It took every ounce of pride Ivy had to force herself to her feet. Once she was there, she had to readjust her backpack just to give herself something to do . . . other than running for her life!
The bus hissed to a stop outside her house. Its doors creaked open like the jaws of a dragon, waiting to devour her whole.
Taking a deep breath, Ivy stepped through the open doors.
The bus’s driver was a middle-aged woman in a fuzzy blue sweater, and Ivy’s stomach sank. Even as she smiled politely, she braced herself for the look of disdain that she knew would be aimed her way any moment now. Bunnies like this hated goths!
But the bus driver just smiled back at her. ‘Welcome to the bus run, Ivy!’ She leaned forwards, lowering her voice to a whisper. ‘I know today is a big day for you, but everything will be just fine. You take it from me.’ She winked encouragingly.
Ivy was so stunned, she couldn’t even speak. All she could do was give the bus driver another wavering smile and then make her way down the aisle, past rows of mostly unfamiliar chattering bunnies towards the rear bench seat where – thank darkness! – she finally saw Sophia sitting all by herself.
Like Ivy, Sophia had dressed down for their first day of high school, wearing a plain black T-shirt instead of any of her beloved rock-band merch. Her long, dark hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, making her face look tense, and her fingers and ears were bare of her usual fashionable goth accessories.
‘I’m so glad you’re here!’ Sophia picked up her backpack and scooted over to make room for Ivy. ‘Is it just me, or do the streets outside look almost . . .’
‘Scary?’ Ivy filled in sympathetically. ‘Trust me, it’s not just you.’ As she sat down next to her friend, the bus pulled away from her house with a rattle and jerk. Through the window, Undertaker Hill slid past, then disappeared behind them.
Ivy took a deep breath. She didn’t just feel like she was being carried to school – she felt like she was being pulled along in an insistent current. The current of change.
And she didn’t like it one bit.
Forget it, world! Ivy set her jaw hard. No one takes Ivy Vega anywhere she doesn’t want to go. I’m still in charge of my life . . . even if I am riding in a bright yellow bananamobile!
The bus screeched to a stop, throwing everyone forwards in their seats. As Ivy pushed herself back into place, the doors hissed open and a timid figure hesitated at the entrance. Finally, she moved forwards . . . and Ivy choked as she recognised Charlotte Brown, cheerleading queen bee of Franklin Grove Middle School, looking around the bus as nervously as a baby zebra heading into a den of ravenous lions.
Charlotte’s anxious gaze skittered all around the bus – then landed on Sophia and Ivy. Her face lit up into a beaming smile. ‘You’re here!’
She waved excitedly.
‘Is she for real?’ Sophia whispered, even as she half-lifted a hand to wave back.
Ivy had to bite back a laugh of astonishment. ‘Well, I guess our relationship did improve a lot by the end of last year . . .’
‘But still,’ said Sophia, ‘it’s not like we’ve been meeting up with her over summer vacation.’
‘Well . . .’ Ivy hesitated as Charlotte hurried towards them. ‘It’s actually quite . . .’ No, she had to stop there. Just thinking the word ‘sweet’ made her shudder.
But honestly, on a day full of danger, it didn’t hurt to see how eager Charlotte was to be friendly to two of the goths she’d once despised.
‘Eeee!’ Charlotte squealed. She plopped herself down between Ivy and Sophia, forcing them to make space. ‘I am so happy to see you guys! Are you heading for Willowton High? Please tell me you both are!’
‘Sorry.’ Ivy shook her head, feeling her own spirits lower. ‘Franklin Grove High.’
‘Oh no.’ Charlotte slumped. ‘That just sucks! And with Olivia gone, too . . .’
Ivy and Sophia traded a glance over Charlotte’s head. Neither of them could have imagined a year ago that Charlotte would one day miss Olivia!
The bus bumped to another halt, and Olivia’s friends Camilla and Holly stepped on, waving happily to Ivy and Sophia.
‘At least they’ll both be at Willowton,’ Charlotte said, brightening. ‘But it’s so sad we’re not all going to the same school.’
‘It is,’ Ivy agreed. Silently, though, she thought maybe it was a good thing that Charlotte was starting fresh in a completely new school.
At Franklin Grove Middle, Charlotte had been so used to everyone grovelling to her, it had been fatal for her personality. Now was her chance to finally make a good impression with new people – people who weren’t already impressed with her for all the wrong reasons. She can start over, Ivy thought, as a nicer upgrade of herself. Charlotte 2.0.
As the bus rumbled through town, picking up more and more unfamiliar students on the way, Ivy and Sophia both took care to practise their mundane and bunny-friendly conversation. As usual, Camilla was too focused on planning for her next movie masterpiece to notice, and Holly was too nervous to say much at all as Ivy and Sophia dragged out a tortuous conversation about popular movies, TV, and even – gag! – pop music. But Charlotte Brown, the bunniest bunny Ivy had ever met, noticed straight away.
‘You guys!’ Charlotte batted at Ivy’s arm. ‘I’ve never heard you two talk like this before.’