High school!
Just the fact that she needed public transport to get to school now, instead of walking, underlined how huge this day really was.
And she was doing it alone. Olivia was already on her way to London. Ivy’s chest tightened at the thought. I am going to miss her so much.
The dull roar of a plane’s engine overhead made her head jerk up. Could that be the same plane Olivia was taking all the way to London? She narrowed her eyes. It was definitely the right timing, but was it flying in the right direction? London was due east, right? And the sun rose in the east – everyone knew that. So, if the sun was in the east, then this plane looked like it was flying north – which meant it probably wasn’t her sister’s plane. But then again, when Ivy and her family had last flown to Transylvania, the plane had taken off and slowly turned around, so this plane could have been Olivia’s flight, just taking off . . .
Oh, I give up, Ivy thought, as a slight headache set in. According to Charles’s detailed instructions, a headache would not be good for the ‘fiendish’ educational challenge that was high school!
Then a new sound made Ivy’s head jerk up. The school bus had rumbled on to Undertaker Hill. Or rather: a Yellow Monster had! From front to back, the bus blazed fluorescent yellow. It was as subtle as the sun, or a flashing neon sign that read to everyone in town: Bunnies Aboard!
Ivy froze as the Yellow Monster charged towards her.
I can’t do this!
If only it had been black and purple, maybe she wouldn’t have minded being seen getting on board . . . but this? How could any self-respecting vampire go to school in a banana on wheels?
But what choice do I have? she realised. I’m the one who didn’t want to stay at Wallachia Academy. I promised Dad that I could do this. I have to prove that he was right to let me.
It took every ounce of pride Ivy had to force herself to her feet. Once she was there, she had to readjust her backpack just to give herself something to do . . . other than running for her life!
The bus hissed to a stop outside her house. Its doors creaked open like the jaws of a dragon, waiting to devour her whole.
Taking a deep breath, Ivy stepped through the open doors.
The bus’s driver was a middle-aged woman in a fuzzy blue sweater, and Ivy’s stomach sank. Even as she smiled politely, she braced herself for the look of disdain that she knew would be aimed her way any moment now. Bunnies like this hated goths!
But the bus driver just smiled back at her. ‘Welcome to the bus run, Ivy!’ She leaned forwards, lowering her voice to a whisper. ‘I know today is a big day for you, but everything will be just fine. You take it from me.’ She winked encouragingly.
Ivy was so stunned, she couldn’t even speak. All she could do was give the bus driver another wavering smile and then make her way down the aisle, past rows of mostly unfamiliar chattering bunnies towards the rear bench seat where – thank darkness! – she finally saw Sophia sitting all by herself.
Like Ivy, Sophia had dressed down for their first day of high school, wearing a plain black T-shirt instead of any of her beloved rock-band merch. Her long, dark hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, making her face look tense, and her fingers and ears were bare of her usual fashionable goth accessories.
‘I’m so glad you’re here!’ Sophia picked up her backpack and scooted over to make room for Ivy. ‘Is it just me, or do the streets outside look almost . . .’
‘Scary?’ Ivy filled in sympathetically. ‘Trust me, it’s not just you.’ As she sat down next to her friend, the bus pulled away from her house with a rattle and jerk. Through the window, Undertaker Hill slid past, then disappeared behind them.
Ivy took a deep breath. She didn’t just feel like she was being carried to school – she felt like she was being pulled along in an insistent current. The current of change.
And she didn’t like it one bit.
Forget it, world! Ivy set her jaw hard. No one takes Ivy Vega anywhere she doesn’t want to go. I’m still in charge of my life . . . even if I am riding in a bright yellow bananamobile!
The bus screeched to a stop, throwing everyone forwards in their seats. As Ivy pushed herself back into place, the doors hissed open and a timid figure hesitated at the entrance. Finally, she moved forwards . . . and Ivy choked as she recognised Charlotte Brown, cheerleading queen bee of Franklin Grove Middle School, looking around the bus as nervously as a baby zebra heading into a den of ravenous lions.
Charlotte’s anxious gaze skittered all around the bus – then landed on Sophia and Ivy. Her face lit up into a beaming smile. ‘You’re here!’
