Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 Lily studied the unicorns eagerly. Which one would be hers? Hopefully not the tall unicorn with the silver-blue mane and proud stare. He was very beautiful but looked far too regal to be her partner. She wouldn't know what to say to him! And the smaller unicorn next to him with the red-and- orange mane looked too naughty and mischievous. A unicorn with a pretty pink mane shouldered past him and stamped a hoof, looking confidently out at the audience. Lily's attention was caught by a unicorn with a violet-yellow-and-blue mane who was standing at the back. She was peeking out shyly from under her silky forelock. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she glanced out at the girls and boys before staring at the floor. Lily's heart melted. The unicorn looked awkward, as if she felt she didn't belong there. Just like me, Lily thought.

Ms. Nettles began to call out names— the student's first and then the unicorn's. The first pairing was a boy from Topaz dorm called Spike, who had bright red hair and a sly smile, and Dynamo, the mischievous unicorn with the red- and-orange mane. They both seemed delighted as they moved to the far side of the stage, immediately putting their matching red heads together and looking as though they were planning to cause trouble. One by one, Ms. Nettles called out names until it was Amethyst dorm's turn.

"Aisha," said Ms. Nettles. "You will be paired with Silver." Aisha shimmied from her chair, humming a happy tune. Silver was a small unicorn with a green-silver-and-red mane. He danced out from the crowd, lifting his glittering hooves high, his tail swishing. Aisha ran up the steps and threw her arms around him. He nuzzled her happily, and hearing the sound of her tune, he trotted in time to it as they walked over to the far side of the stage. The watching students giggled. "Oh dear," said Ms. Nettles, shaking her head. "I hope I haven't made a mistake pairing you two music lovers together!" She silenced the gigglers with a stern look. "Next from Amethyst dorm we have Phoebe. You will be paired with Shimmer." Phoebe gave a high-pitched squeal of delight as a unicorn with a long pink-and-blue mane whinnied. "Oh, wow! I was hoping for that exact unicorn! Thank you, Ms. Nettles! Thank you! You've made my dreams come true!" She ran up the steps and hugged the head teacher, who looked very taken aback. "That will do, my dear!" she said, shooing Phoebe away.

"This is the best day of my ENTIRE life, everyone!" Phoebe said. She raced over to Shimmer. "We will be friends forever!" Shimmer exclaimed with a toss of his mane. He seemed just as dramatic as Phoebe. Ms. Nettles cleared her throat. "Very nice, dears. Now move to the side, please." Phoebe and Shimmer left the center of the stage and joined Aisha and Silver. Zara was paired with a dreamy-looking unicorn with a pure silver mane, called Moonbeam, and then finally it was Lily's turn. "Lily, you will be paired with…" Lily's heart raced as she stared at the remaining unicorns. Which one was it going to be? "Feather," Ms. Nettles announced. Lily's heart leaped as the nervous unicorn she'd spotted earlier stepped forward. Feather stumbled awkwardly as she reached the center of the stage. Lily hurried up the steps, blushing, aware that the whole room was watching them. "Um…hi," she said. "Hi," muttered Feather, staring at the floor.

Lily could tell Feather hated being watched by everyone just as much as she did. It made her feel braver, like she wanted to protect her. "I was hoping you'd be my unicorn," she whispered. Feather's eyes flew to hers, and as their gazes met, Lily felt a strong connection surge between them. Feather nuzzled her, her warm, sweet- smelling breath tickling Lily's hands.

They joined the others in Amethyst dorm while Ms. Nettles moved on to Opal dorm. All around Lily, the students who had been paired up were whispering excitedly to their unicorns. She and Feather exchanged shy looks. Skye and Amber, the two girls who had been mean to Lily, were in Opal dorm and were the last to be matched with their unicorns.