Secrets and Sapphires Read online

  Tilly’s smile faded slightly. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” Ella said quickly.

  “I thought you’d be really happy for Tilly,” Jess said.

  “I am!” Ella nodded hard, trying to sound convincing. “Totally and utterly, completely happy. It’s really glittery, Tilly.” She swallowed, fighting back the jealousy inside. “Good job.” She turned hastily away. “I need to get something from the dorm.”

  “Ella?” Poppy said.

  But Ella quickly flew away.

  “What’s up with Ella?” she heard Jess say.

  “Maybe it’s this new uniform. Maybe it doesn’t look good on me?” she heard Tilly say uncertainly.

  Ella blocked her ears and flew on.

  “Ella! Wait!” Poppy came after her. Ella pretended not to hear. She was better at flying than Poppy and she zoomed on ahead.

  “Ella!”

  Poppy was panting by the time she caught up with Ella at the dorm door, and her blond curls were even messier than usual. “Okay, what’s going on? I know you heard me back there. Why didn’t you wait? And why were you so strange with Tilly?”

  Ella opened the door and hurried inside the dorm. It looked just as pretty as ever with their rainbow-colored cloud beds floating in the air and a golden dove cooing from above the door. A large oval window looked out on to the grounds. Ella went over to the window and gazed out of it.

  “Ella?”

  “Don’t you care that Tilly has her sapphire halo and we don’t?” Ella burst out, swinging around.

  Poppy looked at her in astonishment. “Why should I care about that? Tilly’s a much better angel than I am. I always knew she would get her sapphire halo before me.”

  Ella sighed. She knew that what Poppy was saying made sense—it just made her feel all the more terrible for feeling jealous and not being nicer to Tilly back in the common room.

  “It’s not a competition, Ella,” Poppy said softly. “We’ll all get a sapphire halo in the end if we try hard enough.”

  Ella nodded slowly. “You’re so much nicer than me,” she said miserably. “I’m an awful angel!”

  “No you’re not,” said Poppy, giving her a big hug. “You’re honest, that’s all. And that’s an important angel quality too, remember? Angel Seraphina’s always saying that.”

  Poppy’s words were a huge comfort, but Ella still felt bad. Poppy wasn’t jealous, so why should she be? She really was a terrible friend and a terrible angel. It’ll be Jess who gets a sapphire halo next, an anxious little voice in her head said. Then Poppy. I’ll be the only one with a white one.

  “Come on, let’s go back and find the others,” said Poppy.

  Ella took a deep breath and followed her slowly out the door.

  CHAPTER 5

  A Discovery

  ELLA TRIED VERY HARD TO be happy for Tilly over the next few days, but the jealous feelings wouldn’t go away. She felt really bad about it. A good angel wouldn’t ever have such horrible feelings, she was sure. It made her much quieter than usual. Luckily her friends were busy and didn’t notice too much. They were all helping out in the greenhouses with the glitter plants whenever they could—watering them, giving them flower food, making sure they were turned regularly so that their leaves all got an equal amount of sun. Everyone in the school wanted the plants to flower so that the glitter dust supplies could be renewed—and so that the Spring Picnic could happen!

  Unfortunately, Angel Celestine couldn’t tell them exactly when that would be. Apparently, all you could do was care for the plants and wait for conditions to be exactly right and then the flowering would begin.

  Jess, Tilly, and Poppy loved helping in the greenhouses, and went every break and at lunchtime, but Ella wasn’t so excited. She thought plants were boring. Whenever they went to the greenhouses she would look at the little potting shed where Star was being kept and wish she could be looking after him instead. But whenever she tried to go in and see him, she found that the door was locked. Strangely, she never seemed to see Primrose there, but a few days after Star had been found, she did overhear Primrose at lunchtime telling Angel Seraphina that she was visiting the bunny four times a day and he was doing well. Angel Seraphina gave her another halo stamp for all her care and attention. Ella felt her heart twist. Now Primrose just needed one more to get her sapphire halo—just like Jess!

  Remember what Poppy said, it’s not a competition, Ella reminded herself firmly, as she walked away from Primrose and Angel Seraphina.

  She found Poppy, Jess, and Tilly sitting in the sun, eating their lunches.

