Take Two(47)

‘Jackson,’ she said. ‘Listen to me . . .’

Chapter Eleven

‘Hello!’ A familiar voice interrupted her. ‘Yoo-hoo! Hi, guys!’ Olivia saw Ivy trampling through the grass towards them, waving like crazy.

‘Has she had too many sugary drinks?’ Jackson asked.

‘Good question,’ Olivia replied cautiously.

‘Hi!’ Ivy called as she neared.

Brendan, bringing up the rear, looked as baffled as Olivia felt.

‘Hey, Olivia,’ Ivy said, totally out of breath and red-faced. ‘Oh, hi, Jackson.’

‘Hi,’ Jackson replied, but he didn’t take his eyes off Olivia.

Ivy plonked herself in between Olivia and Jackson. ‘What are you guys up to?’

Olivia searched Ivy’s face for a sign. Why was her sister acting so super-cheerful? Ivy knew why she’d brought Jackson here but she was acting like it was the most normal thing in the world to hang out in a graveyard. Which, Olivia supposed, for Ivy it is.

‘Just talking,’ Olivia said, trying to put Go away into her voice.

‘Jackson, this is Brendan,’ Ivy said. ‘Brendan, this is Jackson.’ When the two guys were saying their hellos, Ivy knocked Olivia on the arm to get her attention and mouthed, ‘NOT A VAMPIRE!’

Did Ivy just say what I think she just said?

Ivy made rabbit ears with her fingers and was making hopping motions when Jackson turned back. Ivy quickly dropped her hand.

Rabbit. Bunny. Suddenly Olivia realised what Ivy was trying to say. Jackson was NOT a vampire!

‘What do you think of our cemetery, Jackson?’ Ivy said.

Not a vampire, not a vampire! kept running through Olivia’s mind. That meant that she didn’t have to break it off with him. She wanted to bounce around among the graves with happiness, until she realised that it meant she’d brought him to the oddest place for their first date.

‘It’s very nice,’ Jackson replied.

He must think I’m insane, Olivia thought.

‘I just wanted us to have a quick look at some of the sights of the city,’ Olivia said. ‘But maybe now we should go somewhere warmer.’

The foursome walked down the stone path towards the street.

‘What about the stuff we were talking about?’ Jackson asked her quietly so Ivy and Brendan couldn’t hear.

‘Uh . . .’ Olivia started. If he isn’t a vampire, Olivia realised, then he had something entirely different to tell me. Olivia gulped. And I’m not going to like it.

Just then, a sleek silver Mercedes pulled up.

‘Uh oh,’ Jackson said. ‘I’ve been discovered.’

The door opened and Amy Teller emerged. ‘Jackson! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!’

‘Hi, Amy,’ he called and led everyone over to the sidewalk.

‘What are you doing dressed as a security guard?’ she demanded. ‘Philippe wants you and Jessica to start filming this afternoon.’

Olivia was confused. ‘Jessica?’