Kara jerked away.
“What’s up with you?” Tiffany laughed.
“Oh, it’s . . . new,” Kara said quickly.
“This sure beats homeroom, huh?” Heather commented, leaning across Tiffany.
“Look at Marsha Luff’s dress, do you believe it?” Tiffany murmured.
“What about Lori Eller’s hair!” Heather squealed.
At least it’s only two colors. Kara sat back, eyes darting back and forth.
Feedback squawked from the stage.
“Okay then,” Principal Edwards said, poking the microphone. “Settle down, everyone.”
The general mayhem settled to a quieter general mayhem, a few giggles and laughs cutting through.
“On behalf of the school board, I’d like to welcome you all to a new year at Stonehill Middle School. We have our first pep rally tomorrow afternoon, the Harvest Ball dance next month, and the best football team ever, right, Coach?”
Coach Berman raised his arms in triumph as a bunch of boys cheered from the back of the auditorium.
“Stonehill rocks!” someone yelled.
Kara started to relax as Mr. Edwards continued his welcome-to-school speech. Okay, this is working. No one will notice me—
A “pop” sounded under her seat.
Heather and Tiffany looked at her.
“S’cuse me,” Kara said, patting her tummy.
“Pook?”
“Go away!” Kara whispered, dropping her books on the floor.
“Splaaa . . .” Fiona disappeared in a burst of red.
“Along with sports, we also pride ourselves on academics and community service,” Mr. Edwards was saying.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Oh, no, those little—where were they?
“We have some terrific school projects planned for this year,” the principal continued, “and some of our students are getting involved in community projects, building leadership and responsibility, working to help our town, demonstrating qualities we can all be proud of.”
“Hii.” Blaze hung down from the front of Kara’s beret. She shoved him inside and adjusted the hat, smiling as Tiffany gave her a quick look.
“The mayor has commissioned a group of students to work on something we can all share in, the Ravenswood Wildlife Preservation Society.” Principal Edwards beamed.
What?
“Keekee, play!” Barney pulled at Kara’s finger. He was sitting in her lap.
She squashed the purple pest into the pocket of her jacket.
The principal was looking around the auditorium for someone.
Oh, no! Kara shrank down in her seat. Do not go there!
“And the town council has appointed Kara Davies president of the Ravenswood project.”
Kara slid farther down into her seat as whistles and laughter went up from the crowd.
“Kara, come up.” The principal beckoned. “I know this is unscheduled, but we’re so proud of the example you’re setting for the entire student body. Come on up and tell us about the great work you’ll be doing.
“No, thank you,” Kara squeaked.
“Kara!” Tiffany laughed. “Get up there!”
“I, like, so do not want to go up there!”
But her friends were already pushing her from her seat. This has got to be a bad dream, no, a horrible nightmare, she thought, walking onto the stage.
“Thank you, Mr. Edwards.”
“Weekoook.”
Kara pulled down hard on her hat.
“So tell us, Kara, are you excited to be president of the new organization?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, it’s good to help animals.” What a lame-o, she thought, mortified.
“Uh-huh . . .” The principal was looking at her expectantly.
“We hope to open the preserve again soon and teach people about conservation and protecting wildlife, and we have our own web— ‘Skooo’ ––too.” Kara slapped her pocket.
Startled, Mr. Edwards glanced at her. “Excellent. Let’s have a hand for a fine example of one of Stonehill’s most promising young people.”
Kara sent her best smile into the audience.
“Kookoo!”
Kara slapped her head—and felt hair. Out of the corner of her eye something moved. Kara watched in horror as her pink beret slowly inched across the stage floor. She shot out her foot and pinned it down.
The auditorium fell silent. Heather, Molly, and Tiffany sat with mouths agape.
Uh-oh.
Kara’s hair unfurled like a bright neon rainbow flag.
She felt the hot flush run from her shoulders to her face as the auditorium suddenly erupted in hoots, jeers, and hollers.