  “What have you got there, Jess?” Ella asked, sitting down by Jess and seeing a large scrapbook beside her.

  “Oh, it’s nothing—just a project I’ve started,” said Jess. “On glitter flowers.”

  “Have I missed something?” said Poppy in alarm. “Are we all supposed to be doing that? Is it homework?”

  “No, don’t worry.” Jess grinned. “It was just something I wanted to do.”

  “Phew!” said Poppy.

  “What sort of project?” Ella asked curiously.

  “Well . . .” Jess hesitated, looking a little embarrassed. “I had this idea that if I put together all the things we know about glitter flowers, it might help us for next time—to stop us from running out again. Everyone seems to be very vague about when they flower and why. Angel Celestine just says that with enough care and love they’ll eventually bloom—but she also says that in special conditions they can flower sooner. I thought if I wrote everything down it might help.”

  “It’s a glittersome idea,” said Tilly.

  “Yeah,” said Ella. She swallowed. It was a really good idea, and if Jess did it well it would be just the sort of thing to get her the last halo stamp she needed!

  She instantly felt angry with herself. That wouldn’t be why Jess was trying to do it. She wasn’t like Primrose. She was just genuinely trying to be helpful. But even so, the little voice said, she might get her sapphire halo and you’ve still got eight stamps left to go!

  Feeling uncomfortable, Ella got to her feet. “I’m going to go for a little walk,” she said.

  “Do you want some company?” Poppy asked.

  Ella shook her head. She saw her friends glance at one another in concern. She knew they were starting to worry about why she was so subdued. “I’ll catch you later!”

  She headed off before they could come with her. She walked down towards the greenhouses and stopped by Star’s shed. As usual it was locked. Ella sighed as she rattled the door. She would have loved to have cuddled the baby bunny. She sniffed suddenly. A strange, not very pleasant smell was coming from the slightly open window. What was it? She fluttered her wings and flew up to the window. It was open just a crack. As she peered in, she let out a loud gasp. The hutch was filthy! Not only that, but the water bottle was nearly empty and she could see the food bowl was bare too. Pitifully, the baby bunny scratched at the dirty straw in his cage. So much for Primrose checking on him four times a day!

  Ella had to do something. She managed to get her hand in through the open window and undo the clasp, then she pushed the window open fully and climbed inside. Her white dress snagged on the wood and as she pulled her way through, she got covered in dust, but she didn’t care. She flew down to the floor and rushed to the hutch. “Oh, you poor thing,” she said, looking at the sad little bunny. She opened the door and let him out, fetching him a bowl of food. While he hungrily started to eat, she cleaned all the dirty straw out, shoving it into an old bag and replacing it with fresh straw. Then she added hay to his living compartment and refilled his water bottle. The horrible musty smell in the air was going away now that the window was open fully.

  “Oh, Star. Primrose hasn’t been looking after you at all, has she?” she said, crouching down on the floor and getting even more dusty. The little bunny looked at her anxiously. She gently picked him up and cuddled him to her. She could feel his tiny heart pitter-pattering, his fur was velvet soft against her cheek.

  She stroked him over and over again until she felt him relax and then she put him back in his hutch with a bowl of food. “Don’t worry,” she whispered to him. “I won’t let Primrose get away with this!”

  She felt furious. How could Primrose have forgotten to feed him? Why hadn’t she been looking after him?

  “I’ll be back later to check on you, Star,” she promised. “And I’ll bring you some carrots. But first there’s someone I need to talk to.”

  Ella flew back up to the window and wriggled out. It didn’t take her long to find Primrose. She was with Veronica, Olivia, and Susie on the other side of the grounds, playing angel volleyball. She caught sight of Ella and raised her eyebrows.

  “Are you entering a dress-as-a-scarecrow competition? Or is it look-like-you’ve-been-dragged-through-a-bush-backward day?” She smirked.

  Ella paid no attention. “How could you, Primrose?”

  “How could I what?” Primrose said, but a guilty flush tinged her cheeks.

  “I want a word with you,” said Ella. “Away from here. Or I can say what I’ve got to say in front of everyone if you like?” she added.

  “Er, no, all right, I’m coming,” Primrose said hastily.

