Olivia followed after with clenched teeth and hunched shoulders, while Josh’s friends sent catcalls after her. This was definitely the last time she would ever take the Lincoln Vale bus!
As she marched through the hallway ten minutes later, Olivia did her best not to make eye-contact with anyone . Seriously, had the kids from the bus really had to tell her embarrassing story to every single person they met today? She could hear whispers on every side, and she didn’t need to have vampire hearing to know that they were talking about her.
I was trying to help this whole school with ‘Operation Famelia’! she wanted to yell. I was doing it for you guys!
Instead, she kept her head down and her gaze fixed on the ground . . . until a strong hand suddenly grabbed her arm. Even as Olivia yelped, she was dragged sideways across the hallway floor. A moment later, a door slammed shut, closing her off from the crowded hallway. Shelves full of pens and paper rose around her.
‘What on earth?’ She whirled around. Ivy! ‘What’s going on?’ Olivia asked her twin. ‘And why are we in a stationery cupboard?’
‘I should ask you that!’ Ivy stared at her. ‘Where have you been this morning? When I didn’t see you on the bus, I thought you must be sick today.’
‘Not . . . exactly.’ Olivia sighed. At least the rumour mill hadn’t reached Ivy yet. Maybe even the gossips were smart enough to know that the most popular girl in ninth grade wouldn’t take well at all to people mocking her twin. ‘I got the bus from Lincoln Vale.’
‘Sorry?’ Ivy frowned. ‘But why –? No, never mind. I don’t need any more of a headache!’
Olivia looked more closely at her sister. Ivy’s skin was paler than usual, and her eyes looked shadowed. ‘Why are we in a stationery cupboard ?’
Ivy shrugged, looking miserable. ‘I didn’t know where else to go. I don’t know anything at this crazy school! I walk into the hallways and just get overcome with the urge to . . . well, hide!’ She slumped back against the shelves of paper, wrapping her arms around her chest defensively. ‘I couldn’t think of anywhere else we could talk without being interrupted.’
Olivia shook her head, concern overwhelming her earlier embarrassment. ‘This has to stop,’ she said. ‘You can’t hide in cupboards every day for four years, can you?’
‘Maybe not,’ Ivy muttered. ‘But I also can’t give fashion tips to every pale-faced, eyeliner-wearing ninth grader who thinks the Pall Bearers sold out . . . which they did not!’ She straightened, her face darkening with obvious outrage. ‘There’s absolutely nothing wrong with keyboards, no matter what any of those goths want to say!’
‘Ohh-kay,’ Olivia said, and put her hands up. ‘I didn’t criticise your favourite band, though. Remember?’
‘I know.’ Ivy sagged again, the energy seeming to drain out of her. ‘The thing is, I don’t want to change just because of this popularity nonsense . . . but right now, I don’t see how I can avoid it.’
Olivia reached out and took her sister’s hand in hers. ‘Maybe change is just inevitable,’ she said quietly. ‘I mean, look at us. We’re older now, and we’re in a new school, with new people all around us. Well . . .’ she glanced over her shoulder ‘new stationery around us, at the moment. But you know what I mean! We’re going to have to change whether we like it or not.’
Ivy squeezed her hand even as she scowled. ‘I wish I didn’t have to.’
‘Seriously?’ Olivia couldn’t help giggling as she imagined it. ‘Are you telling me you want to be fourteen for the rest of your life, Ivy Vega?’
‘Oh my darkness. No way!’ Ivy shuddered, dropping Olivia’s hand. ‘That would mean I’d be trapped in this school in a time-loop forever and ever. Do you know how long forever is?’
‘I know it’s too long to spend in high school!’ Olivia agreed. Their gazes met, and they both started laughing at once. Olivia darted forwards and wrapped her twin up in a hug. Ivy smelled of the incense she liked to burn, and she felt absolutely perfect to Olivia. ‘It is so, so good to be talking with you again!’
‘Even though it’s one of the most surreal, ridiculous conversations ever?’ Ivy’s arms closed around her tightly.
‘I only have these conversations with you,’ Olivia said honestly. ‘It’s one of the reasons I love them.’
‘Me, too. And we haven’t been talking at all this week, have we?’ Ivy sighed as she let go of the hug. ‘I’m so sorry about what happened in the cafeteria the other day. It was just a situation that slipped completely out of my control. I didn’t know what to do to fix it . . . and then everything got so weird after that.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Olivia smiled reassuringly as she stepped back. ‘It’s all forgotten now. Honestly.’
