Olivia smiled, and she and her sister started walking together slowly.
“Camilla and I are doing a movie for media studies,” Olivia began.
“I saw the Beasts working on theirs.” Ivy nodded. “Apparently, Garrick’s going to make Charlotte Brown a star.”
“Yeah.” Olivia sighed. “Well, Camilla and I are doing ours on this relative of my mom’s who I never even knew about: her great-aunt Edna. She just died recently, and it turns out she left my mom her love letters, plus some other stuff. There’s a ruby and diamond necklace you’d love.”
“Really?” Ivy said, her eyes lighting up. “That sounds killer.”
“It is,” Olivia agreed.
“So what’s wrong?”
Olivia sighed. “Do you ever think about our real parents, Ivy?”
“Every time my father drives me crazy,” Ivy said, cracking a smile.
“I’m serious,” Olivia said. “All this stuff about Great-aunt Edna has really got me thinking— about our family and history and stuff. I mean, I love my mom and dad and I feel superlucky that they adopted me, but I wish so badly that we knew something, anything, about our biological parents. Who knows? Maybe we have grandparents somewhere, or aunts and uncles and cousins. We could have a whole big family we don’t even know about!”
“I thought about our parents a lot when we first found each other,” Ivy said. “I’m lucky that my dad’s seriously great and that now I have you. But I’d like to know more about where we came from.”
“Exactly,” Olivia agreed as they crossed the street in front of school. “I mean, who wrote the notes when they put us up for adoption?”
Ivy stopped in her tracks. “What notes?”
“You know,” Olivia clarified, “the piece of paper they left with the baby’s name and date of birth on it.”
“I didn’t get a note,” Ivy said. Then she murmured, “At least not that I know of.” She bit her lip thoughtfully as they resumed walking.
“So how did you find out about where you were born?” Olivia wondered aloud.
“My dad told me it was in the adoption file.” Ivy replied. “But he never said anything about a note.”
“Well, you should ask him. Serena Star doesn’t have to be the only person in Franklin Grove determined to discover the truth,” Olivia said.
“Thanks for reminding me.” Ivy winced. “I only have until lunchtime to save all of vampirekind! But as soon as I get through with that, we’ll dig up our parents together. Okay?”
“Sounds like a plan,” said Olivia with a grin. “Good luck getting your quote!”
Ivy was already hurrying up the steps ahead of her. “I need it!” she called over her shoulder.
By the break before third period, Ivy was flitting around school like a bat that couldn’t find its way out of a cave. Her sister came bouncing toward her, jacketless to reveal a pink long-sleeved T-shirt that had the word “Yay!” printed on it in blue bubble letters.
“Hey!” Olivia said. “Any luck?”
Ivy shook her head, feeling faintly sick. Olivia’s eyes widened. “You mean you still
haven’t found a quote?” Ivy ran a hand through her hair. “It’s not for lack of trying!” she wailed.
“Okay.” Olivia nodded. “That’s okay. We’ll think of something.” She scanned the hallways as Ivy bit her lip hopefully.
“I got it!” Olivia announced after a moment.
“What? What is it?” Ivy asked eagerly.
“Mr. Slipson,” Olivia told her.
Ivy followed her sister’s gaze and saw the school guidance counselor, Mr. Slipson, waving his arms wildly as he talked to Mrs. Klinter, the computer science teacher, in front of his office. The buttons were nearly bursting off his shirt, and a tiny paisley bow tie hung under his enormous chin. “It’s outrageous!” Ivy heard him cry, his tiny eyeglasses nearly popping off his round face.