14 Flipping Out - My Sister the Vampire (8 page)

T
his is actually kind of awesome!
Olivia thought the next afternoon, as she tailed Amelia through the hallways. The final bell had just
rung to end the school day, and everyone was heading out . . . everyone except Olivia.

She’d never seen anything like the way the entire school created a path for Amelia as she moved.
Now, if only they would keep it open for me!
Unfortunately, the gap closed just
behind Amelia, forcing Olivia to hop, skip and pirouette her way past the others to keep up with the Goth-Queen. She wondered if the ninth graders did the same for Ivy, and thought how weird she
must find that experience. Yesterday, at lunch, Olivia had seen the indecision on Ivy’s face, and knew that her twin was still having a tough time adjusting to high school. She had decided
not to call Ivy last night, just in case talking about the whole thing made her twin feel even more pressured.

She had to run to finally catch up with Amelia, but at least there was one good side-effect: the breathlessness she had been planning to fake came completely naturally.

‘A . . . A . . . Amelia!’ she managed, panting.

‘Yes?’ Amelia raised her eyebrows, looking bored. ‘Is something wrong?’

Aware of everyone around staring at them, Olivia drew on all of her acting exercises.
Remember: make eye contact! No stuttering! Minimal head movement!
Those were the rules that had
helped her act convincingly on screen. Now she’d have to hope they helped her now.

‘The principal is looking for you,’ she said, looking straight into Amelia’s eyes.

‘Really?’ Amelia frowned. ‘Why wasn’t there an announcement on the PA, then?’

‘Uh . . .’ Olivia paused.
No head movement,
she reminded herself, fighting to keep her head from ducking.
Keep eye contact!
‘I don’t know,’ she
said. ‘It’s just . . . what I was told.’

As Amelia held her gaze, the Goth-Queen’s eyes narrowed. Olivia forced herself to keep still.
This is why I hate lying!

Finally, Amelia shrugged, sending silver chains clanking across her leather coat. ‘Oh, fine. Like I didn’t have enough to do today!’ Growling, she turned on one heel. Just as
she was starting to set off, though, she suddenly stopped, and sighed. ‘Thank you,’ she muttered. ‘For telling me.’

‘Er . . . no problem.’ Olivia pasted a winning smile on to her face. ‘Happy to help.’

Rolling her eyes, Amelia turned away and stomped off down the hall.

Olivia waited a moment, then followed after her. She kept more of a distance this time, so that the Goth-Queen couldn’t see her, ducking behind skateboarders and groups of goths whenever
Amelia looked around. As she emerged from her latest hiding place, she found Ivy staring at her with raised eyebrows from across the hall.

What’s going on?
Ivy mouthed.

Olivia shrugged. She wished she could ask her twin for help . . . but Ivy was surrounded by her own cluster of goth groupies – all of whom were glaring contemptuously at Olivia now. There
was no point trying to separate Ivy from them. Olivia had learned that much at lunch yesterday.

Shoving down the remembered hurt, she forced a smile. ‘Tell you later!’ she whispered. It was a bare thread of sound, but she knew Ivy’s vampire hearing would pick up on
it.

Turning her back on her twin and the groupies, she hurried down the hallway. Amelia’s black-leather coat had already disappeared from view, but Olivia slipped through the crowds and
managed to lurk just outside the principal’s office just a moment after Amelia had stalked inside.

She heard Amelia’s annoyed voice. ‘Is Mr Carson in?’

Score!
Olivia did a high-jump in her head. Her plan had just been put into action! There was only one person sitting in the waiting room outside Mr Carson’s office . . . so she
knew exactly who Amelia must have spoken to, to ask that question.

Mr Fussell –
er, Russell
 
! – had erupted at Finn over lunch, as usual. Apparently, his skateboard wheels had come off and clattered on the
ground when Finn had opened his locker, and Mr Russell had chased him all the way to the cafeteria to yell at him about it. Olivia had started out feeling sympathetic . . . but the moment Mr
Russell had ordered Finn to go and see Principal Carson, Olivia’s sympathy had turned into excitement. It was time to put the
Famelia
plan into motion!

Now she pressed her ears against the corner of the door just in time to hear Finn mumble: ‘I think he’s on the phone. He didn’t answer when I knocked.’

Amelia snorted. ‘And did you actually knock loud enough?’

