‘That won’t be necessary,’ Olivia replied. ‘Besides, I’m going back to the set to learn about movies, not stalk the male lead.’
‘Is that . . . is your nose . . .’ Ivy was peering at Olivia’s face. ‘Is your nose growing, Pinocchio?’
Olivia poked her tongue out and gently pushed her sister away.
Jackson coming to Franklin Grove was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to Olivia, but making a fool of herself in front of him was one of the worst. She just wanted to put the whole thing behind her.
The three girls turned the corner to the Meat & Greet and staggered to a halt. In front of them was a crowd bigger than the biggest pep rally Olivia had ever seen. And the noise! It looked like every girl within twenty miles had gathered around the barriers. Some were even holding signs. One had the very unoriginal, ‘Marry me, Jackson,’ but another had an illustration of a jack from a deck of cards, then a picture of the sun, then an equals sign and a big red heart after that. Cute. Jackson equals love. The girl with the pink and blue polka-dot jacket from yesterday was still right at the front. Her hair was a lot messier and Olivia wondered if she’d even been home.
‘So, it looks like the word’s out,’ Sophia said drily.
‘Hmm,’ Ivy said, surveying the huge crowd. ‘How are we going to get in now?’
‘Got to be the helicopter or nothing,’ Sophia replied.
‘Have you heard about the side entrance?’ a familiar voice said behind them.
Olivia and Ivy whipped around to see Brendan wearing his black trench coat and a sneaky grin.
‘No,’ Ivy said, giving him a quick hug hello. ‘Tell us!’
‘What’s in it for me?’ he said.
‘How about a rare burger on me when the Meat & Greet opens again?’ Ivy offered.
‘Sold!’ Brendan said, shaking Ivy’s hand in an official way. ‘Come on. Follow me.’ He led them around the crowd to the side of the parking lot. There were only a handful of spectators gathered by these barriers: an older lady in a scruffy coat, two men with big Jackson posters, and a mom with two excited little girls. Three security guards stood with their arms crossed, keeping an eye out for anyone trying to sneak in.
‘Since it doesn’t look like much is happening,’ Brendan said, ‘I’m going to head to the Juice Bar. Anybody want anything?’
‘I’m starving.’ Ivy clung to Brendan’s arm. ‘Food at the Abbotts’ is . . . um . . . a little light for me.’
Olivia and Ivy had already planned to sneak a roast-beef sandwich for Ivy to eat after dinner tonight, and to say Ivy had a tummy ache so that Olivia wouldn’t have to eat twice as much.
‘How about a Breakfast Bun with Bite?’ Brendan asked.
‘Ooh, with extra red sauce.’ The excitement on Ivy’s face made Olivia smile. They are so cute together, Olivia thought.
‘And a blood orange juice?’ Brendan offered.
‘My hero!’ Ivy said, batting her lashes like a damsel in distress.
As Brendan left, Olivia realised that one of the security guards was Jerome, their friend from yesterday. She waved until she caught his attention and he came a little closer to the barrier. ‘Thanks so much for the heads up yesterday.’
‘No problem,’ he said, tipping his Harker Films baseball hat.
‘Any chance of some insider info today?’ Ivy asked.
‘Sorry, ladies.’ He lowered his glasses and shrugged. ‘I’ve got nothing for you. Being on barrier duty means I don’t know what’s happening on the inside.’
‘Thanks anyway.’ Olivia shrugged in an effort not to look stalker-ish.
‘Now can we try the helicopter?’ Ivy whispered.
Olivia held a finger to her lips. She jerked her head in the direction of the other two security guards. ‘Listen,’ she hissed. ‘I think that guy is talking about Jackson.’
‘What is the big deal with this Caulfield kid?’ the shorter guard was saying. ‘He’s probably just some pretty boy with fewer brain cells than a jellyfish.’
His taller companion in a hat and sunglasses replied with a strong English accent, ‘I hear he works pretty hard at what he does.’
His friend continued, ‘Bah! He doesn’t know the meaning of hard work. We’re the ones standing out here in the freezing cold! These boys are a dime a dozen; he’ll fade away into obscurity.’
Olivia could feel her toes curling up with anger – how dare the man say these things? ‘Excuse me,’ she called over. The two security guards turned in her direction while Jerome leaned on the barrier near the girls. ‘It’s really not fair to judge someone you don’t know.’
The short man took off his sunglasses. ‘I was just saying –’
Ivy put a hand on her arm, but Olivia wasn’t going to be dissuaded. ‘You were just being pretty mean about a guy you don’t even know.’
The guards all stared at her.
‘Are you going to make the effort to actually get to know Jackson,’ Olivia went on, ‘or will you just end up spreading around ideas that he’s not a good person, simply because of what he does?’
‘Listen, kid,’ the short man said. ‘I don’t know who you are, but I don’t give two hoots what you think about Jackson. Now, get out of here!’
‘Come on!’ Ivy pulled her sister away before things could get any worse.
‘Wh-what?’ Olivia said, almost tripping over her faux-fur boots.
Even when they were a safe distance away opposite one of the big trucks, Ivy and Sophia had to stand between Olivia and the guards, she was so ready to go back and keep talking.