Holly lowered her camera just as Brendan burst through the doors. ‘That’s a wrap!’ she said, beaming. ‘I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Olivia said so many great things about you – I couldn’t wait to meet you and get a few photos. I really want to launch my career one day and interesting subjects will make all the difference.’ Her eyes twinkled. Brendan was getting nearer, his arms wide in anticipation of a hug. ‘Getting an exclusive with you is a real privilege,’ Holly carried on. ‘You don’t know how much this could help me win the travel-writing competition.’
‘That’s killer.’ Olivia could hardly get the words out. Brendan was making his way between the booths, his eyes fixed on Olivia’s face. The face that he thinks is Ivy’s. The lips that he’ll want to kiss. She had to stop this! She sent Brendan a sharp shake of her head and he paused, realising something was wrong.
‘Would you like a smoothie?’ she asked Holly, taking her arm and steering her round so that her back was to Brendan. ‘My treat.’
‘Sure, thanks!’ Holly read the menu, picking from the list of crazily named fruit drinks. ‘Can you get me a Twist and Shout?’
Olivia tried not to groan. Would it be completely awful for her to tell one more white lie – that Mister Smoothie was out of Twist and Shouts? She wasn’t sure she could bear hearing that song again, not when she was already so on edge. Just thinking about it made her shiver:
Hey, Mister Smoothie!
I’ve got a little twist!
I’ve got a little SHOUT!
But no – if Holly wanted a Twist and Shout, that’s what she’d have. Olivia walked over to the queue. Brendan was still watching her and she jerked her head, signalling for him to come and stand beside her. He ran to her like an excited puppy. Fortunately, Holly had settled in a booth and was scrolling through the photos on her digital camera.
As Ivy’s boyfriend caught up with Olivia, she stiffly held out her arms, keeping him at bay.
‘Brendan, I –’
His face was lit up like a firework display. ‘When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me? Are you back for good, or just a few days? Why didn’t you want me to come over back there?’ He ignored her outstretched arms and swept her into a crushing hug that wouldn’t have bothered the real Ivy, with her V-strength, but for Olivia, it was totally cutting off her circulation. ‘This is so exciting!’ He breathed into her hair. Oh no! ‘I’ve missed you so much, you have no idea.’
He let go of her at last. Olivia chanced a look back at Holly, who had put her camera down and was watching now. Ugh. Just what I need.
Olivia tried not to flinch when Brendan took her hand.
‘I’m not Ivy!’ she hissed.
Brendan’s smile faded. ‘What are you talking about?’
How could Olivia get him to understand? ‘It’s me, Olivia! You know, the girl who helped you get into the Pall Bearers concert? I answered the question about the third line in the second song on the first album, remember?’ That was one detail Ivy couldn’t possibly know.
Brendan peered more closely at her. ‘I don’t believe it. For a minute there, I really . . .’
‘I have to keep the act up,’ Olivia said, interrupting him. ‘Holly mustn’t guess. I’ve been playing along to get her a dream interview with Ivy. She wants to be a journalist and I didn’t want to crush her dreams. She’s entering a competition that ends this week. She doesn’t know Ivy’s in Transylvania. Can you play along with me?’
He gave a big sigh and shrugged his shoulders. ‘I guess one more game of make-believe shouldn’t be such a big deal.’
‘Thank you!’ Olivia gasped. Holly was smiling and waving over. Olivia waved back.
Brendan grabbed straws while Olivia ordered a Beauty-Boosting Blueberry smoothie, a Cherry-O for Brendan and a Twist and Shout for Holly.
‘Coming right up!’ said the beaming waitress. No sooner had the order been placed than the entire Mister Smoothie staff – waiters, cashiers and all – boogied out from behind the counter, snapping their fingers:
Hey, Mister Smoothie!
I’ve got a little twist!
I’ve got a little SHOUT!
As the whole smoothie shop broke into song, Olivia blushed – very un-Ivy of her.
Holly seemed unfazed. Her camera shutter was clacking away as she took pictures of the whole shebang. Olivia knew the real Ivy would rather be caught dead!
She tried to will her cheeks back to pale again as she made her way over to Brendan and Holly.
‘Since when do you order Twist and Shouts?’ asked Brendan, his eyes twinkling.
‘When in Rome?’ replied Olivia, handing out the smoothies. Brendan was really taking his role seriously. Olivia made a mental note to suggest that Brendan look into drama club after this. ‘Did you two meet?’ Olivia asked. ‘Brendan, Holly; Holly, Brendan. Brendan’s my, um, boyfriend.’
‘I can see that,’ said Holly, grinning broadly. ‘I don’t suppose he gives everyone hugs like that.’
Brendan draped an arm across Olivia’s shoulders. ‘Oh, Ivy just loves it when I get all romantic!’ He laughed and kissed Olivia on the temple. Don’t pull away. Don’t pull away! she willed herself. Holly was still taking photos of them.
‘Love’s young dream,’ Holly sighed.
Brendan shrugged. ‘Something like that. Isn’t that right, Ivy?’
What would Ivy do? She dug her elbow sharply into Brendan’s ribs. ‘Quit it with all the mushy stuff,’ she growled. Brendan laughed.