‘Hi, Amy,’ he called and led everyone over to the sidewalk.
‘What are you doing dressed as a security guard?’ she demanded. ‘Philippe wants you and Jessica to start filming this afternoon.’
Olivia was confused. ‘Jessica?’
‘That’s what I was trying to tell you,’ Jackson said. ‘Philippe cancelled your auditions because Jessica came back to the movie.’
‘Oh.’ Olivia felt like a deflated balloon.
First, she’d dragged Jackson to a graveyard, almost blurted out the biggest secret ever and, finally, found out that she had lost her chance to be in a movie. Not a good day, Olivia thought.
‘Look, I –’ Jackson started, but Amy cut him off.
‘We really need to get back,’ Amy said.
‘I’m really sorry,’ Jackson said and stepped into the car. ‘I hope I get to see you around, somewhere? Goodbye, Olivia.’
‘Goodbye, Jackson,’ Olivia whispered.
As he was shutting the door, Olivia heard Amy ask, ‘What were you doing hanging out in a graveyard?’
The car sped off towards the movie set. Ivy followed a dazed Olivia as she wandered down the sidewalk and sat on a wooden bench.
Ivy put her arm around her sister. ‘Aw, sis, I’m sorry.’
Olivia hugged her back and wiped away her tears. ‘Not your fault. Jackson and I just weren’t meant to be.’
‘At least you didn’t blow the coffin lid off our vamp secret,’ Ivy said, trying to point out the positive.
‘It was pretty close,’ Olivia admitted.
‘How about getting something to eat?’ Brendan suggested hopefully.
‘Since the Meat & Greet is currently J-Squared central – that’s Jackson and Jessica central apparently,’ Ivy explained to a bewildered Olivia, ‘let’s hit the Juice Bar.’
‘Woohoo!’ Brendan said.
That night, Ivy was sipping hot chocolate with Olivia next to her on the Abbotts’ couch. Her dad was back from his trip and she wanted to hear all about it, mostly to distract herself from all the guilt she was feeling over Jackson and Olivia.
Mr Vega said he had come straight from the airport to thank Mrs Abbott for looking after Ivy and to pick her up. Of course, Mrs Abbott had laid out a vegetarian feast, which he was picking at to be polite.
‘Enough of those boring details,’ said Mr Vega, ‘I understand it has been an eventful few days, in my absence. Anyone going to fill me in on the latest news?’
When Olivia finished explaining that the original movie’s star had returned, Mr Vega said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I think you would make a fine actress, Olivia.’
Ivy saw her sister smile again. Maybe she’s going to be OK, Ivy thought.
‘It’s probably better that a real actress is doing it,’ Olivia replied. ‘But I’ve decided to try out for the next school play.’
‘Unless Charlotte’s going for the part, then you might really break a leg! Hers!’ Ivy joked.
As Olivia chuckled, someone rang the front doorbell. Mrs Abbott stood up to get it and Ivy peeked out the window to see who it was. A flash of blonde hair, and she knew right away.
Olivia hurried down the hallway, squeezed past her mom and opened the door.
‘Hi, Jackson,’ she said, although about a thousand other things were running through her head to say like, Graveyards aren’t that bad, or How about a smoothie? or I’m not as crazy as I seem, honestly.
‘Hey,’ he replied, his smile making Olivia’s heart go squidgy like a gummy bear.
He was wearing his brown cowboy boots again, faded jeans and a blue long-sleeved T-shirt that matched his eyes. A dark car was waiting for him by her mailbox and she could see a chauffeur inside.
‘I didn’t get to say everything I wanted to say today at the graveyard,’ he said, and she could see his breath in the cold air.
Olivia stepped outside on to the porch and pulled the door closed behind her. She was guessing that she didn’t want her whole family to hear this.
‘I wanted to say that before Jessica came back, Philippe had decided to choose you.’
Olivia let out a squeal. ‘Really?’
Jackson laughed. ‘Really.’
Even though it would never happen now, it was super-exciting to know that a Hollywood director thought she had the potential to be a movie star.
‘And since Philippe has decided that he “discovered” you –’ Jackson put on a silly French accent when he said ‘discovered’ – ‘he’s ordered the writers to create a new part.’
Olivia couldn’t believe it.
‘Since Chase only sees Mia in his imagination until the last Franklin Grove, Philippe decided that he’s going to make this Franklin Grove the second to last one, and Chase is going to be tempted to stay by another girl . . . you.’
‘Me?’ Olivia squeaked.
Jackson moved forward when he replied, ‘That won’t be too hard for me to act.’
Olivia held her breath. Did he just say that? she thought.
‘It’s only a small part, but I know you’ll be great in it.’ Jackson held up a folder full of papers. ‘I’ve brought some forms that your parents have to read and sign, if they’re happy for you to do it.’
Olivia took the papers. ‘Thank you so much. I know that none of this would have happened if it weren’t for you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Jackson replied. ‘But you’re the one who did it.’
Just then, Olivia heard a clunk against the window and saw the curtain inside being closed hurriedly.