enchantia for hours, but just as the White Cat had promised, no time had passed here at all.

She sank down on the floor. “You really are special,” she murmured to the shoes as she took them carefully off. “Thank you for taking me there!” Shutting her eyes, she relived the last minutes before she had left. The amazing dance, seeing everyone so happy, watching everyone smiling at her and waving her off, and then looking into the White Cat’s green sparkling eyes as she was whisked away.

I’ve got a friend, she thought, hugging herself. A real friend.

She felt a pang and realised that she was really going to miss the White Cat now that she was back in the real world.

As she got changed the doorbell rang downstairs and her aunt called up to her. “Holly! Someone’s here to see you.”

Holly went halfway down the stairs and found Chloe standing in the doorway. Holly stopped dead. She’d forgotten all about her ballet class and the row.

Chloe looked uncomfortable. “Um. You dropped this from your bag, Holly.” She held out one of Holly’s pink ballet shoes. “Madame Za-Za asked me to call by with it because I only live a few streets away.”

Holly’s aunt took it. “It was kind of you to walk round with it,” she said. “Would you like to come in for a while?”

Chloe shook her head abruptly. “Thanks, but I think I’ll head off.”

“Wait!” The word burst out of Holly. She hurried down the rest of the stairs. Still glowing from her adventure, she wanted to make amends. “Um … thanks.” She felt herself blushing. “Thanks for bringing my ballet shoe round. It was really kind of you.”

Chloe looked stunned. “That’s all right.”

“Maybe … maybe I could walk back with you to your house,” Holly suggested hesitantly.

Aunt Maria smiled warmly. “That’s a good idea.”

Holly held her breath. She wouldn’t blame Chloe for saying no, but suddenly she knew she really wanted her to say yes.

Chloe paused, but then to Holly’s relief gave a tentative nod. “OK.”

The two of them left the house. “I’m sorry about how I acted earlier,” Holly apologised. “I was in a really bad mood. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“It’s OK,” said Chloe awkwardly. “I just thought you might want to be friends.”

“I do!” The words came out before Holly had a chance to think. “If … if you still want to of course.” She gave Chloe a hopeful look.

Just then, a gust of wind blew through the branches on a nearby tree. A cloud of leaves fluttered down, catching in their hair. Their eyes met and they both giggled suddenly.

Chloe face relaxed into a grin. “Come on, my house is this way!” She twirled round happily in the leaves. Holly laughed and joined in.

The two girls spun down the street together, the golden leaves decorating their hair.