Free #3 Mirrored by Annie Graves Page A

about the times when Pearse came into her room when she wasn’t there and tried to find her diary so he could read it.
    She also told her about the world of glass, entire glass cities stretching for miles. About the sparkling buildings. People who looked like ice sculptures. Orange skies above a lemon street.

    Abbey loved Bee. She was just like her. She understood Abbey in a way that no one else could.
    She could tell Bee her secrets. She knew Bee would never betray her.
    And Bee could watch her room for her.
    You never knew what Pearse would do. He was such a sneak.
    Abbey told Bee about how Pearse never had time for her. He treated her like a child and teased her whenever she said anything.
    Abbey had found a best friend, a twin. At her house. In her room!
    Then, one Saturday afternoon, Abbey ran into her room sobbing. Pearse had made fun of one of her best drawings. Things like this were always happening in the Street family. When she got upset, her parents told her to stop being silly.
    She was so angry!
    She ran to Bee and told her all about it. “I wish I could get out of here. Sometimes I hate them. I wish I could be someplace different,” she sniffed. “Somewhere away from them.”

    Bee looked at Abbey and said softly, “You know, Abs, there is something you could do.”
    Abbey stopped sniffing. “What?”
    â€œYou could come in here.”
    â€œOh,” Abbey cried, “could I?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œReally, Bee?! I could?”
    â€œOf course, Abs. You’re my best friend.” They grinned at each other and burst out laughing.
    â€œBut one thing,” Bee said. “I’d have to come out there. That’s the only way it would work.”
    Abbey made a face. “Pearse would think you were me. He would be so mean to you.”
    â€œDon’t you worry about that.” Bee smiled. “I can handle Pearse.”

    Abbey and Bee agreed to swap the next afternoon. Just for a couple of hours.

    Abbey could hardly sleep that night. What an adventure. Like flying around the world in night goggles. But this was real.
    After lunch Bee and Abbey faced each other in the mirror. Both of them were serious and nervous.
    â€œOK, Bee, here we go.” Abbey stepped forward and reached to touch Bee’s hands through the mirror. She took a deep breath.

    Abbey felt a strange, cold sensation like she was passing through icy water. She came out on the other side of the mirror.

    It was very weird. Everything was opposite. The letters of her name above her bed were backward. Abbey turned back to the mirror.

    Bee had opened the window and stuck her head out. She looked almost crazy. She turned to Abbey and grinned. “This is brilliant. See you later, Abs—good luck.”
    She closed the window, ran out the door, and slammed it behind her.
    Abbey waited for her heart to stop pounding. She went to the window, but she couldn’t open it. It was stuck fast.
    And a funny thing—all she could see outside was her own back garden, only in reverse. No glass buildings. No people like ice sculptures. No orange skies.

    She would have to go out into the street and have a look. Everything was only a reflection in here. Out there, beyond that bedroom door with the handle on the wrong side, was a new world.
    She checked her clock. It was backwards, but she figured out that it was two o’clock. They were supposed to meet back here at teatime.

    Abbey walked over to her bedroom door and grabbed the handle.
    It was stuck. She twisted it again, but it wouldn’t move—not even a little bit. She jerked it harder and harder, pushed at the door, banged it in frustration. Finally she gave up.
    She tried the window again but couldn’t budge it. This was really annoying. She’d have to wait for Bee to come back and explain how to work the door. How could she not have mentioned this?
    Abbey sat down in a huff and waited for Bee. Hours passed.