There was a pause. Then Finn said, ‘I may be
just
a simple skater, but I’m pretty sure even I can’t mess up knocking on a door.’

‘Hmm.’ Amelia sounded unconvinced.

Olivia winced.
Why does she have to act so haughty with everyone? Can’t she see how annoying it is?

Amelia spoke again, her voice softer. ‘I don’t think you’re
just
a skater, you know.’

Whoa!
Olivia jerked upright.
Progress! That was definite progress! Now just let Finn say . . . let him say . . .

‘Ughlflp!’

What?
Olivia blinked, shaking her head.

Apparently Finn had been so taken by surprise, he’d lost the power of speech . . . because all that Olivia could hear were choking noises.

Smooth, Finn. Smooth.
She muffled a groan as she heard the choking noises fade away, followed only by an awkward silence.

Still, the Skater King and the Goth-Queen were both trapped there for the moment, forced to sit next to each other with nothing else to do. Surely they
had
to start a real conversation
soon?

But they didn’t! Olivia couldn’t believe it as the minutes ticked past.
What is wrong with them?
There was no one there to see them outside Mr Carson’s office. For
once, they didn’t have to worry about what anyone else would think.
Just say something!
Olivia wanted to scream at them both.

She gritted her teeth.
I can’t stand this. I have to see what’s going on!

Moving as stealthily as she could, she inched around the corner. When she was sure they weren’t looking, she scooted at top speed to the other side of the doorway and hid behind a large
potted plant.
Whew. I made it!

They couldn’t see her, but she could see them . . .
And talk about a depressing sight!

Finn and Amelia sat with a single chair between them, so close they could have reached out and touched. But they were both pretending to be completely alone! Amelia stared pointedly at the
ceiling. Finn sat staring at the ground, absentmindedly rolling the wheels of his skateboard again and again . . .

‘Would you mind not doing that?’ Amelia asked eventually. ‘The noise is going straight through me.’ She rubbed her temples as though she had a headache.

‘Sorry.’ Finn sighed. ‘I was just checking them. I screwed the wheels back in earlier, but I need to make sure they’re in good shape. I don’t want to have an
accident.’

Amelia gave a small smile. ‘I thought you skater-boys liked to live dangerously.’

Look up!
Olivia wanted to scream at Finn.
She’s smiling at you, can’t you see?

Finn shrugged, still looking at the ground. ‘We do. But there’s a difference between “dangerous” and “stupid”.’

‘And the difference is . . . ?’

‘Um . . .’ Finn’s lips curved into a rueful smile. For the first time, he darted a glance at Amelia. ‘I don’t know. Hope that doesn’t mean
I’m
stupid!’

Amelia’s face quivered. Her lips –
Yes!
Olivia cheered silently. Amelia’s lips were definitely twitching! She was trying not to let her smile become a huge grin.

Do it!
Olivia silently urged the other girl.
Give in!

‘I’m sure you’re not stupid,’ Amelia said softly. Olivia had never heard her sounding so sweet! Her cheeks were blushing now. Finn was staring at her, his mouth hanging
half-open. Olivia could see what he was thinking – it was written all over his face.
Amelia is being nice to me!

Fabulous!
Olivia thought.
My plan is actually working. Now, all I need is for Amelia to look at him again and give him one of her beautiful smiles.

But instead, Amelia’s face straightened. She looked back up at the ceiling, and the moment passed. Two chairs away, Finn shrugged and went back to rolling the wheels of the board.
Creak! Creak!

Amelia’s right
, Olivia thought glumly.
That really is quite irritating.

But what was even more irritating was the fact that the two of them were wasting their perfect opportunity. Were they really going to let this moment slip through their fingertips without saying
another word to each other?

Had she made a terrible mistake setting this up? She’d been so sure they liked each other. But . . .

Wait! What’s that?

Finn wasn’t looking at the ground any more. His gaze had turned . . . to Amelia. And he wasn’t looking away.

Olivia held her breath as she turned to look for the Goth-Queen’s reaction.

Amelia had definitely noticed, too. Her eyes might still be fixed on the ceiling, but her normally-pale skin was flushing pink. And as Olivia watched, Amelia ever-so-casually lifted her left
hand out of her lap and laid it on the empty chair between them.

Yes, yes, yes!
Olivia willed Finn.
Take her hand. Just do it!

