Ivy just stared at him, looking as stunned – and wary – as Olivia felt. Is he serious?
Finn wasn’t usually the type to be mean or sarcastic, but . . .
Oh, what was I thinking? Meeting Ivy’s eyes, Olivia stifled a giggle. Of course Finn was genuine in his offer!
The skater-boy grinned, obviously unoffended by her laughter. ‘Why not?’ he said. ‘It’ll get the endorphins flowing. My gym teacher says that’s a good thing.’
Despite her concern for Ivy, Olivia couldn’t help the big, goofy smile that spread across her face. Lincoln Vale isn’t so dangerous after all, is it? The people of this town might be a kooky bunch, but most of them were sweet.
‘Thanks, Finn,’ Ivy said, ‘but I’ll pass this time.’
‘If you say so.’ Shrugging, he tucked the skateboard under his arm.
‘We’re on our way to get food,’ Amelia said. ‘Want to join us?’
‘Another time?’ Ivy suggested. ‘We really need to get back to Franklin Grove.’
‘See you at school, then!’ Famelia chorused, and the couple headed off, hand in hand, in perfect harmony.
Ivy jumped to her feet. ‘We should go home,’ she said. ‘Right now.’
Without waiting for a reply, she turned around and walked back towards the escalators. The conversation was clearly over.
Sophia shrugged, her expression hopeless. Olivia’s own shoulders sagged as she watched Ivy step on to the escalators. Her back was rigidly straight, and her fists were tightly clenched.
She was wound more tightly than ever now their whole crazy mission to find out the truth about Maya had come to nothing. Worse yet, Olivia had no idea how they would even get home from Lincoln Vale.
Most of all, she just couldn’t believe that Brendan would ever be that boy . . . the one who cheated on his girlfriend. Even if Ivy hadn’t been, in Olivia’s opinion, pretty much the World’s Greatest Human (or half-human!), it wouldn’t make any sense.
But she couldn’t deny that something very strange was going on with Brendan. And she couldn’t bear it if he created real heartache for her sister.
Isn’t there enough heartache already in our family? Judging by Lillian’s recent behaviour . . .
Olivia sighed as she hurried after her twin. Even if Ivy didn’t realise it, there were two couples in trouble in their own family, now. I just have to try to help them both!
Chapter Five
That evening, as twilight spread across Franklin Grove, Ivy started up the steps towards Brendan’s house . . . then turned around and walked back down.
Stopping at the bottom step, she closed her eyes, gritting her teeth.
You have to do this, she told herself.
. . . But what if he tells me it’s all true?
The question brought a strange, heavy feeling to her stomach. It was the same feeling she used to get when her old middle school had served pizzas with garlic, and she’d taken a bite without checking.
Tipping her head forwards, she thought wistfully back to Franklin Grove Middle School. Life had been so much simpler then. The people were nicer, the homework was easier, and she’d spent a lot less time wondering whether her boyfriend was a dishonest, lying –
No! Everything in her heart shouted the word. That’s not Brendan!
Something was definitely going on, though, and, like it or not, Ivy needed to know what it was before it drove her completely crazy.
Behind her, the front door opened, making her jump.
‘Ivy?’ It was Brendan’s dad, Marc Daniels. ‘What’s wrong?’
Oops. Way to look like an idiot, Ivy!