‘Are you sure?’ Ivy’s eyes looked dark and lost. ‘Things have just gotten so tangled up –’
‘Then we’ll untangle them.’ Olivia gave a firm nod. ‘You’re right, all of this nonsense has come to a head. Luckily, I’m here to help.’
Maybe Olivia didn’t know how to handle Ivy’s level of popularity . . . but she knew someone else who would. And Ivy and Olivia weren’t the only ones who’d changed, this past year.
Ivy’s eyes narrowed. ‘I know that look. Olivia Abbott, what are you planning?’
‘Don’t you worry,’ Olivia said, patting Ivy’s arm. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to get Finn and Amelia together after all – but she could at least help her own sister. And it always felt better to have a plan of action!
‘I know exactly what to do,’ she announced. ‘All that Hollywood training of mine is finally going to come in handy.’
‘It is?’ Ivy looked even more nervous than before. ‘I’m not so sure . . .’
‘I am,’ said Olivia. ‘All we need is an empty house – that’ll be yours, tonight – and . . .’ she braced herself, preparing for a trademark Ivy death-squint ‘. . . Charlotte Brown!’
‘What?!’ Ivy stared at her. ‘Are you serious? You want to ask Charlotte Brown for help with this? The girl who ruled Franklin Grove Middle with a sparkly pink fist? She was our least favourite person there!’
‘I can hardly believe it, either,’ Olivia admitted, ‘but . . . Charlotte may be our only hope at this stage. Can you think of anyone more qualified to give advice about popularity?’
‘Oh, ack.’ Ivy groaned. Her eyes darted furiously back and forth, as Olivia watched, holding her breath.
Finally, Ivy let out a heavy sigh. ‘Fine,’ she said. ‘I’ve run out of ideas of my own . . . so I can’t say no to any plan, no matter how much I hate it.’ She set her jaw, looking as grim as if she were preparing to be marched to her own execution. ‘Let’s do it,’ she said. ‘Let’s bring in Charlotte.’
Chapter Ten
The doorbell to Ivy’s house rang that evening like a warning. She trudged towards it with heavy steps and found Charlotte Brown waiting for her on the porch, looking as pop-star wannabe as ever. The neat suburban lawns of Undertaker Hill were quiet and plain behind her, making Charlotte look even more glitzy by contrast. Her blonde hair was sprayed into perfect waves, and a bright pink leather purse, studded with rhinestones, hung over her arm. All she’s missing is a tiny little dog to ride in the purse! Ivy thought.
‘Ivy Vega.’ Charlotte shook her head wonderingly as she looked Ivy up and down, from her black boots and combat trousers to her silver bat-wing top. ‘If someone had said a year ago that you and I would be voluntarily working together on anything . . . would you have believed it?’
‘Not in a million years.’ Thinking of a thousand different snide comments Charlotte had tossed at her over the years, Ivy drew a deep breath – and then let it out in a whoosh, all her bad memories flooding out with it. ‘But you know what? Since you helped us take down that awful Jessica Phelps last spring, I have no trouble believing it now. And that’s all that matters.’
‘Really?’ Charlotte’s lips quirked into a surprisingly shy-looking smile.
‘Really,’ Ivy agreed. Charlotte had helped save O
livia’s big movie role – and her relationship with Jackson – from the schemes of Hollywood’s most horrible vamp actress. That had to count for a lot. She stepped forwards. Yes, this is really happening!
Ivy was holding out her arms to Charlotte Brown, of all people . . . and Charlotte was doing the same in return. Franklin Grove Middle School’s sworn enemies were hugging !
‘Well.’ Charlotte stepped back, patting her hair back into place. ‘You’ve lucked out tonight. Not only am I working with you – I’ve brought reinforcements!’
‘Huh?’ Ivy followed the direction of Charlotte’s pointing finger to look up the street. Then she grinned as she recognised the long blonde hair and hippie-styled clothing of the girl hurrying towards them. ‘Holly!’
Holly Turner grinned back at Ivy as she reached the house. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders without a touch of hairspray, and embroidered flowers trailed all over her peasant blouse. ‘Hey, Ivy. How’s your new school going? Too bad you can’t go to Willowton High with us!’
