“Olivia,” Ivy said, reaching across and touching her hand gently. “It’s a dead end. Even if we had a vamp goddess, we don’t have enough time to make a romance work. Besides, Dad would see it coming from a mile away.”
Olivia nodded grudgingly. She knew her sister was right.
Brendan tapped the table with his fork. “As the only male member of Operation FANGED,” he said, “I hereby pronounce Plan B—”
“Dead,” they all said together.
“Time to come up with Plan C,” Ivy said hopefully.
Aren’t I usually the optimistic one? Olivia thought. “While we’re coming up with plans,” she said, her throat suddenly dry, “can we come up with one to get me out of tonight?”
“Why? What’s happening tonight?” Ivy inquired. “My mom got me a surprise.” Olivia winced.
Suddenly she realized that she had the worst headache ever. “She sprang it on me this morning. We have two tickets to see a show tonight.” Ivy looked confused. “I thought you love the theater.”
“I do,” said Olivia. “Just not shows with flying monkeys in them.” Saying the words “flying monkeys” sent a horrible chill down her spine.
“Flying monkeys?” Ivy turned to Sophia and
Brendan, but they both shrugged. “Olivia,” she said finally, “did you take Bethany’s VitaVamp again?”
Olivia shook her head and a heavy sigh racked her body. “I’m seeing Wicked.”
“Isn’t that like The Wizard of Oz?” asked Brendan.
“Yes, but from the witch’s point of view,” Sophia told him. “How deadly is that? That show sold out ages ago!”
“I’d kill to see Wicked,” moaned Ivy.
“Well I’d kill not to,” said Olivia weakly. “I saw The Wizard of Oz once, when I was eight years old, and I’ve had nightmares ever since.”
“What kind of nightmares?” asked Sophia.
“That witch,” croaked Olivia, “and her monkeys.”
“You mean the winged things dressed as bellhops?” Brendan quipped.
Ivy hit him in the arm, as if to say, This is serious. “So if it gives you nightmares, why are you going, Olivia?” she asked.
“Because my mom’s convinced it will help me,” Olivia explained. “She blames herself for letting me watch the movie when I was little. She thinks that because this show’s all about the nice side of the witch, it will end my suffering or whatever.”
“Your mom is taking you to see a musical as therapy?” Brendan laughed.
“It’s not funny!” Olivia snapped. “Once I see Wicked, I’m going to need therapy.”
“Come on, Olivia,” said Sophia. “You’re not going to—”
“I’ll FREAK!” Olivia cried hysterically. She pressed her sweaty palms onto the table. “That witch and her monkeys,” she said again in hushed terror.
“Can’t you talk to your mom?” asked Ivy. Olivia closed her eyes. Her headache was getting worse by the millisecond. “That’s the worst part. She’s all pleased with herself for finally finding a way to help me ‘heal the wounds of my childhood.’ It would break her heart if I didn’t go.” She opened her eyes, and her head throbbed.
“Can someone help me?” she squeaked.
Ivy’s lips curled into a smile. “I can.”
Olivia’s vision cleared slightly. “How?”
“We’ll switch!” Ivy announced.
All at once, Olivia’s headache lifted.
“You can be me at my house, packing boxes for the move,” Ivy explained, “and I’ll be you and go see Wicked.”
“You would do that?” Olivia gasped.
“Yes,” Ivy said, sighing as if a great burden had been placed upon her, “I would be willing to see a sold-out musical I’ve always wanted to see if it would help my beloved twin sister avoid emotional distress.”
Brendan and Sophia groaned.
“Having an identical twin rocks!” Olivia exclaimed. Suddenly she realized she was thirsty and starving. She chugged the glass of water on her tray and put the celery stalk she was holding in her mouth.
“No kidding,” Sophia teased. “Too bad you can’t hire your switching services out to those of us who are less fortunate.”
“That would be a killer job,” Ivy admitted. Killer job. The words stuck in Olivia’s head.
Suddenly, a lightbulb went on. “That’s it!” she swallowed her celery. “That’s Plan C! That’s what will convince your dad to stay in Franklin Grove!”
“A twin he could switch with?” guessed Brendan.
“No,” Olivia said, “a job even better than the one he’s leaving for.”
Ivy’s eyes widened. “You are a genius,” she cried.
“Yeah, but I try not to brag.” Olivia giggled. Ivy was already on her feet, stacking her plates on her tray and gathering her books. Olivia and their friends rushed to do the same.
At that moment, Camilla appeared with her lunch in a brown paper bag. “You’re not all leaving, are you?” she asked.
“Yeah,” said Ivy, “but so are you, Camilla.” She spun Camilla around and pointed her toward the doorway.
“But where are we going?” Camilla asked.
“To look for a job!” replied Olivia, taking her friend’s arm.
They walked into the library two minutes later.
“Well, if it isn’t the Anti-European Bloc,” said Miss Everling, coming out from behind her desk.