Libby and the Class Election (16 page)

Waverly bustled by, then grabbed Libby's hand and pulled her to her feet. “This is no time to relax,” she scolded. “We have an election to win!” She clapped her
hands together. “Now where's Ava?” she asked. Libby pointed Ava out and Waverly headed in her direction.

Libby walked to the edge of the stage and peeked out from behind the heavy red stage curtain. Kristie was in the middle of her speech. She was making a lot of jokes and the audience was laughing
at most of them. That was worrisome. But almost everyone in the audience was sporting a fake mustache. That was a good sign. Things were looking great. Really great.

A familiar voice came from behind her. “Excuse me.”

Libby had a sinking feeling in her stomach as she turned around. As she had feared, it was Sage—a Wishling version of her, with light brown hair and Wishling clothing.

“Wh-wh-what are you doing here?” Libby asked, bewildered. “I really don't think I need any help. It's all falling into place.”

“Hey, what's that on your face?”

Libby reached up. “Oh, it's a mustache. Want one?” She pulled one out of her pocket, peeled off its backing, and put it under Sage's nose.

“Um, thanks,” said Sage, making a funny face. “So back to business. Lady Stella seems to think that something's not quite right with your mission. Look at your pendant,
it's totally empty!” She looked closely at Libby. “Plus, are you tired?”

“Very,” Libby admitted. “But I think that's because I was granting these silly little wishes my Wisher was making. It took a lot out of me. The main wish is totally under
control.” She pointed out to the audience. “And it's just about to come true.”

“I wouldn't be so sure about that,” said Sage. “There's got to be something else going on. Let's think. Are you absolutely certain that you identified the
correct Wisher?”

“Absolutely,” said Libby firmly. “My Wish Pendant was glowing, no question about it.”

“Then it must be the wish that's wrong,” Sage said.

“Impossible,” said Libby. Her eyes swept the backstage area. Ava stood in the wings with Waverly. It looked like she was getting a pep talk. But then Libby took a closer look. She
suddenly realized that Ava was not paying attention. She was staring at Kristie. And she didn't look nervous, or competitive, or even particularly interested in what Kristie was saying. She
was smiling, but there was a look of sadness in her eyes. And suddenly everything made perfect sense.

“You're right,” she told Sage. “I messed up.” But how was she going to fix this? She looked at Sage, panic stricken. “I'm not sure what to do,”
she told her. Should she stop the election? Try to get the two girls to talk to each other? Grab the microphone and talk to both of them? Sage held out her hands. “Let's say your Mirror
Mantra together,” she said. “It will help you decide.” The two girls held hands. “It's all in the balance. Glimmer and shine,” they said together. A feeling of
pure peace flowed through Libby. Her jumbled thoughts were gone. And suddenly she knew exactly what she had to do.

“Good luck!” said Sage.

Libby walked over to Ava and Waverly.

Waverly looked at Libby. “I don't know what to do,” she said. “She needs to get out there and give the speech of her life. And it's like she could care less. Will
you see what you can do?”

“I will,” said Libby. “Just give us a minute.” She stared at Waverly, who was lingering to eavesdrop. “A little privacy?” she asked.

Waverly looked uncertain, but she did as she was asked.

Ava looked at Libby. “There's nothing to say. I don't need a pep talk. I'll be fine.” She sighed deeply.

Libby put her hand on Ava's shoulder. “I got it wrong,” she said. “When we first met, you said you wished for something. I assumed you wished that you would win the
election. But what you wished for was that you could win your best friend back. Is that right?”

Ava nodded, looking at the floor. “That's right.”

“Why didn't you say anything?” asked Libby sadly.

“It just seemed pointless,” Ava said. “And Waverly was working so hard, and then you joined in. You guys had done so much, and I just felt bad. I felt like I had to see it
through. But I don't care about this stupid election. I just want my best friend back.”

Libby's heart sank. How in the world was she going to fix this?

“There's no time,” she said. “You have this speech to make and…” Suddenly, Libby was inspired. “Hand me your speech,” she said. “And make
it snappy.” She glanced at her Countdown Clock. “We're almost out of time.”

Ava handed it over. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Turn around,” Libby instructed. Using Ava's back as a makeshift desk, she scribbled some words on the paper. “Hope you can read my handwriting,” she said.

She handed the paper back to Ava, who looked panicked.

Kristie finished her speech to applause and cheers.

The principal walked over to the microphone. “And now please put your hands together for presidential candidate Ava Cunningham!” she said.

“You can do it,” said Libby. “You can make your wish come true. It's a wish from the heart. Your heart.”

Ava stumbled onto the stage. The audience was silent. She slowly made her way to the podium. Libby held her breath as Ava blinked for a moment at the large audience.

“Speech!” someone called out. A couple of students laughed.

Ava looked down and scanned the paper. And then she began to speak. “Hi, everyone, my name is Ava Cunningham. You've probably seen my posters around school, asking you to vote for
me. I've shaken many of your hands in the hallway, telling you that I am the best candidate for this job. And here”—she held up the paper—“I have a carefully written
speech about all the things I'll do as class president, and how you should vote for me instead of Kristie. But I'm not going to read it.”