‘Yeah, well . . .’ Ivy was still trying to figure out how to answer that when her eyes nearly popped out – because Holly and Charlotte were exchanging an actual hug in front of her. Whoa. That’s two hugs for Charlotte in two minutes – and she looks like she’s taking it for granted. Does enrolment at Willowton High come with a hug requirement?
Ivy took a deep breath, absorbing the shock of it. Maybe high school can be good for something after all! Not only was Charlotte acting ten times nicer than she ever had before, but for the first time ever, she seemed to have actual friends – even friends who were visibly different from her – rather than just ‘hangers-on’!
‘Come on in,’ Ivy said, as Holly and Charlotte moved apart. Still feeling dizzy with surprise, she stepped back and waved them down the hallway. ‘The others are all waiting in the kitchen.’
Holly had been to Ivy’s house that summer, but this was the first time Ivy had ever invited Charlotte inside. She could feel the other girl looking at everything with curiosity, but there were none of the snide comments she would have expected a year ago. When they stepped into the kitchen, though, and found Olivia, Brendan, Sophia and Camilla waiting there, eating chips, Charlotte’s eyes widened.
‘Sophia! Your hair – it’s like lightning!’
Sophia smiled serenely, munching on another chip. ‘I know. Isn’t it great?’
‘Ah . . .’ Charlotte swallowed visibly. ‘Mm!’ she said, through clamped-shut lips. ‘Mmm!’ Her face flushed as pink as the purse over her arm.
Ivy hid a smirk as she stepped up to Brendan’s side. Charlotte looked as if she were about to burst with the effort of restraining herself from giving her real opinion . . . but for once, Ivy’s ex-nemesis was actually holding her nasty comments in. I was right: high school has definitely been good for her!
Olivia stepped smoothly into the breach before the moment could turn awkward. ‘So, the reason we’re all here . . .’ she swept her gaze across the others, drawing everybody’s attention ‘. . . is that Ivy’s having a serious popularity problem.’
‘Sorry?’ Charlotte dropped the chip she’d just picked up. ‘Did you say Ivy’s having a popularity problem?’
‘You could say that again.’ Ivy groaned. ‘How do I get rid of it? Immediately?’
‘Well . . .’ Charlotte stared at her. ‘Well . . .’
I think I just exploded Charlotte’s head, Ivy thought ruefully. Guess she didn’t realise just how different our high school really is!
‘Sorry, cutie.’ Brendan looped his arm around Ivy’s shoulders, ignoring her mock-glare at the endearment. ‘You’re just too cool.’
‘Whatever!’ Ivy pretended to elbow him in the side.
‘Ahem.’ Olivia cleared her throat and gave them both a stern look, even as she patted Charlotte on the arm, obviously helping her through her shock. ‘The point is, Ivy needs to get a handle on her popularity without being dishonest, or pretending to be someone she’s not.’ She turned to Charlotte. ‘That’s where you come in! Can you coach Ivy on how to deal with popularity without losing her temper?’
‘Are you kidding?’ Gathering herself together, Charlotte waved a dismissive hand. ‘That will be no problem. Trust me, I’d mastered the art of Handling the Hallway by fifth grade!’
‘Ohhh.’ Ivy let out a breath as something dawned on her. ‘I get it now!’
‘Sorry?’ Olivia turned to stare at her.
‘Nothing.’ Ivy leaned over to grab another chip, trying to hide her expression. ‘Sorry. I just meant, I’d really love the help.’
Privately, though, she was still reeling. She’d spent so many years loathing Charlotte for her ‘mean girl’ persona . . . but all that time, could Charlotte have been using it to keep her life manageable at Franklin Grove Middle School?
Was that why she said all those awful things?
Ivy swallowed hard as she remembered some of her own mean behaviour this past week, as she’d coped with her sudden popularity. Not only had she said some pretty nasty things herself to try to put people off, but there had been times when she had actually meant what she’d said.
Ouch. Ivy took a deep breath as she realised just how similar she and Charlotte might be after all. But no one is un-saveable, she told herself. Not Charlotte . . . and not me, either.
‘Are you OK?’ Olivia whispered, steering Ivy to one side as the others fell into a noisy debate about which movie this situation was most like. She frowned as she looked into Ivy’s face. ‘You look a little . . .’
‘Unnerved?’ Ivy gave a sad half-smile. ‘I guess I am. I just never realised that if I were given half a chance . . . I might actually be even worse than Charlotte ever was.’
‘Are you kidding?’ Olivia gave her a quick, tight hug. ‘You are my twin, Ivy Vega. Do you think I’d ever let you go that far?’