Kara stood in the middle of the stage, alone, her world falling apart.
“Ms. Davies!” the principal said in shock. “What is the meaning of this outrageous display?”
Kara felt two inches tall. She was being reprimanded by the principal in front of the entire school. This was it, her life was over. She’d be the laughingstock of the school forever.
“It’s symbolic!” someone yelled from the middle of the auditorium.
All eyes turned to the girl who had stood up. It was Emily.
Kara froze. This was much worse than any monster she had faced.
“Beg pardon, young lady?” the principal asked Emily.
“Kara is symbolizing the true meaning of the Ravenswood Wildlife Preservation Society, a rainbow coalition of all species working together. We live in one world, so everyone should work together to save the animals and our planet.”
The principal looked at Kara expectantly.
She nodded quickly, smile frozen in place.
“Ms. Davies!”
Kara flinched.
“Fabulous!” He beamed. “Truly inspired! What a wonderful symbolic message to the world!”
Kara took over, instincts kicking in. “Thank you, thank you. Let’s all work together to make our world a better place.” She raised her fist in the air. “Animals are people too!”
The crowd went crazy, cheering and clapping as Kara left the stage, the envy of everyone.
Mr. Edwards was scratching his head but smiling. “Thank you, and welcome to another school year.”
With assembly over, everyone bolted for the doors. Molly, Tiffany, and Heather came running through the crowd as kids pressed in to look at Kara’s amazing hair.
“Oh, Kara, it’s gorgeous!”
“Kara, that is the coolest thing ever!”
Emily and Adriane stood in the hall, waiting to one side as the students spilled out. Kara was all smiles, grinning ear to ear.
Pushing past the crowd, she crossed over to Emily. “That was incredible, what you just did,” she whispered.
Emily smiled. “That’s what friends are for.”
AT LUNCHTIME, KARA walked through the cafeteria to cheers and waves.
“Kara, over here!” Tiffany, Heather, and Molly had saved prime spots under the shade of a sprawling oak. Kyle, Marcus, and Joey sat nearby with trays overflowing with spaghetti.
A quick scan of the area revealed no sign of those pesky dragonflies and no wild animal sightings. Kara crossed the lawn to join her friends, her rainbow-bright hair flowing in the wind.
“Kara, you are something else!” Marcus said.
“Yeah, no wonder the place was a mess last night,” Kyle snickered. “Mom and Dad yelled at me, but I told them it was all your fault.”
“Thanks, you’re a pal,” Kara said, sitting down.
“Why didn’t you say something?” Tiffany asked.
“Spill it, girl, how’d you do it?” Heather studied Kara’s hair.
“There must be a hundred colors!” Molly exclaimed.
Kara noticed Emily and Adriane coming out of the cafeteria, balancing trays and surveying the crowded tables.
“Well, I had some help.” Kara waved. “Emily! Over here!” She ignored the look Heather and Tiffany gave each other.
Emily tapped Adriane and
nodded in Kara’s direction. They walked over, Adriane scowling behind Emily.
Heather frowned. “Do we have to sit with them?”
Kara ignored her.
“No wonder you wanted to end the barbecue early,” Tiffany said. “You were planning this all along!”
“Believe me, no one was as surprised as I was,” Kara replied.
Molly slid over to make room for Emily. “I just love what you did with Kara’s hair. It’s so original. Could you do mine, too?”
“It wouldn’t be original then, would it?” Adriane smirked as she took a seat beside Emily.
Once again, Kara found herself in the middle: Emily and Adriane on one side, Tiffany, Heather, and Molly on the other. Well, this is interesting, she mused. No nuclear explosions . . . yet.
“Oh, I don’t care.” Molly smiled. “I think it’s so rad!”
“Actually, it was Adriane who did my hair.” Kara glanced at Adriane and held out a hank of multicolored hair for everybody to admire again.
Tiffany and Heather looked shocked. “What?”