Finn’s own cheeks had flushed now, too. His gaze rested on Amelia’s hand. Slowly, slo-o-o-owly, his own right hand lifted to hover in the air just above hers. His gaze flicked to
Amelia’s. She didn’t look at him, but she didn’t move her hand, either. Gradually, his hand began to lower over hers . . .

Loud footsteps sounded in the hallway behind Olivia. She spun around.
Oh, no.
It was Principal Carson!

She lunged down the hallway to intercept him.
He can’t go into the office. Not now!

She thudded to a halt in front of him just before he could turn the corner. ‘Mr Carson!’ she gasped.

‘Olivia Abbott?’ Frowning down at her, the principal came to a halt. ‘What is it?’

Olivia gulped.
I forgot how tall he is!

As he loomed over her, broad and intimidating in his sharply creased grey suit, he blocked out the light. ‘Um . . .’ Olivia’s head whirled, then went completely blank.
‘Uh . . .’
Why didn’t I come up with a plan for this part?

He shook his head impatiently. ‘Miss Abbott, if there’s something you’d like to say to me, please do so.’ He looked over her head. ‘Otherwise –’

‘There is! There is something I wanted to say.’

‘I see.’ He sighed and began to move around her. ‘Shall we discuss it in my office?’

‘No!’ She almost leaped to plant herself in front of him again, blocking his way. ‘This can’t wait. I have to . . . um . . .’ Her thoughts whirled. ‘I have to
complain about my homework!’

‘I beg your pardon?’ He blinked.

Inwardly, Olivia winced at what she was about to do. But she had no choice – Finn and Amelia’s meet-cute moment had to be protected at all costs. If Olivia could get the two of them
together, she could unite the whole school, which meant that she and Ivy might actually be able to hang out again. Like twins should. It was crazy that they were split apart!

Pretend you’re Jessica Phelps
, she thought.
Just say exactly what she would say. She wouldn’t worry about embarrassing herself
 
!

She drew herself up. ‘Do you realise how much homework my teachers want me to do while I’m
on-set
next week?’ she demanded. ‘Don’t any of you understand I
have commitments and responsibilities? I am a movie star, you know?’

. . . And I sound like a stuck-up witch!
she finished miserably, to herself.

Mr Carson gave her a weary smile. ‘I understand you are under a lot of pressure, Miss Abbott, especially for someone so young. What you must remember, though, is that your education is
still primary, even above your film commitments. You really wouldn’t want to fall behind.’ He started to move around her. ‘And now –’

‘No!’ Cringing inwardly, Olivia turned her nose up in the air. ‘I have to warn you, Principal Carson, you
will
be hearing from my agent about this!’

If I still have an agent, anyway.
She hadn’t spoken to Amy Teller for so long, even Olivia wasn’t sure about it!

‘I’m sure I will,’ Mr Carson said. ‘But for now, just worry about getting to your homework done
on time
, please, Miss Abbott.’

He walked past her briskly, and Olivia sagged. Reluctantly, she began to walk away, moving as slowly as possible. She came to a stop, though, when she heard Mr Carson step into his office.
‘Mr Jorgensen. And . . .?’ He sounded surprised. ‘Why are you here, Miss Thompson?’

Amelia sounded as haughty as ever as she replied, ‘I was told that you wanted to see me.’

‘Well, unless you can tell me exactly which teacher sent you here, you should get off home,’ Mr Carson said. ‘At least, unlike Mr Jorgensen, you don’t take inappropriate
toys
to school.’

‘Sir, my board isn’t a toy!’ Finn protested.

‘Save it for the office,’ Mr Carson drawled. ‘And now, Miss Thompson, if you don’t mind . . .?’

Amelia’s annoyed sigh was so loud, it carried down the hall.
Uh-oh
, Olivia thought.
Time to get out of sight. Fast!

She scampered as quickly as she could through the hallway, ducking and diving around corners until she made it out through a side door of the school. As she pushed the door open, she darted a
glance backwards, just to make sure Amelia wasn’t heading in her direction. Luckily, Amelia was nowhere in sight . . . but as Olivia tumbled through the door, she ran straight into a stinky
leather trench coat that almost smothered her.

‘I’m so sorry!’ She stumbled back, crinkling her nose at the stench.
Has this boy ever showered?