Sophia shrugged, her expression hopeless. Olivia’s own shoulders sagged as she watched Ivy step on to the escalators. Her back was rigidly straight, and her fists were tightly clenched.
She was wound more tightly than ever now their whole crazy mission to find out the truth about Maya had come to nothing. Worse yet, Olivia had no idea how they would even get home from Lincoln Vale.
Most of all, she just couldn’t believe that Brendan would ever be that boy . . . the one who cheated on his girlfriend. Even if Ivy hadn’t been, in Olivia’s opinion, pretty much the World’s Greatest Human (or half-human!), it wouldn’t make any sense.
But she couldn’t deny that something very strange was going on with Brendan. And she couldn’t bear it if he created real heartache for her sister.
Isn’t there enough heartache already in our family? Judging by Lillian’s recent behaviour . . .
Olivia sighed as she hurried after her twin. Even if Ivy didn’t realise it, there were two couples in trouble in their own family, now. I just have to try to help them both!
Chapter Five
That evening, as twilight spread across Franklin Grove, Ivy started up the steps towards Brendan’s house . . . then turned around and walked back down.
Stopping at the bottom step, she closed her eyes, gritting her teeth.
You have to do this, she told herself.
. . . But what if he tells me it’s all true?
The question brought a strange, heavy feeling to her stomach. It was the same feeling she used to get when her old middle school had served pizzas with garlic, and she’d taken a bite without checking.
Tipping her head forwards, she thought wistfully back to Franklin Grove Middle School. Life had been so much simpler then. The people were nicer, the homework was easier, and she’d spent a lot less time wondering whether her boyfriend was a dishonest, lying –
No! Everything in her heart shouted the word. That’s not Brendan!
Something was definitely going on, though, and, like it or not, Ivy needed to know what it was before it drove her completely crazy.
Behind her, the front door opened, making her jump.
‘Ivy?’ It was Brendan’s dad, Marc Daniels. ‘What’s wrong?’
Oops. Way to look like an idiot, Ivy!
Ivy tried to put on a smile – but it felt fake, even to her. ‘Nothing,’ she mumbled. ‘I was just passing and I thought I’d drop in on Brendan.’
‘Come on,’ Mr Daniels grinned. ‘You can’t have been “just passing”. You’ve walked up to the door and back twice now.’
Ivy winced. It was no wonder vampire kids grew up to be terrible liars, when the grown-ups had super-hearing.
But that was just one more reminder that Brendan actually had been lying to her. So he must have had something to hide . . .
‘Are you coming in?’ Mr Daniels raised his eyebrows.
‘Um . . . no.’ Ivy sighed. The conversation she had to have with her boyfriend was definitely not one he’d want his dad to overhear. ‘Would you mind calling up to Brendan, and asking him to meet me out here?’
Mr Daniels’ smile dropped. He stepped outside, closing the door behind him. ‘You’re not here to dump him, are you? I know Brendan can sometimes tell stupid jokes but, seriously, he will grow out of it. All boys do, eventually.’
Argh. Ivy cringed. Could this be any more awkward? It was hard enough to work up the nerve to talk with Brendan about their relationship, never mind his dad!
‘I’m not here to break up with him,’ she said, adding silently: But he might be about to break up with me.
Anguish shot through her at the thought, but Mr Daniels visibly relaxed. ‘That’s a relief. We’re all very fond of you, Ivy.’ Opening the door wide, he stepped back inside. ‘Brendan! You have a visitor!’
Brendan clattered down the stairs a moment later . . . and froze as his gaze landed on Ivy, still standing outside.
Aaand . . . that’s not the look of a boy who wants to see his girlfriend.
It was another bad sign, but she couldn’t turn back now.
‘Hey.’ She tried to smile. ‘Do you feel like taking a walk?’
‘I don’t know . . .’ Brendan’s shoulders hunched. ‘I’ve got some homework I really need to do.’
‘Oh, come on, son.’ Mr Daniels gave him a hearty clap on the back. ‘Fresh fall air is just the thing to clear out the cobwebs.’
Brendan blinked, looking doubly confused now. ‘OK,’ he mumbled. ‘I’ll just get my coat.’
‘No need. I’ll get it for you.’ Mr Daniels ducked into the hallway and returned with Brendan’s leather coat. In one motion, he thrust it into Brendan’s hands and gently pushed him towards Ivy. ‘You kids go have fun!’
Brendan’s head was lowered as he joined Ivy, and he didn’t meet her eyes. They both waited until the front door had closed behind them before they started walking. Instinctively, Ivy reached out to hold Brendan’s hand . . . but her fingers only found his forearm. Both of his hands were buried in his pockets – completely un-holdable.
This is officially the most tense I have ever seen him, she realised, swallowing hard. There really must be something worth worrying about.
Trying to look casual, she said, ‘Is there anything you want to . . . talk over?’
Brendan shot her a dark look. ‘What do you mean?’
Ivy tried to keep her voice level. ‘It’s just seemed like you have something on your mind lately. If you ever wanted to talk about anything . . . well, you know I’m here for you, right?’