The chopsticks pinning Ivy’s hair in place nearly poked Olivia’s eye out as she spun to greet their friends. Her slender arms wrapped around Brendan’s neck, pulling him into a big hug. From the look on Brendan’s face, Olivia reckoned he couldn’t be happier. She remembered when she first came to Franklin Grove, and Ivy had announced with such despair, ‘I’m utterly in love with Brendan Daniels.’ And look at them now!
‘We thought you were hiding from us,’ Brendan joked, running a hand through his hair. It was usually shoulder-length, but had been cut shorter and shaggy last week.
‘No,’ said Ivy, craning up to look at her boyfriend. ‘We’re just vertically challenged.’
‘We were just discussing the dance,’ Olivia explained to Sophia.
‘Dance?’ Sophia’s eyes glittered.
‘You-know-who spilled the beans.’ Olivia hiked her thumb over her shoulder at Charlotte, whose head jerked up as if she could sense someone talking about her.
Ivy gently punched her sister. ‘Olivia!’
Her twin smacked a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. ‘And I’ve just done the same thing! You guys, I’m so sorry.’
Brendan was gazing at Ivy, a smile forming on his lips. ‘It’s OK. Sounds like good news to me.’
Ivy snorted. ‘Yeah, I’m sure you’re just itching to put on a fancy suit and waltz around the assembly hall!’
Brendan’s smile faded. ‘But –’
Sophia clapped her hands. ‘I’m not disappointed. I have a dress I’ve been dying to wear!’
Olivia crossed her fingers. ‘I just hope Jackson can make it back in time!’
Ivy tilted her head. ‘But won’t you be filming on set by the end of the summer?’
Olivia felt like smacking herself square in the forehead. ‘You’re right!’ she squealed.
The crush of students must have been squeezing her brain. How could she forget? She’d only been looking forward to filming Eternal Sunset every day since she’d got the part! As soon as Jackson’s press tour ended, the two of them were due to start work on a new film together.
‘I guess neither of us will make it, then,’ Olivia sighed. ‘Shame. It would have been almost as much fun as when we all went to the Transylvanian ball together.’ She lowered her voice and leaned towards Ivy. ‘Without quite so many vampires!’
‘And with way more bunnies,’ Ivy pointed out.
‘And more pink.’
Ivy scrunched her nose. ‘So basically you’re saying there’s no way the Franklin Grove dance could be as amazing as the Transylvanian ball?’
‘Come on.’ Olivia nudged Ivy. ‘I bet there’s someone who would love to call you his date to the dance.’ Olivia nodded at Brendan, who was chatting with Sophia.
Ivy blushed, glancing away. ‘I just feel sorry for whoever gets stuck organising this year,’ she stammered. ‘I’d rather be zombified than worry about colour palettes and dance themes. So not my thing.’
‘Oh!’ Olivia hopped up and down, pointing at the front of the assembly hall. ‘It’s Principal Whitehead. Look! Look!’
Their principal stepped up to the small podium and the hall went quiet.
‘Good morning, Franklin Grove,’ he said, and cleared his throat. He fumbled with a few sheets of paper. ‘I have a special announcement. As you may have heard . . .’ The principal paused, making Olivia wonder if he shared her love of the dramatic. She had learned a thing or two about theatrical timing during her hours on set. At last, he spoke. ‘We are going to have a school dance.’
Principal Whitehead held up his hand. ‘One more thing.’ The crowd was buzzing, so he lowered his mouth closer to the microphone. ‘The big date for the school dance has already been decided and it is . . . next Friday!’
‘Next Friday!’ Charlotte shrieked. Everyone went mad. Girls grabbed their friends, jumping up and down on the spot. Boys shared alarmed glances – who would they invite to be their dates, with only a week to decide?
‘Hold it, hold it.’ Principal Whitehead held up his hand until the crowd settled. ‘The date has been pushed forward because of essential renovations to the school building. You should also know that the school board has decided to increase security ever since some unsavoury paparazzi were found lurking in the vicinity.’ Olivia felt her cheeks flush. Their principal was talking about the photographers who’d been chasing Jackson around. He’d come to study at Franklin Grove and to be close to Olivia. That was then, but where was he now? Out on his promotional tour. Olivia tried to ignore the tightening in her chest.
The hall was filled with bunny-mania as the principal walked back to his office. Olivia and Sophia cheered along with everyone else, while Charlotte attempted to yell over the crowd, ‘I knew it!’ Even though the announcement hadn’t been a surprise, it was still exciting. Olivia would need a new outfit and a new shade of shimmery eyeshadow and – oh! – she hoped Ivy would go shopping with her.
‘How will I find a dress in time?’ Katie cried.
Charlotte already had her mobile glued to one ear. ‘Yes, this is an emergency,’ she stressed into the receiver. ‘No, I’ll need a cut, a blow-dry, a manicure and a pedicure.’ She cupped her hand over half the phone and mouthed to Katie, ‘My tan!’ Her eyes shot skywards and she flipped shut the mobile. ‘Girls,’ she called to anyone who was listening, ‘to the beach!’