‘I don’t know how you know, but why doesn’t it bother you? It would bother me,’ Jackson replied.
‘Don’t say that,’ Olivia said. She didn’t want him to be unhappy about who he was. ‘There’s nothing wrong with being yourself.’
‘Myself?’ Jackson said. ‘I don’t have any control over it.’
‘Of course not,’ Olivia said, thinking of her and Ivy’s history. ‘You can’t choose who you are.’
Jackson looked totally confused. ‘Are we talking about the same thing?’
It must be hard for any vampire to expose the secret, after living their whole lives upholding the First Law. Olivia decided that if she just laid it all out and said the ‘v’ word herself, it would prove she knew and then she could tell Jackson what she brought him here to say.
She took one of his gloved hands in her mittens and took a deep breath.
‘Jackson,’ she said. ‘Listen to me . . .’
Chapter Eleven
‘Hello!’ A familiar voice interrupted her. ‘Yoo-hoo! Hi, guys!’ Olivia saw Ivy trampling through the grass towards them, waving like crazy.
‘Has she had too many sugary drinks?’ Jackson asked.
‘Good question,’ Olivia replied cautiously.
‘Hi!’ Ivy called as she neared.
Brendan, bringing up the rear, looked as baffled as Olivia felt.
‘Hey, Olivia,’ Ivy said, totally out of breath and red-faced. ‘Oh, hi, Jackson.’
‘Hi,’ Jackson replied, but he didn’t take his eyes off Olivia.
Ivy plonked herself in between Olivia and Jackson. ‘What are you guys up to?’
Olivia searched Ivy’s face for a sign. Why was her sister acting so super-cheerful? Ivy knew why she’d brought Jackson here but she was acting like it was the most normal thing in the world to hang out in a graveyard. Which, Olivia supposed, for Ivy it is.
‘Just talking,’ Olivia said, trying to put Go away into her voice.
‘Jackson, this is Brendan,’ Ivy said. ‘Brendan, this is Jackson.’ When the two guys were saying their hellos, Ivy knocked Olivia on the arm to get her attention and mouthed, ‘NOT A VAMPIRE!’
Did Ivy just say what I think she just said?
Ivy made rabbit ears with her fingers and was making hopping motions when Jackson turned back. Ivy quickly dropped her hand.
Rabbit. Bunny. Suddenly Olivia realised what Ivy was trying to say. Jackson was NOT a vampire!
‘What do you think of our cemetery, Jackson?’ Ivy said.
Not a vampire, not a vampire! kept running through Olivia’s mind. That meant that she didn’t have to break it off with him. She wanted to bounce around among the graves with happiness, until she realised that it meant she’d brought him to the oddest place for their first date.
‘It’s very nice,’ Jackson replied.
He must think I’m insane, Olivia thought.
‘I just wanted us to have a quick look at some of the sights of the city,’ Olivia said. ‘But maybe now we should go somewhere warmer.’
The foursome walked down the stone path towards the street.
‘What about the stuff we were talking about?’ Jackson asked her quietly so Ivy and Brendan couldn’t hear.
‘Uh . . .’ Olivia started. If he isn’t a vampire, Olivia realised, then he had something entirely different to tell me. Olivia gulped. And I’m not going to like it.
Just then, a sleek silver Mercedes pulled up.
‘Uh oh,’ Jackson said. ‘I’ve been discovered.’
The door opened and Amy Teller emerged. ‘Jackson! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!’
‘Hi, Amy,’ he called and led everyone over to the sidewalk.
‘What are you doing dressed as a security guard?’ she demanded. ‘Philippe wants you and Jessica to start filming this afternoon.’
Olivia was confused. ‘Jessica?’
‘That’s what I was trying to tell you,’ Jackson said. ‘Philippe cancelled your auditions because Jessica came back to the movie.’
‘Oh.’ Olivia felt like a deflated balloon.
