Star of the Show

by Sue Bentley

  Storm rolled onto his front and then stood up and shook himself. “That is not possible. One day I must return to my own world and lead the Moon-claw pack. Do you understand that, Tessa?” he asked, his midnight-blue eyes wide and serious.

  Tessa nodded sadly, but she didn’t want to think about that now. She decided to change the subject instead. “Would you like to take a long walk before I call Mom and Dad?”

  “My favorite thing!” Storm woofed, eagerly wagging his tail.

  They went down tree-lined paths and past clipped hedges until they came to a gate leading to an open field with a river at the bottom. Colorful wild flowers swayed in the grass and there was a footpath that seemed to lead to a village in the distance.

  Storm lifted his head, his little brown nose twitching. Suddenly, he shot forward like a rocket. “Rabbits!” he yapped happily.

  Tessa smiled as Storm zigzagged after the rabbits, his short, sturdy legs going like pistons. They scattered in all directions and shot down their rabbit holes. Storm didn’t seem to mind that they all avoided him easily. He was happy with snapping at disappearing white cottontails.

  After half an hour, Storm ran over to Tessa, panting heavily, with his floppy ears flying out behind him.

  Tessa bent down to pat him. “You look worn out. I bet you’re thirsty after all that running around. Let’s go back and you can have a drink in our bathroom. It’ll be quieter than the kitchen and no one will notice what we’re doing.”

  As they got closer to the main house, Tessa saw Fay sitting on a bench, reading The Stagenewspaper in a patch of late afternoon sunlight. Tessa waved to her and Fay waved back.

  Tessa and Storm went inside the house and made their way straight upstairs. As she approached their room, Tessa heard someone chuckling. “That sounds like Kelly. What’s she up to?”

  “I do not know,” Storm yapped suspiciously.

  Tessa saw that the older girl was lying on her bed on her tummy. She was reading a thick book with a familiar green cover. “That’s Fay’s diary! You shouldn’t be reading it!” Tessa exclaimed.

  Kelly looked up guiltily. “Oh, it’s only you,” she said.

  “Put it back in the drawer right now!” Tessa demanded.

  “Or what,” Kelly sneered. “I’ve got a right to read stuff she’s written about me, don’t I? I know she’s jealous of me because I’ve got more lines to say and Donny likes me better than you or Fay, I can tell.”

  Tessa lunged forward and tried to grab the diary, but Kelly held it out of her reach. “Stop reading it. It’s private,” Tessa said, kneeling on the bed.

  Kelly ignored her. “Listen to this,” she began, reading aloud. “It’s hard to keep up with the others. I always take forever to learn my lines. Everyone else seems to know what to do, but I have to keep asking. They’re all better than me at acting.” She sniggered. “How funny is that?”

  “Give me that diary,” Tessa said through clenched teeth.

  Kelly sat up. “Have the stupid thing. It’s boring anyway. She hasn’t written a single word about me. Catch!” she said, throwing the diary across the room.

  It crashed to the floor with a thud and landed heavily on one corner. The cover bent and twisted and some pages fell out.

  “Oops!” Kelly said. “I’m out of here. See you!” She ran out and Tessa heard footsteps hurrying down the stairs.

  Tessa bent down to pick up the diary. “Look at the condition of it now! Fay’s going to be so upset.”

  “I will help you fix it,” Storm offered.

  Tessa felt another warm tingling feeling trickle down her spine as Storm’s rusty-colored fur lit up with bright gold sparks and his floppy ears glittered with power. A fountain of golden light arched toward the book in Tessa’s hands.

  Tiny gold sparks like busy worker bees zizzed all over the diary, which squirmed in Tessa’s hands as Storm’s magic went to work.

  Suddenly, Tessa heard footsteps again on the stairs. “Tessa, are you in there?” called a voice. “They’ve got ping-pong. Do you want to play a game?”

  “Oh, no! It’s Fay!” Tessa whispered desperately.

