Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Isabel headed reluctantly into the classroom, still daydreaming about racing around on Cloud. She wished the geography lesson wasn't with Ms Nettles, her least favourite teacher. Isabel found the work easy but coming top of the class wasn't enough for Ms Nettles. She always gave Isabel extra tasks to do. On the way into the classroom Isabel almost collided with Ava, who was carrying a vase filled with three fluffy red flowers with long stems. "Whoa! Sorry, Ava! Gosh, look at those monster flowers. Did you grow them? They're beautiful." Ava smiled. "Yes. Peonies are supposed to bring good luck so I'm going to put them in the classroom to bring us all luck in the drill ride this afternoon." Isabel's heart lifted as she remembered that

the first-year dormitories were competing against each other in a drill ride at teatime that day. In the competition, riders and their unicorns had to perform the same moves either together or one after another, with marks for how well the group rode together and for difficulty of routine. The drill ride was also being judged on turnout, with extra marks being awarded for the unicorns' tail and mane plaits. They had been told that one person from each dormitory was going to be chosen as the leader. I hope I'm the leader of Sapphire dorm, Isabel thought. "Keep those flowers on our side of the classroom," Isabel called to Ava as she carried the peonies up to the front. If the flowers could bring good luck then she wanted it to go to her own team! Jacinta, from Emerald dorm, was sharpening pencils for Valentina. Valentina's parents were governors and she was also Ms Nettles' niece.

"I want them sharper than that!" she complained as she sat in her chair. Jacinta nodded. "Of course, Valentina." She picked up a pencil to sharpen it further and then noticed Ava putting the flowers down on a window sill. "Wow, Ava, they're lovely—" "What, those silly weeds?" said Valentina, cutting across Jacinta and giving her a withering stare. "They stink and my aunt will hate them." Ava's smile vanished. Isabel reached

Valentina's desk in an instant. "You're the one who stinks!" she said crossly. "You smell like frog poo!" Valentina jumped to her feet. "How dare you! I use a very expensive shower gel! I'll tell my parents you've been rude." Isabel rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm SO scared!" Just then Ms Nettles came in carrying a pile of exercise books. She stopped and stiffened like a snake about to strike, her beady eyes flicking from Valentina to Isabel. "What's going on, girls?" she snapped. "Isabel was being really mean to me, Auntie… I mean Ms Nettles." Valentina's eyes widened. "She said really, really horrible things." Her voice rose in a wail. "Isabel, I will not have bullying in my class!" said Ms Nettles sharply. "But—" protested Isabel. "Sit down at once!" ordered Ms Nettles. "It wasn't Isabel's fault!" Ava jumped in

quickly. "Valentina was being unkind." "Atishoo!" Ms Nettles sneezed and her eyes started to stream. "For goodness' sake!" she exclaimed. "Someone remove those ridiculous flowers from over there before they kill me!" She pointed at Ava's peonies. Valentina snorted with laughter. "Told you she wouldn't like them," she whispered as Ava grabbed the vase and carried it out of the class. Valentina rolled her eyes at Jacinta and Delia. "Ava's so dumb!" she sniggered as Ava passed their desks. They giggled as Ava turned bright red. Isabel sat down next to Scarlett and glared across at Valentina. "I'm going to get her back for that," she muttered angrily. She hated it when Valentina was mean to Ava. "Count me in," whispered Scarlett. "We'll plan something tonight!"