  They stopped a little way off from the others.

  “I went to see Star just now,” Ella said.

  “So?” Primrose looked defensive.

  “His hutch was dirty, he didn’t have any food, and there was only a trickle of water in his water bottle!” Ella exclaimed furiously.

  “All right, all right,” said Primrose. “Keep your halo on!” She glanced at the others who were looking at them curiously.

  “You promised to look after him,” Ella hissed. “You even got an extra halo stamp for
it! I heard you telling Angel Seraphina all about how often you were visiting him. But you haven’t been looking after him at all!”

  Primrose looked sulky. “I’ve been to see him once.”

  “Once isn’t enough—and you haven’t cleaned his cage out at all!”

  “So, what are you going to do about it?” A wary look crossed Primrose’s face. “I suppose you’re going to tell.”

  Ella hesitated. “No,” she said, through gritted teeth. “I’m not.” As much as she would have liked to, she didn’t like people who tattled. “But I want the key to the shed. You’re not to keep it locked anymore.”

  Primrose pulled out a small metal key from her pocket and handed it to her.

  “And you’d better start looking after him properly,” said Ella. “This is your last chance. If you don’t care for him, I WILL do something about it.”

  “Oh, halos and wings, I’m so scared!” said Primrose, getting some of her usual confidence back now that she knew Ella wasn’t going to tell. She flounced off towards the others who had started playing again without her. Ella stared after her. What was she going to do? She didn’t want to tell Angel Seraphina but what if Primrose didn’t look after Star any better?

  No problem, she thought, her fingers closing on the key. I’ll just look after him myself!

  CHAPTER 6

  Angel Secrets

  ELLA HEADED BACK TO STAR’S shed. As she got close to it, she saw Jess walking towards the greenhouses. “Jess!” she called, keen to make up for being quiet earlier.

  Jess smiled and waited for her. “Hi!” She blinked as she saw the state of Ella’s clothes. “Goodness, what have you been doing?”

  “Climbing through a window into Star’s shed!” Ella quickly told Jess what had happened.

  Jess was horrified. “But that’s terrible!”

  Ella nodded. “I know, but at least I found out, and I’ve got the key now so if Primrose doesn’t look after him, I will.”

  “Shouldn’t we tell Angel Seraphina that Primrose hasn’t been taking care of him?” asked Jess.

  “That would be tattling,” Ella pointed out.

  They looked at each other. Jess hesitated and then nodded. “I suppose.”

  “The important thing is that Star gets looked after properly from now on,” said Ella. “Anyway, what are you doing here?” she said, seeing the sketchbook in her friend’s hand. “Are you doing more of your project?”

  “Yes. I thought I could draw one of the flowers,” Jess said. “I tried drawing one from memory, but it was useless, and then I remembered what Angel Gabriella said in heavenly animals—about how sometimes it’s easier to sketch from life, so I thought I’d come here and give it a try.”

  “Let’s see the drawing you’ve done so far,” Ella said.

  Jess turned the pad around.

  “It’s . . . um . . . it’s . . .”

  “Terrible.” Jess sighed. “I know. I’m bad at drawing!”

  Ella chewed her bottom lip. The flower looked more like an oak tree! She felt the offer to help rise to her lips. She had helped Jess before with her drawings. But that was before Jess only needed one more halo stamp to get her sapphire halo, the little voice in her head said. Ella hesitated. She wanted to help, she really did. But . . . but . . .

  “I’ll go and have another try,” said Jess cheerfully. “Maybe Angel Gabriella’s right and I’ll do a better drawing with the plant in front of me. See you later, Ella!”

  She went on. Ella watched her. Her mouth opened and then shut again as she almost called her friend’s name and then stopped herself. Jess went into the greenhouse.

  Ella sucked in her breath. She should have offered to help. She knew she should. It was jealousy again and she disliked herself for it. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice Angel Seraphina coming toward her.

  “Penny for your thoughts.” Angel Seraphina smiled.

  “Oh, hello, Angel Seraphina,” said Ella, jumping guiltily.

  “Is everything okay, Ella?”

  “Yes, everything’s fine.”

