couldn’t. The only person she wanted to talk to was Brendan. She grabbed her cell phone from her nightstand and slammed the door to her bedroom.
Since when did
I
become the drama queen?
She slid open her window, hiked one leg over the sill and climbed down the trellis out into the backyard. She hoped the fresh air would help clear her head. Then she dialled Brendan’s number and took a seat on the rough brick of the Vegas’ backyard patio. Out here, she didn’t feel so trapped.
Brendan picked up. ‘Ivy?’ He sounded concerned, and she imagined his dark eyebrows puckered. ‘I thought you were supposed to be having lunch with your grandparents today.’
‘I was.’ Ivy rested her chin on her knees. ‘I mean, I did.’
‘That was quick.’
‘Brendan, it was a disaster! They want me to go to finishing school in Transylvania, some place called Wallachia Academy. It’s supposed to be the most A-positive place on earth, but I already can’t stand it. I’d have to leave you and Olivia. Plus, they won’t let me tell Olivia and I actually yelled at my grandparents. Can you believe it?’ Ivy was glad Brendan wasn’t here in person. She felt like she might burst into tears at any moment, and she didn’t want him to see her looking like a gothic clown when her eyeliner started to run.
There was silence on the other end of the phone, and then he said, ‘I’m sure your family are doing what they think is right.’ His voice was gentle. ‘Although . . .’ Ivy heard him take a deep sigh, ‘I don’t want you to go to some school across an entire ocean either.’
‘I know! I’d rather go to the school dance than leave my home behind.’ She laughed at how silly that idea was.
Me! In a frilly dress at a school dance!
The line went silent. Ivy waited. ‘Hello? Brendan, are you still there?’ She held the receiver away from her ear, quickly checking the screen. ‘Brendan?’
‘I’m here.’ Brendan sounded like he had swallowed soda the wrong way. ‘I think the school dance might be fun if we went together. You know?’
Ivy wasn’t sure what to say.
Fun?
Was Brendan kidding with her? ‘Yeah, right!’ she said, laughing. Then Ivy heard the door behind her open. She turned to see her dad stepping outside. ‘Hey, Brendan? My dad’s here. I’ve got to run.’ She ended the call and prepared herself for a nice long father–daughter lecture.
How absolutely fatal
, she thought.
Charles sat down next to Ivy. He was still wearing his velvet smoking jacket, and the expression on his face was grim. Ivy was seriously considering digging her own grave.
‘Your grandparents only want to do the right thing.’ Her father’s voice was immediately soothing. ‘You don’t have to make a decision yet. Why don’t you sleep on it?’
Ivy swallowed hard. Maybe she had overreacted . . . just a bit. The two of them sat in silence for several moments.
‘I guess I should apologise to them,’ she said eventually.
Her dad smiled and put an arm around her shoulders. ‘They’re old and they’ve travelled a long way,’ he reminded her. ‘We need to make allowances if they’re a bit . . . to the point. It’s only because they care.’
The two of them got to their feet and made their way back inside.
The Count and Countess were sitting stiffly on the edge of the couch. Ivy could barely meet their glance, she was so mortified.
‘I’m sorry for running out of the room.’ Ivy had worms crawling in her stomach. She felt dreadful. Never in twelve centuries would she have guessed she’d ever get into a fight with her sweet grandparents.
There was nothing else for it – she went and wrapped both of them in tight hugs.
When she pulled away, her grandfather was wringing his hands. ‘I can’t believe we upset you so. It was silly to mention our age. We would have come to Franklin Grove anyway. We love travelling!’
‘Yes, yes,’ the Countess rushed to agree. ‘We’re happy to be here visiting you and Olivia.
Since when did
I
become the drama queen?
She slid open her window, hiked one leg over the sill and climbed down the trellis out into the backyard. She hoped the fresh air would help clear her head. Then she dialled Brendan’s number and took a seat on the rough brick of the Vegas’ backyard patio. Out here, she didn’t feel so trapped.
Brendan picked up. ‘Ivy?’ He sounded concerned, and she imagined his dark eyebrows puckered. ‘I thought you were supposed to be having lunch with your grandparents today.’
‘I was.’ Ivy rested her chin on her knees. ‘I mean, I did.’
‘That was quick.’
‘Brendan, it was a disaster! They want me to go to finishing school in Transylvania, some place called Wallachia Academy. It’s supposed to be the most A-positive place on earth, but I already can’t stand it. I’d have to leave you and Olivia. Plus, they won’t let me tell Olivia and I actually yelled at my grandparents. Can you believe it?’ Ivy was glad Brendan wasn’t here in person. She felt like she might burst into tears at any moment, and she didn’t want him to see her looking like a gothic clown when her eyeliner started to run.
There was silence on the other end of the phone, and then he said, ‘I’m sure your family are doing what they think is right.’ His voice was gentle. ‘Although . . .’ Ivy heard him take a deep sigh, ‘I don’t want you to go to some school across an entire ocean either.’
‘I know! I’d rather go to the school dance than leave my home behind.’ She laughed at how silly that idea was.
Me! In a frilly dress at a school dance!
The line went silent. Ivy waited. ‘Hello? Brendan, are you still there?’ She held the receiver away from her ear, quickly checking the screen. ‘Brendan?’
‘I’m here.’ Brendan sounded like he had swallowed soda the wrong way. ‘I think the school dance might be fun if we went together. You know?’
Ivy wasn’t sure what to say.
Fun?
Was Brendan kidding with her? ‘Yeah, right!’ she said, laughing. Then Ivy heard the door behind her open. She turned to see her dad stepping outside. ‘Hey, Brendan? My dad’s here. I’ve got to run.’ She ended the call and prepared herself for a nice long father–daughter lecture.
How absolutely fatal
, she thought.
Charles sat down next to Ivy. He was still wearing his velvet smoking jacket, and the expression on his face was grim. Ivy was seriously considering digging her own grave.
‘Your grandparents only want to do the right thing.’ Her father’s voice was immediately soothing. ‘You don’t have to make a decision yet. Why don’t you sleep on it?’
Ivy swallowed hard. Maybe she had overreacted . . . just a bit. The two of them sat in silence for several moments.
‘I guess I should apologise to them,’ she said eventually.
Her dad smiled and put an arm around her shoulders. ‘They’re old and they’ve travelled a long way,’ he reminded her. ‘We need to make allowances if they’re a bit . . . to the point. It’s only because they care.’
The two of them got to their feet and made their way back inside.
The Count and Countess were sitting stiffly on the edge of the couch. Ivy could barely meet their glance, she was so mortified.
‘I’m sorry for running out of the room.’ Ivy had worms crawling in her stomach. She felt dreadful. Never in twelve centuries would she have guessed she’d ever get into a fight with her sweet grandparents.
There was nothing else for it – she went and wrapped both of them in tight hugs.
When she pulled away, her grandfather was wringing his hands. ‘I can’t believe we upset you so. It was silly to mention our age. We would have come to Franklin Grove anyway. We love travelling!’
‘Yes, yes,’ the Countess rushed to agree. ‘We’re happy to be here visiting you and Olivia.
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