  Chapter SIX

  The sparks in Storm’s fur instantly went out. Tessa looked down at the diary. It looked worse than before. The cover was all lumps and bumps, one corner was badly dented, and even more pages were hanging out.

  “I did not have time to finish my magic with Fay so close,” Storm woofed apologetically.

  Tessa quickly put the diary behind her back as Fay walked in.

  “Hi. I’ve been looking for—” Fay broke off, looking puzzled, and her smile faded. “What do you have behind your back?”

  Tessa gulped. She knew that Fay would be deeply upset if she found out that Kelly had been reading her private thoughts. She slowly brought her hands forward. “I . . . um . . . just came in and found this lying on the bed. I was going to put it back in your drawer, but I dropped it and the cover got a little messed up. Sorry,” she finished lamely.

  Fay frowned. “I never leave my diary on my bed.”

  “Maybe you forgot this time?” Tessa suggested.

  Fay’s face darkened. “No, I didn’t. Have you been reading it?” she said in a trembling voice. “Don’t try and pretend you weren’t. I bet you thought my scribbles were so pathetic that you kicked my poor diary all around the room and then jumped on it or something!”

  “I didn’t. I would never do that!” Tessa exclaimed.

  “Looks like it, doesn’t it?” Fay snatched her diary and then stood there hugging it to her chest and stroking it. “I thought you liked me, but you were only pretending. I thought you were different, Tessa.”

  Tessa felt terrible, even though none of this was her fault. She knew that Fay wouldn’t believe anything she said now, but she still had to try. “I dolike you, Fay. And I didn’t read your diary. Honest. Cross my heart and hope to die!”

  But Fay wasn’t listening anymore. She threw herself onto her bed, buried her face in her pillow, and curled up with both arms wrapped around the diary.

  Sighing heavily, Tessa trudged toward the bathroom.

  Storm padded in after her and she closed the door behind him. “I am sorry. I have made things worse,” he woofed sadly.

  Tessa pet his silky head. “You were only trying to help. Besides, this is all Kelly’s fault.”

  Tessa emptied a soap dish and washed it out before pouring water into it for Storm. “And just when I thought I was starting to get along with Fay,” she murmured as she watched the tiny puppy lapping thirstily.

  The following day it was classes again and then hours spent in costume and makeup before filming another scene with Donny. This time it was inside Harpford Manor’s great hall.

  It was a long scene and Tessa had a lot of lines to say. The director was very demanding and bossed everyone around but seemed satisfied with the way things went.

  When he called for a coffee break, Tessa decided that she’d go and sit with Fay to try again to make things right. She passed Kelly, who was sitting munching on a bag of chips.

  “I wouldn’t bother looking for Fay if I were you,” Kelly said. “She’s gone off somewhere by herself. I bet she’s writing more stuff in her stupid diary.”

  “Get lost, Kelly!” Tessa said angrily, having to make a huge effort not to say something even worse. “Grrr. Why does that girl have to be so mean?” she complained to Storm.

  There wasn’t enough time to go looking for Fay, so Tessa got a cold drink and then sat down with Storm. “Fay probably hates me now. I bet she’ll never speak to me again,” she said to him.

  “I do not think that anyone could hate you,” Storm woofed, patting her leg with one soft little rusty paw.

  “Thanks, Storm.” As Tessa reached down and took hold of the loyal pup’s paw, she felt herself starting to calm down. An idea popped into her head. “Why don’t we walk across the field to the village later? Maybe it will have a store that sells diaries. I can buy Fay a new one!”
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br />   Storm nodded. “I think Fay would like that.”

  “She’ll probably think I’m just trying to make up with her because I’ve got a guilty conscience,” Tessa guessed. “But at least it might make her feel a little better.”

  “You have a very kind heart, Tessa,” Storm yapped, wagging his tail.

  “Try telling Fay that!” Tessa sighed.

  The call came for filming to begin again and the actors started moving toward the set. Tessa gave Storm a quick pat and went back to work, feeling a little better about everything.

  “I was proud of you all today,” Judith said to them later as they all ate dinner together. “The director was even more demanding than usual. But you just did as he asked.”