She waved excitedly.
‘Is she for real?’ Sophia whispered, even as she half-lifted a hand to wave back.
Ivy had to bite back a laugh of astonishment. ‘Well, I guess our relationship did improve a lot by the end of last year . . .’
‘But still,’ said Sophia, ‘it’s not like we’ve been meeting up with her over summer vacation.’
‘Well . . .’ Ivy hesitated as Charlotte hurried towards them. ‘It’s actually quite . . .’ No, she had to stop there. Just thinking the word ‘sweet’ made her shudder.
But honestly, on a day full of danger, it didn’t hurt to see how eager Charlotte was to be friendly to two of the goths she’d once despised.
‘Eeee!’ Charlotte squealed. She plopped herself down between Ivy and Sophia, forcing them to make space. ‘I am so happy to see you guys! Are you heading for Willowton High? Please tell me you both are!’
‘Sorry.’ Ivy shook her head, feeling her own spirits lower. ‘Franklin Grove High.’
‘Oh no.’ Charlotte slumped. ‘That just sucks! And with Olivia gone, too . . .’
Ivy and Sophia traded a glance over Charlotte’s head. Neither of them could have imagined a year ago that Charlotte would one day miss Olivia!
The bus bumped to another halt, and Olivia’s friends Camilla and Holly stepped on, waving happily to Ivy and Sophia.
‘At least they’ll both be at Willowton,’ Charlotte said, brightening. ‘But it’s so sad we’re not all going to the same school.’
‘It is,’ Ivy agreed. Silently, though, she thought maybe it was a good thing that Charlotte was starting fresh in a completely new school.
At Franklin Grove Middle, Charlotte had been so used to everyone grovelling to her, it had been fatal for her personality. Now was her chance to finally make a good impression with new people – people who weren’t already impressed with her for all the wrong reasons. She can start over, Ivy thought, as a nicer upgrade of herself. Charlotte 2.0.
As the bus rumbled through town, picking up more and more unfamiliar students on the way, Ivy and Sophia both took care to practise their mundane and bunny-friendly conversation. As usual, Camilla was too focused on planning for her next movie masterpiece to notice, and Holly was too nervous to say much at all as Ivy and Sophia dragged out a tortuous conversation about popular movies, TV, and even – gag! – pop music. But Charlotte Brown, the bunniest bunny Ivy had ever met, noticed straight away.
‘You guys!’ Charlotte batted at Ivy’s arm. ‘I’ve never heard you two talk like this before.’
‘Well . . .’ Sophia shrugged. Her expression looked pained. ‘We just thought we’d . . .’
‘Expand our horizons,’ Ivy finished for her, hoping she sounded like she really meant it.
She thought she might have turned green at the lie, but Charlotte shook her head in amazement.
‘I have to tell you both, you have never been more interesting! And your clothes – they’re so much better than they used to be. Whatever happened to you this summer?’
Ivy and Sophia exchanged a look of satisfaction. Their Undercover Bunny Operation was working perfectly. They’d just have to hope that the ruling bunnies at Franklin High were as easy to fool as Charlotte!
The bus slammed to a halt outside Franklin Grove High School, and Ivy’s new-found certainty drained away. Through the window, a massive, curv
ing cement structure spread out before them. Franklin Grove High. The windows along its sides seemed to glare at Ivy accusingly, seeing right through her carefully chosen disguise.
I’ll never belong here, she thought. Everyone will be able to tell what I really am the moment they see me. I can’t fake it with all those bunnies for a whole four years!
‘Come on,’ Sophia whispered. Her face was pale.
Together, they followed the line of Franklin Grove High bunnies out on to the pavement. As the bus pulled away, Charlotte, Camilla and Holly all waved to them out of the rear window. Ivy’s chest ached at the sight. She waved back until the bus turned the corner . . . and then they were gone.
Ivy turned to Sophia. ‘We can do this,’ she said.
‘We can,’ Sophia echoed faintly.
Neither of them moved. Together, they stared at the huge school before them. Students streamed towards it from all directions.
At least I have Sophia, Ivy reminded herself. She reached out to link arms with her friend. Together, they walked up the boulevard towards the school entrance.
