‘Right,’ Sophia mumbled. But as they passed the skater-boys, she let out another wistful sigh.
We might have a problem, Ivy thought grimly.
But she didn’t have time to worry about it now. First, they had to get through today. All we have to do is not draw any attention to ourselves. Easy. Right?
Her belly tingled uncomfortably, and she gulped. I hope that’s just the doughger from yesterday. I’m not that nervous . . . am I?
When she spotted Brendan’s familiar silhouette near the main school building, she let out a sigh of pure relief. ‘Finally!’
Pulling Sophia along with her, Ivy raced towards her boyfriend. He stood near the front door, and when he turned to face her, she saw that he’d dressed down too, wearing simple dark jeans and sneakers. In terms of his clothing, he wouldn’t have looked out of place with the skater-boys. But he wore the expression of someone who had just seen a ghost . . . playing cards with a yeti!
‘What’s wrong?’ Ivy asked.
He pointed a trembling finger at the school. ‘I went inside. Just for a second, to check it out. It . . . It . . .’
Ivy stared at him, feeling her stomach sink. ‘How bad is it in there?’
Brendan shook his head, his eyes wide and stunned. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’
Oh no. Taking a deep breath, Ivy opened the front door. I don’t care how bright and pink and bunnified it is. I can take it, no matter what!
Then she blinked, as the door closed behind her and her friends. Wait a minute. Who turned out the lights?
The foyer was a sea of darkness. And lining the corridors in every direction, propped against the lockers, lounging on the floor, and gossiping in groups, were the students of Franklin Grove High.
Ivy felt her eyes widen. The last time she had seen this many goths in one place was at a Pall Bearers concert!
Feeling dazed, she walked slowly down the first corridor, taking it all in. ‘But . . .’
Her voice trailed off as a girl in ripped jeans and bone-white face paint, leaning against the wall of lockers, nodded approvingly at her T-shirt.
‘Um . . . thanks?’ Ivy said to the girl, trying to smile. To Brendan, though, she whispered frantically, ‘Am I dreaming?’
‘If you are,’ Brendan croaked, ‘then I am, too.’
She reached out and laced her fingers through his, hanging on for balance. They passed a group of girls sitting at the bottom of a staircase, painting each other’s fingernails black. Further along the hallway, Ivy could see someone carrying a black backpack that rippled with rubber spikes.
‘It’s not pink,’ Sophia said faintly. ‘I thought it would all be pink.’
Ivy shook her head numbly. ‘If any of these people saw the colour pink, they’d probably run screaming into the nearest darkened room!’
‘There are more goths here than bunnies,’ Brendan said. ‘It’s just wrong.’
‘And look at those T-shirts.’ Sophia nodded at the girls ahead of them. ‘I’ve never even heard of some of those rock bands!’
‘Whoa.’ Ivy felt her legs go weak as she absorbed the truth. ‘Guys,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t think we’re the outsiders at this school.’
Sophia’s eyes were wide. ‘Do you think . . . could it be . . .?’
Brendan nodded, looking panicked. ‘I think . . . the goth kids at this high school might actually be the in-crowd.’
‘No way,’ Ivy breathed. She saw the same stunned reaction in both of her friends’ eyes. But the truth was staring them in the face from all around . . . and it was wearing black.
For the first time ever, it looked like Ivy, Sophia and Brendan might actually fit in!
Chapter Three
I can’t believe it, Olivia thought, as she bounced on her hotel bed. I’m actually in London, England!