  Tessa was feeling really full. She’d asked for another big meal, so that she could share it with Storm. But it was difficult to slip food under the table to him, with everyone talking to her, and she’d had to eat most of it herself.

  “I wish we got to see more of Donny,” Kelly commented wistfully. “I’m his number-one fan, but I haven’t even had a chance to ask him for his autograph.”

  “He’s known to be a private person when he’s not working,” Judith said.

  Fay was picking at her baked potato and salad. After only eating a little, she asked to be excused and left the table.

  “Is Fay all right?” Judith asked. “She’s very quiet.”

  “She’s always like that,” Kelly piped up. “She’s probably just trying to seem interesting and mysterious, like Donny.”

  “I think she’s still upset because her diary got damaged,” Tessa said, giving Kelly a hard look. She was pleased to see that Kelly looked a little ashamed.

  “What’s that about a diary?” Judith said.

  “Oh, the cover got a little bent, but it’s nothing really,” Kelly said. She lowered her voice. “Some people can’t take a joke.”

  Tessa stood up before she said something really rude. She wanted to walk over to the village. “I think I’ll go and get some exercise,” she said to Judith as she left the table. “But first I’ll get some ham sandwiches for a snack later.” At least Storm will have some dinner, she thought.

  “My goodness. Where do you put it all?” Judith said, smiling.

  “I’ve always had a big appetite,” Tessa said hastily, moving toward the counter.

  She took the sandwiches and headed outside with Storm. He scampered after her, his nose twitching at the smell of the ham sandwiches. Once they were by themselves, Tessa broke them into small pieces for him.

  Storm chomped them up and then licked his chops. “Delicious!”

  “Ready for an extra-long walk now? As if I need to ask!” Tessa said, grinning.

  As they headed toward Harpford Manor’s main gates, they saw some film equipment stacked up to one side beside the path. Leaning against it were some wooden boards painted with scenery.

  Suddenly, a short little dog with a sparkling collar and a trailing leash shot right through the gateway. It was Lady!

  “She must have run off! Lady! Come here,” Tessa called in a friendly, gentle way. But the pug shied away and ran sideways.

  “I will catch her,” Storm yapped helpfully, bounding forward.

  Lady ran headlong toward the scenery, brushing against it as she looked for a hiding place in this exciting new game. One of the big lights that sat right on the top of the stack of film equipment wobbled. It was going to fall!

  Tessa looked on in horror as it began to fall toward the ground—with Storm right beneath it!

  Chapter SEVEN

  “Look out!” Tessa shouted.

  Storm was too focused on snapping at Lady’s leash to notice the danger. Tessa realized that he wouldn’t have time to use his magical powers.

  Without a second thought she threw herself forward. One step, two steps. Scoop! Scoop!By a complete miracle she managed to grab both Storm and Lady by the scruff of their necks. With a dog in each hand, she threw herself to one side as the heavy light crashed down, missing them all by inches.

  Tessa stumbled and slipped, twisting her ankle. “Oh,” she gasped as a sharp pain shot through her leg.

  Somehow she managed to keep ahold of the two dogs as she collapsed onto the soft grass.

  “Thank you for saving me,” Storm woofed, looking subdued as she set him on his feet. “You were very brave.”

  “I’m not really. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you,” Tessa said. She put Lady down, too, but kept a firm hold on the pug’s leash. As the ache in her ankle increased, she winced.

  “You are hurt. I will make you better,” Storm woofed.

  Just then Tessa saw a tall figure walking toward the gateway. It was Donny Jenton, completely alone and without his security guards. “There isn’t time. Donny’s almost here!” she hissed at Storm.

  A familiar warm tingling sensation flowed down Tessa’s spine, but this time there was a rush of backward movement, just as if she had pressed rewind on her DVD player.

  Storm’s bright eyes narrowed in concentration as he huffed out a warm puppy breath of tiny gold sparkles. The glittering mist gently swirled around Tessa’s sore ankle, sank into it, and she felt the pain fade away completely. There was a sudden jerking movement and Tessa was flicked forward again. She saw that Donny was still the same distance away—no time at all had actually passed!