First, she’d dragged Jackson to a graveyard, almost blurted out the biggest secret ever and, finally, found out that she had lost her chance to be in a movie. Not a good day, Olivia thought.
‘Look, I –’ Jackson started, but Amy cut him off.
‘We really need to get back,’ Amy said.
‘I’m really sorry,’ Jackson said and stepped into the car. ‘I hope I get to see you around, somewhere? Goodbye, Olivia.’
‘Goodbye, Jackson,’ Olivia whispered.
As he was shutting the door, Olivia heard Amy ask, ‘What were you doing hanging out in a graveyard?’
The car sped off towards the movie set. Ivy followed a dazed Olivia as she wandered down the sidewalk and sat on a wooden bench.
Ivy put her arm around her sister. ‘Aw, sis, I’m sorry.’
Olivia hugged her back and wiped away her tears. ‘Not your fault. Jackson and I just weren’t meant to be.’
‘At least you didn’t blow the coffin lid off our vamp secret,’ Ivy said, trying to point out the positive.
‘It was pretty close,’ Olivia admitted.
‘How about getting something to eat?’ Brendan suggested hopefully.
‘Since the Meat & Greet is currently J-Squared central – that’s Jackson and Jessica central apparently,’ Ivy explained to a bewildered Olivia, ‘let’s hit the Juice Bar.’
‘Woohoo!’ Brendan said.
That night, Ivy was sipping hot chocolate with Olivia next to her on the Abbotts’ couch. Her dad was back from his trip and she wanted to hear all about it, mostly to distract herself from all the guilt she was feeling over Jackson and Olivia.
Mr Vega said he had come straight from the airport to thank Mrs Abbott for looking after Ivy and to pick her up. Of course, Mrs Abbott had laid out a vegetarian feast, which he was picking at to be polite.
‘Enough of those boring details,’ said Mr Vega, ‘I understand it has been an eventful few days, in my absence. Anyone going to fill me in on the latest news?’
When Olivia finished explaining that the original movie’s star had returned, Mr Vega said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I think you would make a fine actress, Olivia.’
Ivy saw her sister smile again. Maybe she’s going to be OK, Ivy thought.
‘It’s probably better that a real actress is doing it,’ Olivia replied. ‘But I’ve decided to try out for the next school play.’
‘Unless Charlotte’s going for the part, then you might really break a leg! Hers!’ Ivy joked.
As Olivia chuckled, someone rang the front doorbell. Mrs Abbott stood up to get it and Ivy peeked out the window to see who it was. A flash of blonde hair, and she knew right away.
Olivia hurried down the hallway, squeezed past her mom and opened the door.
‘Hi, Jackson,’ she said, although about a thousand other things were running through her head to say like, Graveyards aren’t that bad, or How about a smoothie? or I’m not as crazy as I seem, honestly.
‘Hey,’ he replied, his smile making Olivia’s heart go squidgy like a gummy bear.
He was wearing his brown cowboy boots again, faded jeans and a blue long-sleeved T-shirt that matched his eyes. A dark car was waiting for him by her mailbox and she could see a chauffeur inside.
‘I didn’t get to say everything I wanted to say today at the graveyard,’ he said, and she could see his breath in the cold air.
Olivia stepped outside on to the porch and pulled the door closed behind her. She was guessing that she didn’t want her whole family to hear this.
‘I wanted to say that before Jessica came back, Philippe had decided to choose you.’
Olivia let out a squeal. ‘Really?’
Jackson laughed. ‘Really.’
Even though it would never happen now, it was super-exciting to know that a Hollywood director thought she had the potential to be a movie star.
‘And since P
hilippe has decided that he “discovered” you –’ Jackson put on a silly French accent when he said ‘discovered’ – ‘he’s ordered the writers to create a new part.’
Olivia couldn’t believe it.
‘Since Chase only sees Mia in his imagination until the last Franklin Grove, Philippe decided that he’s going to make this Franklin Grove the second to last one, and Chase is going to be tempted to stay by another girl . . . you.’