  “It’s just that you’ve seemed quieter than your usual self this week,” said Angel Seraphina, her eyes meeting Ella’s.

  “Have I?” said Ella, startled that someone had noticed. “Oh. Well, I’m all right.” She could hardly admit to a guardian angel—and a teacher at that—what she was feeling.

  “Is it because Tilly has her sapphire halo?” Angel Seraphina said gently.

  Ella stared. Could Angel Seraphina read her mind? “Oh, Angel Seraphina,” she burst out, unable to hold it all in anymore. “I don’t know why, but I can’t stop feeling jealous. I can’t bear it. I’m a useless angel. And a terrible friend too!”

  Angel Seraphina smiled. “Ella Brown, you are neither of those things.”

  “I am,” said Ella miserably.

  “No you’re not.” Angel Seraphina looked thoughtful. “You know, Ella, I knew an angel once who felt exactly the same way as you. Every time one of her friends went up a level before her, it ate her up inside. She didn’t tell anyone, of course, but she hated herself for it.”

  “Really?” said Ella, surprised to hear that another angel could possibly have felt the same way as her.

  “Really,” said Angel Seraphina. “And when her own best friend got a ruby halo before her—well that was the very worst.”

  “And did that angel make it to the ruby stage herself?” asked Ella.

  “She did indeed,” said Angel Seraphina. She brushed down her dress and smiled. “She even made it to Guardian Angel level.”

  “You mean YOU?” said Ella, suddenly understanding what Angel Seraphina was trying to tell her.

  “Yes, me.” Angel Seraphina laughed. “Remember, I was a trainee guardian angel once too and when I was at school I learned the important lesson that it’s not how you feel inside that matters but how you act on those feelings.”

  Ella frowned. It definitely put a different take on things.

  “I hope knowing that helps you, Ella,” said Angel Seraphina. “Now, I want to go and see how the glitter flowers are coming along. Do you want to come with me?”

  Ella nodded. As she followed the teacher into the greenhouse, she realized that what Angel Seraphina had just said made perfect sense. You couldn’t help the feelings you had—feelings just happened in your head. It was how you acted that made you good or bad.

  They found Jess inside, sketching. “How’s it going?” Ella asked, going over to her as Angel Seraphina walked around, inspecting the flowers with their tightly closed buds.

  “Look!” Jess sighed and held up her pad. “Maybe if you can draw like Angel Gabriella then it’s easier to draw from life, but not if you’re as useless as me.”

  “Don’t be silly, you’re not that bad,” said Ella. “First of all you need to look at the proportions of the plant. At the moment the leaves you’ve drawn are much too small and the stem too thick. Why don’t you start again and I’ll help you?”

  They sat side by side, not even noticing when Angel Seraphina left the greenhouse, both engrossed in the picture. With Ella’s help, Jess began to draw a plant that looked much more realistic. When the drawing was finally finished, she beamed.

  “Oh, it looks perfect now, Ella,” said Jess. “Thank you so much. When I hand my project in, I’ll tell Angel Celestine how much you helped me.”

  “Don’t be silly, Jess,” Ella said. “This is your project. You did the drawing, I just gave you some advice.”

  “But you might get a halo stamp. . . .”

  “I didn’t do it because I wanted a halo stamp,” Ella said. “I just did it for you.”

  Their eyes met. For a moment Ella thought the light in the greenhouse seemed to glow even more brightly. She blinked and everything was back to normal.

  “Thank you for helping me,” Jess said, standing up.

  “I’m just glad I could,” Ella said. They smiled at each other and, linking arms, they left the greenhouse together.

  CHAPTER 7

  Uncovered!

  FOR THE REST OF THE day, Ella went back and forth from the school to the shed to look after Star. There was neither sight nor sound of Primrose, but Ella didn’t care about that. She was really enjoying looking after the little bunny herself. She felt so much happier since her talk with Angel Seraphina. Jess’s project was almost finished and Ella was sure she would get a halo stamp for it when she handed it in, but suddenly she realized she felt okay about that. Of course she still wanted a sapphire halo herself, but Angel Seraphina had made her feel much better. She might not be one of the first to get a sapphire halo but if she really tried to be good, she would fill her card and still get one. Just like Angel Seraphina had when she’d been younger.