Everything is going to be fine. Everything, everything, everything . . .
She had to shake her head at herself. Funny how she’d never felt this nervous starting at the snoot-tastic Wallachia Academy!
Franklin Grove High looked like a completely different world from Franklin Grove Middle. It was monstrously big by comparison, with lush strips of well-kept grass and flowers spread out in front of it, almost sparkling in the morning sun.
‘Dad was right,’ she muttered to Sophia. ‘Goths would definitely stand out amid all this colour!’
Sophia only nodded. She looked too stunned to speak.
A walkway led from the front gate to the main building, lined with . . . Ivy’s feet thudded to a halt as she froze in horror. No way!
The whole walkway was lined with non-goths – from the older grades. Oh no, Ivy thought. We’re going to have to walk right through a gauntlet!
She gritted her teeth, bracing herself. ‘Are you ready?’ she asked Sophia.
Only silence answered her. Ivy glanced at her friend. ‘Sophia?’
But Sophia wasn’t paying any attention. Her eyes were fixed on a cluster of older boys halfway down the path, and her mouth had dropped open in an ‘O’.
This can’t be good, Ivy thought.
She narrowed her eyes, studying the group of boys. Every one of them was unfamiliar, which meant they must have come from Lincoln Vale. They all balanced on skateboards as they talked, gesturing animatedly and flipping their boards beneath their feet every few seconds to keep their balance. The tallest of them – and, OK, the cutest, Ivy admitted silently – was in the middle of a mime about some daredevil move he’d obviously performed on his board.
‘Whoa, Finn!’ The boy nearest him punched Finn on his shoulder. ‘That is, like, the raddest thing I’ve ever heard!’
Finn grinned goofily and did an extra flip on his skateboard – it was all the more impressive because Ivy could not figure out how he could see anything with his mop of long blond hair falling around his eyes.
Ivy shook her head. OK, so Finn was cute – in a dumb-blond sort of way – but she bet he had the exact same voice her dad had used in the kitchen this morning. He’d just better not ever try calling me ‘dudette’. Anyone who’s not my dad will get an Extreme-Level Death Squint for that crime!
Next to her, though, Sophia let out a sigh . . . and it didn’t sound like disgust.
‘Come on!’ Ivy nudged Sophia down the path. ‘Remember the Second Law,’ she whispered. It was one of the most important rules of vampire society: No falling in love with outsiders!
‘Right,’ Sophia mumbled. But as they passed the skater-boys, she let out another wistful sigh.
We might have a problem, Ivy thought grimly.
But she didn’t have time to worry about it now. First, they had to get through today. All we have to do is not draw any attention to ourselves. Easy. Right?
Her belly tingled uncomfortably, and she gulped. I hope that’s just the doughger from yesterday. I’m not that nervous . . . am I?
When she spotted Brendan’s familiar silhouette near the main school building, she let out a sigh of pure relief. ‘Finally!’
Pulling Sophia along with her, Ivy raced towards her boyfriend. He stood near the front door, and when he turned to face her, she saw that he’d dressed down too, wearing simple dark jeans and sneakers. In terms of his clothing, he wouldn’t have looked out of place with the skater-boys. But he wore the expression of someone who had just seen a ghost . . . playing cards with a yeti!
‘What’s wrong?’ Ivy asked.
He pointed a trembling finger at the school. ‘I went inside. Just for a second, to check it out. It . . . It . . .’
Ivy stared at him, feeling her stomach sink. ‘How bad is it in there?’
Brendan shook his head, his eyes wide and stunned. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’
Oh no. Taking a deep breath, Ivy opened the front door. I don’t care how bright and pink and bunnified it is. I can take it, no matter what!
Then she blinked, as the door closed behind her and her friends. Wait a minute. Who turned out the lights?
The foyer was a sea of darkness. And lining the corridors in every direction, propped against the lockers, lounging on the floor, and gossiping in groups, were the students of Franklin Grove High.
Ivy felt her eyes widen. The last time she had seen this many goths in one place was at a Pall Bearers concert!
Feeling dazed, she walked slowly down the first corridor, taking it all in. ‘But . . .’