“Who’d a thunk under all that black is a fashion designer!” Kyle called out.
“I’m not big on fashion,” Adriane said quietly.
“That’s for sure,” Heather said out of the corner of her mouth.
Adriane glowered, putting her hands on the table. Her loose lanyard bracelet slid down her wrist to reveal her jewel. It flashed with bright gold light.
Heather’s eyes widened. “How did it do that?”
“They react to light,” Emily said quickly. Trying to distract attention from Adriane’s jewel, she showed them her own rainbow jewel in its simple woven bracelet.
“You have one, too?” Molly gazed in awe at Emily’s bright stone. “Where can we get them?’
“These jewels are totally unique,” Kara explained, twirling her own on her silver necklace. “You can’t get one.”
“They have one!” Tiffany huffed.
“All part of our plan to get attention for the preserve,” Emily told them.
“Can we come and check it out, too?” Molly asked excitedly.
“And get our own light-up jewels?” Heather echoed.
“No! Uh . . . I mean—” Adriane flushed.
“Of course you can visit the preserve,” Emily said. “But we have a lot of work to do there first.”
As Kara listened, she couldn’t help but be struck by the realization that her friends—Heather, Tiffany, and Molly—only days ago were totally making fun of the preserve. And now, they were, like, all over it, all because they wanted “light-up” jewels. That is so shallow, Kara thought. And she knew she’d been exactly the same way. Or maybe she still was exactly the same way.
“The whole point is helping animals,” Emily said.
“Just wait till you hear about the big fundraising party,” Kara told them. “We’re going to have live music.”
“Excellent! We’re in on that!” Heather’s eyes lit up.
Marcus glanced over. “Yeah, like who?”
“Well . . . Linny Lewis or Sampleton Malls, maybe.”
“Choke! That is so lame!” Joey sauntered over, brushing back a lock of dark hair from his face. “What about Toad Force?”
“Or Smash Fish,” Adriane put in.
Joey looked at her in surprise. “Yeah, they rock!”
Kara almost laughed. Had Adriane actually blushed? She looked again, but Adriane was studying her tray as the boys moved off, heading back inside.
“Hey, rainbow girl!” Kyle called over his shoulder. “Press is here!”
Two eighth graders approached, carrying cameras and note pads. “Can we get a picture for the Stonehill Journal?”
“Cool. Sure.” Kara stood and fluffed her hair, fanning out the bright colors.
“Right. Awesome hair,” the older girl said, snapping a picture.
“Thank you, it’s symbolic.”
The girl with the camera stepped forward. “How about a group picture?”
“Come on girls, photo op,” Kara said, pulling Emily and Adriane over to her.
Side by side they stood, three together, Kara in the middle, rainbow hair flaring behind her. She put an arm around each girl and actually felt a connection, the bond of Ravenswood—and magic.
TO: Daddy1
RE: RWPS update
Hey Daddy,
Guess who? It’s me! We’re getting our picture in the paper, Emily, Adriane, and me for the Ravenswood Wildlife Preservation Society, isn’t that cool? I know you will be so proud. Oh, and don’t freak out when you see my hair, it’s symbolic. I’ll explain later. That’s where we are on the RWPS for now.
Kara sat in study hall, laptop open in front of her. But her eyes kept wandering toward the window in search of unidentified flying animals. Ravenswood was on the map now whether she liked it or not. Everyone knew about it. But wasn’t that the point? Wasn’t that why the town council had allowed the girls to keep the preserve open and get the website up?
Of course it was, and she was doing a fantastic job. Even Emily and Adriane had to admit it. So why couldn’t they just fit in with her group? Why did she have to do this juggling act? No matter what she did, it seemed someone got hurt. And that made her feel . . . awful.
Emily was sweet and pretty sharp. Kara was growing to like her more and more, and after that amazing save this morning, she owed Emily big time. And Kara got the feeling Emily wouldn’t hold it over her, wouldn’t expect anything in return except to be treated with respect and an open mind. Is that what made a real friend?