‘Me?’ Olivia squeaked.
Jackson moved forward when he replied, ‘That won’t be too hard for me to act.’
Olivia held her breath. Did he just say that? she thought.
‘It’s only a small part, but I know you’ll be great in it.’ Jackson held up a folder full of papers. ‘I’ve brought some forms that your parents have to read and sign, if they’re happy for you to do it.’
Olivia took the papers. ‘Thank you so much. I know that none of this would have happened if it weren’t for you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Jackson replied. ‘But you’re the one who did it.’
Just then, Olivia heard a clunk against the window and saw the curtain inside being closed hurriedly.
‘I think I better ask you to come in,’ Olivia said, realising for the first time that she wasn’t even wearing a coat.
‘I’d love that.’ Jackson smiled and she realised why she didn’t need one.
‘Oh, there’s just one last thing,’ Jackson said. ‘The new character is a goth, so you might want to get some tips from that twin of yours.’ He winked.
Olivia grinned. ‘Took you long enough.’
Ivy was only a little embarrassed about being caught watching Olivia and Jackson. When they walked into the living room together, they looked so right together that she wished she’d never tried to keep them apart.
Olivia looked like she was going to burst with some news.
‘I got a part in the movie!’ she announced.
‘Yay!’ Ivy cheered. Mrs Abbott clapped and Mr Vega looked like he knew it was going to happen all along.
As Jackson introduced himself and explained to her parents about Olivia’s part and that she would only miss two days of school, Ivy went over to Olivia and whispered, ‘Did he ask you out again?’
‘No, it was all very professional.’
‘Not all of it,’ Ivy hissed back. ‘I saw the way he was looking at you!’
‘Can I get you a drink, Jackson?’ Mrs Abbott said.
‘No, thank you, but do any of those delicious-looking snacks have meat in them?’ he replied.
‘We’re vegetarians,’ Mrs Abbott explained.
‘Excellent!’ Jackson said. ‘Me too.’
Ivy smacked her hand to her forehead. Typical. Only she would mistake a vegetarian for a vampire.
‘But what about that burger that Curtis gave you?’ Olivia asked. ‘I believe the exact words were “hunk of cow”?’
Jackson had his hands full with crackers dipped in hummus. ‘Oh, he was just teasing. That burger is the best garden burger on the circuit – and Curtis keeps that oven just for us veggies to make sure there’s no contamination.’
Olivia let out a little sigh.
They really are perfect for each other, Ivy thought.
Jackson cleared his throat. ‘There is one other thing I would like to ask your permission for; something that isn’t on the forms.’
Ivy and Olivia watched as their parents looked at Jackson.
‘I would like to take Olivia to the movies tomorrow night.’
Olivia grabbed Ivy’s hand, and Ivy smiled. Jackson had already won over Mr Vega just by asking, and Mr Abbott stood up to shake Jackson’s hand. Mrs Abbott let out an Olivia-like squeal and went to get her camera.
‘That is, if you’ll go with me?’ Jackson said to Olivia. ‘It’s your decision, after all.’
‘Of course I will,’ she said.
Ivy plonked down on the carpet next to her dad’s chair, happy that everything had worked out. There was nothing better in the world than seeing her sister happy. Nothing could spoil things now. She nudged over a little, to avoid the airline sticker on his bag that was poking against her neck.
She pushed it away and read the letters LAX. That’s not Dallas, Ivy thought. That’s Los Angeles.
Ivy watched everyone follow each other into the kitchen for some lemonade, but stayed sitting on the couch alone. Is Dad telling us the whole truth . . .? Ivy wondered. Why would he lie?
Her phone beeped with a text message from Brendan: ‘Everything all right now?’
Ivy texted back, ‘I’m not sure . . .’
Could there be another secret to unravel?
Sink your fangs into these:
Switched
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Coming soon:
Love Bites
05 Take Two - My Sister the Vampire Page 11