  “Thanks, Storm. That was amazing. I’m fine now,” she whispered.

  “Gruff! Gruff!” Lady barked, trying to wriggle free.

  Donny reached out for his dog’s leash. “You’re Tessa, aren’t you?” he said, his white teeth gleaming as he smiled. “I saw what you just did. How can I ever thank you for saving Lady?”

  “It’s no big deal. It just sort of . . . happened,” Tessa said, blushing.

  “Well, you were very brave. Maybe a little dumb, too, to risk getting squashed by that heavy light. I don’t think your parents would approve. But don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,” Donny said with a twinkle in his eye.

  He gave Lady a cuddle. “Bad girl. Why did you take off like that?” he scolded, wagging his finger as Lady snuffed and licked his nose.

  “Maybe she wanted a long run off her leash,” Tessa suggested. “She probably gets bored just sitting around and being fed treats. And I hope you don’t mind me saying, but she’s a little overweight.”

  Donny raised his eyebrows. “Really? Why hasn’t anyone else told me that?”

  Tessa decided not to answer.

  Donny put Lady down on the floor. “Let’s get you back. From now on, you’re going to get a lot moreexercise and the doggy treats are history!” He looked at Tessa. “Thanks again, honey. Can I give you a ride back up the road to the front door? My driver’s parked just down the road.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve got some shopping to do. I think I’m still going to go into the village,” Tessa said.

  “Well, okay. Isn’t there anything I can do for you? I’d like to show my appreciation for the way you saved Lady,” Donny said.

  “No, I don’t think . . .” Tessa paused as an idea jumped into her mind. “Well, maybe there is something . . .”

  Donny listened as Tessa explained her idea and then he grinned. “I’d be happy to. How about after filming finishes tomorrow? My driver will pick you up.” He gave Tessa a quick wave as he set off with Lady puffing noisily beside him.

  As Tessa had hoped, there was a bookstore in the village. She did her shopping and then decided to return to Harpford Manor along the path that ran across the field. Storm trotted at Tessa’s heel, his nose to the ground as he sniffed around. The trip had been a success and Tessa now carried a bag containing a brand-new diary, covered in shiny green plastic. It even had a strap with a heart-shaped padlock and a key to lock it with.

  “I really hope this cheers Fay up—even just a little bit,” she said, glancing down at Storm.

  But he seemed to have run off.

  “Storm? Where are you?” Tessa called.

&nb
sp; She looked across the field, expecting to see him chasing rabbits, but there was no sign of him. Puzzled, she circled around, scanning the field more carefully, and just spotted the tip of Storm’s rusty-colored tail as he dove into the bottom of some bushes.

  She hurried over. “What’s this hide and seek—” she began and then stopped as she realized that Storm was trembling all over. She bent down and looked through the tangled branches at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Shadow has found me! He has put a spell on those dogs!” Storm whined in terror, his midnight-blue eyes wide and fearful.

  “What dogs, Storm?” Tessa looked up. In the next field a man with two black-and-white sheepdogs was herding some sheep into a pen. The dogs were running back and forth and snapping at the sheep’s heels.

  “I don’t thinkthose dogs are after you. But how can I tell if they’re under a magic spell?” Tessa asked Storm.

  Storm whimpered and went deeper into the bushes. “They will have pale cold eyes and extra-long teeth. And be very fierce and strong.”

  Tessa looked hard at the sheepdogs, which were following their owner’s orders closely. “They don’t look like that. I think they’re okay. But you’ve had a bad scare. Let’s get back,” Tessa said.

  Storm squirmed toward her and she bent down and reached for the terrified puppy. As Tessa set off again with Storm in her arms, she felt his little heart fluttering against her hand. The glimpse of possible danger reminded Tessa that Storm might have to leave suddenly in order to save himself.

  She felt a pang as she realized that however much she might try to prepare herself for losing Storm she would never be ready to let him go.