Her voice trailed off as a girl in ripped jeans and bone-white face paint, leaning against the wall of lockers, nodded approvingly at her T-shirt.
‘Um . . . thanks?’ Ivy said to the girl, trying to smile. To Brendan, though, she whispered frantically, ‘Am I dreaming?’
‘If you are,’ Brendan croaked, ‘then I am, too.’
She reached out and laced her fingers through his, hanging on for balance. They passed a group of girls sitting at the bottom of a staircase, painting each other’s fingernails black. Further along the hallway, Ivy could see someone carrying a black backpack that rippled with rubber spikes.
‘It’s not pink,’ Sophia said faintly. ‘I thought it would all be pink.’
Ivy shook her head numbly. ‘If any of these people saw the colour pink, they’d probably run screaming into the nearest darkened room!’
‘There are more goths here than bunnies,’ Brendan said. ‘It’s just wrong.’
‘And look at those T-shirts.’ Sophia nodded at the girls ahead of them. ‘I’ve never even heard of some of those rock bands!’
‘Whoa.’ Ivy felt her legs go weak as she absorbed the truth. ‘Guys,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t think we’re the outsiders at this school.’
Sophia’s eyes were wide. ‘Do you think . . . could it be . . .?’
Brendan nodded, looking panicked. ‘I think . . . the goth kids at this high school might actually be the in-crowd.’
‘No way,’ Ivy breathed. She saw the same stunned reaction in both of her friends’ eyes. But the truth was staring them in the face from all around . . . and it was wearing black.
For the first time ever, it looked like Ivy, Sophia and Brendan might actually fit in!
Chapter Three
I can’t believe it, Olivia thought, as she bounced on her hotel bed. I’m actually in London, England!
A sea of dark rooftops spiked outside her window under a cloudy blue sky. In the distance, she could see Big Ben in the centre of the city. She had heard its hourly gong twice since she’d arrived and, though she knew it was just a giant clock tower, there was something . . . magical about a giant clock tower so far away from home.
Through the wall of her connecting room, Olivia heard her adoptive mom, Mrs Abbott, gushing down her cell phone to a friend back home. ‘. . . and, of course, we’re determined to catch a West E
nd musical while we’re here!’
Olivia’s adoptive dad, Mr Abbott, didn’t speak, but Olivia heard a tell-tale thud as he moved to a different yoga position on the hotel room floor. Mrs Abbott might be excited about the London theatres, but Mr Abbott had spent the aeroplane ride telling Olivia all about the wonderful yoga facilities in London. Apparently, there were even outdoor yoga classes on the rooftops!
I just hope he doesn’t go into a headstand too near the edge of the roof, Olivia thought, peering out the window.
She turned to pick up her guidebook. As her gaze travelled across the room, she had to blink to remind herself that she wasn’t dreaming. Really, this could hardly be described as a bedroom. It felt bigger than her house in Franklin Grove! The ceiling was painted with images of famous London sites, and the opposite wall was covered with expensive electronic equipment, from a flat-screen television to a range of radios, DVD and CD players.
Hollywood stars really do live differently!
Taking a deep breath, Olivia opened up her guidebook and began to read. As she turned the pages, her eyes widened. Did Mom and Dad accidentally pick up a joke version?
Surely no one would actually call a building ‘The Shard’, or ‘The Gherkin’. Would they? It has to be a joke!
There was one thing that was no joke, though. As Olivia set down the ridiculous guidebook, the luxury of her hotel room astounded her all over again. It was unbelievable. Jacob Harker, the studio executive in charge of Eternal Sunset, certainly went all-out when he wanted to impress the people working on his movies.
A knock sounded on the connecting door, and Mrs Abbott’s head poked through. She was wearing sunglasses and had her own guidebook sticking out of her handbag. ‘Hi, honey. Your dad and I want to go exploring. Are you ready?’
‘Um . . .’ There was a funny tingling sensation in Olivia’s stomach. She put one hand on it and forced a smile. ‘Why don’t you guys go without me? I’m a little tired from the trip.’
13 Double Disaster - My Sister the Vampire Page 3