But Adriane—Kara and that girl would never get along, end of story. They were just too different, they had nothing in common. Kara twisted the sparkling jewel in her hand. Except this: magic.
Kara sighed and went back to her e-mail. Funny—the words looked wrong. She rubbed her eyes. The letters seemed weird. She looked closer. Words were stretching and starting to move around the screen. How bizarre!
Suddenly she felt her stone pulsing like a heartbeat.
The words on the screen were stretching, shifting around like pieces of a puzzle.
I
The letter turned red and started to melt down the screen.
know
Words from her e-mail were fading . . .
who
. . . leaving only a few that turned red.
you
The last words remained . . .
are
. . . dripping like blood.
Fear crept up her spine. She shivered, quickly hitting keys to try to clear the screen. Nothing worked. Who was sending this?
Blood-red letters melted down the screen around two hard, cold eyes that stared at Kara. They were magnetic and vicious—half-human, half-animal. Kara froze. It was the same evil face she’d seen in the mirror.
The animal-woman pointed a finger and the laptop screen seemed to stretch, bulging outward. Kara’s stomach knotted in fear as a sharp silver claw pushed through the screen, reaching for her.
She gasped and slammed the laptop closed.
I know who you are.
“THAT’S IT!” KARA stormed into the Ravenswood Manor library. Emily and Adriane were sitting before the computer screen, scrolling through information. Balthazar, Ozzie, and Ronif peered over the girls’ shoulders.
“Something is in my computer,” Kara announced angrily.
They all turned to stare at Kara.
“Your computer?” Emily echoed.
Kara dumped her backpack on a table, pulled out her pink laptop, and handed it to Emily. “Look!” she said. “Please.”
Emily flipped open the laptop and turned it on. Adriane came around to watch. Kara backed away, nervously twirling a strand of purple hair in her fingers.
“Oh, no!” Adriane exclaimed in horror.
Kara jumped back. “Be careful! I told you!”
Adriane turned the computer toward Kara. The screen displayed her desktop with the new Linny Lewis wallpaper she had made.
> “Linny Lewis is after you?” Adriane laughed.
“No! Lemme see that!” Kara marched over to look.
To her relief, the screen was perfectly normal. “Something weird is going on around here,” she said.
“You mean weirder than normal?” Adriane asked.
“Yeeaaah . . .” Kara said, looking into the faces of a talking ferret, two quiffles, and a pegasus.
“Maybe your computer has a virus,” Emily ventured.
Kara shook her head. “Someone left a message.”
“What message?”
“It said, ‘I know who you are.’” Kara shivered. “How creepy is that?”
“Maybe it read the Stonehill Journal,” Adriane cracked.
“Oh, very funny! And if she did, she’d know who you are, too! But it’s all happening to me!”
“She?” Balthazar asked.
“I think so. She had these weird eyes.” Kara twisted her gem in her hand.
“That jewel,” Adriane said. “It’s been nothing but trouble!”
Kara glared at her.
“Kara,” Emily said, “ever since you found it, these creatures have been after you, right?”
Kara swallowed. “Um . . . sorta . . . maybe.”
“Maybe what?” Adriane asked.
“The night before I found this jewel, one of those banshees was in my room. It took my pink sweater. Why did it do that?”
Emily turned back to the computer screen. “We’ve found some files that Mr. Gardener left.” She clicked on a book-shaped icon. A heading in an old-fashioned scroll spread across the top of the page. “Creatures of Magic.” Below was a list of names, each accompanied by a picture.
Emily scrolled down. Some of the creatures they recognized: jeerans, pegasi . . .
“There’s quiffles!” Ronif exclaimed.
The creatures became darker, more bizarre, some hideously ugly and monstrous.
“Eww, creep me out!” Kara made a face.
“Any of these look familiar?” Emily asked.
“No.”
All That Glitters (Avalon: Web of Magic #2) Page 7
