Brendan fidgeted. ‘We don’t even have music, so it’s OK. I’ll just sit down.’
Ivy gave Brendan a wicked grin. ‘I think I saw a guitar in the house.’
‘I’ll get it,’ offered Ivy’s father.
Brendan shot Ivy a ‘Help me’ look, but all she could do was snigger. She loved Brendan, but this was going to be fun!
Mr Vega returned with the guitar. ‘It’s been a while, but I think I remember how to play.’ He strummed a chord and, to Ivy’s surprise, it actually sounded good. Olivia clapped as Mr Vega began to pick out a lively country tune, filling the air with music and laughter.
Aunt Rebecca and Brendan stood facing each other. ‘Take my waist,’ she said. ‘And now my hand.’ The two stood as if ready to waltz. Brendan looked like he would rather have eaten an entire clove of garlic. ‘Two steps back. One step to the side. Two steps back and do-si-do.’ Aunt Rebecca locked elbows with Brendan and together they skipped in a circle.
Ivy gave Olivia a thumbs-up. One mission down: one mission to go. Ivy just wasn’t sure her boyfriend would ever forgive her.
Olivia skipped one of her checkers over Brendan’s, taking it off the board. Olivia had already captured half of Brendan’s pieces. She and Brendan were playing a game at the living-room table in Aunt Rebecca’s house while Ivy had a quick riding lesson outside. Olivia spotted Ivy riding by, holding on to the saddle with a death grip. At least she was trying!
‘Hey . . .’ Olivia watched Brendan make his move on the board. ‘Do you know what’s been up with Ivy lately?’ Olivia felt weird going to Ivy’s boyfriend for information, but she had to get to the bottom of this! ‘She’s seemed distracted and yesterday she was on the VVV and wouldn’t let me see what she was doing. That’s a serious violation of Twin Code 101!’
Brendan squirmed in his seat. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. ‘I mean, she seems fine to me at least.’ Olivia wasn’t so sure, but before she could say as much, Brendan switched subjects. ‘While we’re talking about Ivy, though, I was wondering if you could maybe tell me what her favourite flower is. If you know it.’
Olivia twisted her mouth to the side, thinking. What would Ivy’s favourite flower be? ‘Honestly, I haven’t got a clue. I don’t really know if flowers are Ivy’s thing. Why?’
‘It’s nothing. I, well, I just had a bit of a surprise planned for the school dance.’ He looked sheepishly at her. ‘Don’t tell Ivy, will you?’
‘The school dance!’ She’d been so busy enjoying herself at the ranch, she’d forgotten to worry about how Jenny and the committee were getting on without her. Olivia pulled her phone out and switched it back on. ‘Twenty missed calls!’ She scrolled through the call log. ‘And every one of them is from Jenny. Hold on, Brendan.’ She held one finger up. ‘I have to see what’s going on.’ Olivia was imagining booked-up caterers, horrible weather forecasts, and a sudden shortage of DJs in town when Jenny answered the phone on the third ring.
‘Oh my goodness, Olivia, where have you been?’ Jenny’s words came out in one gush. ‘They are on the board.’
‘Who is on the board?’ Olivia was struggling to catch up.
‘Lucrezia, Melinda and Veronica, of course! They didn’t even have to gatecrash the meeting – they’re officially part of the committee now!’
Olivia almost dropped her phone. ‘What!’ Brendan watched her face, frowning.
‘Apparently, Lucrezia spoke to her dad, who is on the board of governors, and Principal Whitehead has been forced to find a spot for the girls on the committee. It’s a total nightmare. They’re making all the decisions. All-pink food to go with an all-pink party – prawn toast, pink mousse, pink lemonade.’
Olivia bit the inside of her cheek. That’s not such a bad idea.
‘And worst of all: No Goths Allowed!’
Olivia gasped. Now that was a bad idea. How had this happened? The dance was turning into a total mess. Olivia put her head in her hands. She had no idea what to do and, worst of all, she couldn’t even ask for twin help, since something seemed to be up with Ivy. But how could she possibly fix this on her own? One thing was for sure: she should not have come away. Olivia slid to the living-room floor, leaning her back up against the hard drywall.
‘Knock, knock.’ Aunt Rebecca poked her head in through the screen door. Rebecca had her hair in two braids and her riding boots pulled over a pair of tight black leggings. ‘Olivia! What’s wrong?’
Olivia wasn’t sure she could utter a word without crying.
Brendan put an arm around her shoulders. ‘Whatever it is, you can tell your aunt,’ he said softly. For a moment, she wished Jackson could be with her.
Aunt Rebecca came to stand in front of them and held out a hand. ‘Come on, Olivia. Let’s go for a walk.’ Gratefully, Olivia allowed her aunt to lead her out on to the porch and into the fields that surrounded the farmhouse. Birds sang in the trees and the sound of soft neighing floated on the air from the stables.
Right at this moment, Olivia never wanted to leave the ranch.
She never wanted to see those three horrible girls again.
Chapter Seven
Ivy swiped her thick canvas gloves against the trouser-leg of her jeans, smearing brown mud across the tough denim. Her riding lesson was over and she’d been cleaning the stables. Ivy kicked the rubber soles of her boots against a mouldy doorframe, shaking out a shower of caked dirt.