Waverly stomped over to Libby. “Are you kidding me?” she said furiously. “What kind of pep talk did you give her?”

Libby held up a hand. Waverly crossed her arms tightly, her mouth set in a grim line.

“I'm here to talk about something else,” Ava continued. “I'm here today to tell you about someone who has a great sense of humor and really cares about this school.
Someone who will be the best president you guys could want. I used to call her my very best friend. And her name is Kristie Chang.”

Waverly shook her head at Libby. “What a disaster!” she said.

The crowd began to murmur. “That's right,” said Ava. “I am dropping out of the race. It cost me the thing that was most important to me. So please vote for my very best
friend, Kristie Chang, for class president!”

There was a stunned silence.

Libby stepped onstage. And then she began to clap. At first she was the only one. But then, one by one, the students started to applaud, until the whole school, faculty included, were on their
feet, cheering for Ava.

A hush fell over the crowd. Kristie was making her way onstage. She stepped up to the microphone. “In the campaign I also lost sight of what's most important. I miss you, Ava. If
it's okay with the student council, I propose that we be copresidents. No election needed!”

Ava looked shocked. Then her face broke into a huge smile, and she hugged Kristie. The audience erupted into cheers.

Libby rushed onstage and handed the young female Wishlings matching mustaches. They put them on and waved at the audience, who burst into laughter.

“I mustache you to be my best friend again,” Libby heard Ava say to Kristie.

Kristie nodded. “Of course,” she said. “I really missed you.” The crowd cheered.

“Now watch,” said Sage, appearing at Libby's side. Rainbow light energy began to flow from Ava, dancing across the stage in a joyful stream as it was absorbed into
Libby's Wish Pendant. It was amazingly breathtaking. Libby felt sorry that she and Sage were the only two who could see it.

“I'm sorry, Libby, but it's time to say good-bye,” Sage said.

Libby's shoulders sagged. She had really grown to like Ava. She was proud that she had helped bring two friends back together, and she wanted to enjoy the moment for a bit longer. But the
mission was a success, her identity was still a secret, and the wish energy had been collected. It was time to go home.

Libby found Ava in the auditorium happily accepting congratulations from students and teachers alike. Ava threw her arms around Libby. “Thanks so much for helping me,” she said.
“Nice mustache.”

“Thanks,” said Libby, twirling the end. “I think it suits me. It was my pleasure.” She took a deep breath. “I don't know how to tell you this, but I've
got to go.”

“I wish…” said Ava. Libby cringed for a moment. “I wish you didn't have to go. But something is telling me that it's important.”

Libby reached forward and hugged her tightly. “You're right,” she whispered. When the two broke from their embrace, Ava gave Libby a polite smile, as if Libby was just another
supporter wishing her well. “Thank you,” she said. “I promise to be a good copresident.”

“I'm sure you'll be the best,” said Libby.

“Star salutations,”
Libby told Sage as they made their way across campus back on Starland. “I couldn't have done it without
you.”

“No problem,” said Sage. “I'm glad I could help.”

As the moving sidewalk traveled past Halo Hall, the two girls noticed a crowd of students outside, grouped around the holo-announcement board. Sage looked at Libby. “Do you think it could
be the band results?” she asked.

“Could be,” said Libby. “Let's go see.” They stepped off the moving sidewalk and headed over to see what was going on.

They joined the crowd and waited patiently so they could take a peek. A student, an exasperated look on her face, shoved her way back through the crowd. “Whatever,” she said
scornfully. “It's all those Star Dippers. They should just call it Stupidrock.”

Libby and Sage looked at each other. Could it be true? When they got to the front of the line, they saw the list:

“Can you believe it?” someone asked behind them. Libby turned around. It was Leona. She had a big grin on her face. “An all–Star Darling band. Chosen
by the Ranker as the best possible combination of musicians. Who would have thought?”

Then she frowned. “I'm not sure about the name, though. I was thinking of something snappier.”

“Like what?” asked Sage.

“Like Leona and the Luminaries,” suggested Leona.

Libby laughed. “It's fine just as it is,” she told Leona. She grinned. This was exciting news on top of her successful mission. It was a good group. Leona, well, she could be a
handful. But Libby was sure the other girls, especially Scarlet, would help balance out Leona's extra-large personality. Libby practically skipped all the way to her room.

The door slid open, and the first thing Libby saw was the flowers. Oddly enough, they hadn't faded. They were actually just as fresh-looking as the day the girls had gotten them. The
smell, if anything, had gotten even stronger.

“You're back!” cried Gemma, looking up from her holo-book. “Was your mission a success?”

“It was,” said Libby. “But it had its setbacks. I suppose I'll be in the starlight tomorrow in class.”

“Probably,” agreed Gemma, perhaps a little too quickly. “So the band results are in,” she told Libby.

“I just saw them,” Libby replied. “I'm sorry.”