Ivy couldn’t help laughing at that, even as she hugged Olivia back. ‘Good point,’ she said. ‘You may look all pink and fluffy on the outside, but you’re an unstoppable force on the inside. No one could stand against you for long.’
‘That’s right.’ Nodding decisively, Olivia clapped her hands, breaking off the others’ movie debate. ‘Everyone! Let’s have a dress rehearsal for the Hallway Gauntlet. Camilla? Will you direct? And Charlotte? For now, can you just stand back and watch how Ivy handles it? Then you can offer her advice on how to do it better.’
‘Got it!’ Camilla snapped to attention, her eyes sparkling under her latest velvet beret as she went into full-on Director Mode. Wiping off the crumbs from her hands, she jumped up from her seat. ‘Sophia and Holly, you’ll be the clingy goths. Brendan, you’re the annoying skater-boy!’
‘Liiiike, got it!’ Brendan drawled. ‘Totally, dude.’
Ivy rolled her eyes at him. It didn’t help with the sudden sick tension in her gut, though. Even the thought of those hallways filled her with dread.
Camilla was still busy handing out the last of her assignments. ‘Olivia, you’re the timid cheerleader who doesn’t want to upset the cool girl.’
Olivia fluttered her eyelashes. ‘How perfect!’ she cooed.
Ivy groaned.
Camilla ignored them both. ‘Everybody got it?’
‘Got it!’ they all chorused.
‘Got it,’ Ivy mumbled, a moment later than everybody else. Her shoulders sagged. Brendan gave her a sympathetic look before slouching off to take his place, carrying an imaginary skateboard by his side.
‘Now!’ Camilla pointed. ‘Ivy? You stand by the front door. Everybody else, take your places along the hallway!’ She mimed holding a clapperboard. Her voice switched to a movie narrator’s rich tones. ‘It’s a normal morning at Franklin Grove High. Ivy’s just about to step inside. Aaaand . . . take one!’
Her arm swung down. Obediently, Ivy stepped forwards . . . and was immediately swarmed.
‘Iiiivy!’ Sophia and Holly fluttered towards her, blocking her way. ‘You are soooo cool! Won’t you tell us how you did your hair? A
nd your makeup? And your laces? And –’
‘Um . . .’ Smiling desperately, Ivy tried to sidestep past them, but they wouldn’t give her an inch of space. She could barely breathe as they clung closer and closer, filling up her vision.
‘Wasn’t the homework boring? What did you do last night, Ivy? Won’t you tell us how to be like you? Ivy, Ivy, Ivy, Ivy . . .’
Panic made Ivy’s heartbeat thrum against her skin. Her face twisted into a scowl, but they wouldn’t step back. She couldn’t escape. She couldn’t breathe. She looked desperately to where Olivia waited, further down the hall, but her sister was too far away to help.
‘Can we cut?’ Charlotte asked sharply.
‘Cut!’ Camilla bellowed.
Grinning, Sophia and Holly high-fived each other and stepped back to await Charlotte’s verdict.
The ex-head cheerleader was frowning intently. ‘You can’t do that thing with your face,’ she told Ivy.
‘What thing?’ Ivy stared at her.
Charlotte shook her head impatiently. ‘That squinty, I-hate-you face. That’s too mean.’
‘But they were smothering me!’ Ivy protested.
‘I know.’ Charlotte rolled her eyes. ‘Believe me, I know! But at most, you should look mildly annoyed.’
‘Sorry?’ Ivy shook her head wearily. ‘I don’t even know what that looks like!’
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake. Let me.’ Charlotte swept past Ivy to take her place in the gauntlet, and Ivy was only too happy to step back.
There may have been a real Gauntlet at Wallachia Academy for vampires . . . but the Hallway Gauntlet at Franklin Grove High is infinitely worse.
Camilla counted down. ‘Three . . . two . . . one . . . action!’
Walking briskly, Charlotte stepped into the hallway. Sophia and Holly swept down around her, shrieking with excitement.
‘Ivy, Ivy, Iiiiivy!’
Huh. Ivy’s eyes narrowed as she watched Charlotte’s reaction. She stood listening, without trying to step past them, but her forehead was drawn into impatient lines. As she listened, she glanced down at her watch in a move that read clearly: I have somewhere else I need to be!
14 Flipping Out - My Sister the Vampire Page 9