Star Style (8 page)

Olivia noticed that the ice-Jackson’s nose was dripping, but it did really look like him.

‘It is,’ Jackson replied, ‘but apparently in two weeks, I’m going to be even bigger than that.’

‘Mount Rushmore?’ Mr Abbott asked, joking.

‘Actually, a balloon float just outside the
Bright Stars
awards show,’ Jackson replied. ‘I’m hosting.’

‘Hosting!’ Olivia couldn’t believe it. The
Bright Stars
? She had watched the whole two-hour show for the past three years running. It featured all the most glamorous and popular young celebrities – musicians, sports people and actors, as voted for by the public. She had even voted for Jackson once or twice. Or maybe more than that.

‘Mr and Mrs Abbott,’ Jackson said, taking a formal tone. ‘I would like to ask your permission
to take Olivia as my date to the awards. You or Mr Vega could chaperone?’

Olivia wanted to do a back flip right then, but her dress was too long. She desperately hoped her parents would say yes.

Mrs Abbott clapped her hands. ‘Oh, I’m sure we could work something out. How wonderful!’

‘And . . .’ Jackson said. ‘I believe there’s a chance my beautiful girlfriend may be in the running for an award.’

‘Eee!’ Olivia couldn’t hold back the squeal that emerged. She felt part-excited, part-nauseous. To be on stage receiving an award? It was more than a girl from Franklin Grove could hope for – and it was the scariest thing Olivia had ever imagined.

‘Joy and trepidation spread like rays of the sun,’ quipped Mr Abbott.

‘But . . . don’t you have to be famous to do that?’ Olivia wondered.

Jackson smiled. ‘Up-and-coming famous is good enough for the shortlisting committee.’

Mrs Abbott gave Olivia a nudge. ‘That would be you!’

‘I’ve been in one movie!’

‘Well, I can’t promise,’ said Jackson, ‘it’s only a rumour I’ve heard.’

Before Olivia could reply, a blur of yellow dress and red hair interrupted.

‘News!’ said Amy Teller, flapping her gold-bangled arms. ‘I’ve got news!’

‘Hello, Amy,’ said Mrs Abbott.

‘Mrs Abbott. Steve. Lovely to see you,’ said Amy, air-kissing them quickly. She turned back to Jackson and Olivia. ‘This is big. It’s going to be HUGE!’

Olivia had never seen Amy so excited. Normally, she was shouting down the phone or frowning at some poor underling who’d got something wrong.

‘I’ve just been roped into negotiations by Jacob Harker about . . .’ Amy paused for suspense. ‘You!’ she said, looking straight at Olivia.

‘Me?’ Olivia was baffled. What would the head of the studio want with her? ‘Did I say “totally” too much in the movie? Or was I touching my hair?’ Had she flopped?

‘No, silly!’ Amy said. ‘He just loves you and wants you for the filming of
Eternal Sunset
– the biggest blockbuster in pre-production. I said, “Well, my client is going to need some special billing,” and he said –’

‘Your client?’ Olivia interrupted.

‘You practically
are
my client at this point, right?’ Amy waved her hand. ‘We’ll take care of the paperwork later.’ She was talking so fast Olivia could barely keep up. Harker thought she was star material!

‘Apparently, there’s some other newcomer
actress playing your twin sister but – get this! – the fool is negotiating her own contract.’ Amy cackled with laughter. ‘Can you imagine how naive someone would have to be to try that in Hollywood?’

Olivia felt like she’d just won prom queen. She wondered for a moment who the other actress could be.

‘Do you know who it is?’ Jackson asked.

‘Some wannabe,’ she replied. ‘Harker didn’t say who, but does it matter? I’ve just landed Olivia a huge role!’

Jackson cleared his throat. ‘I think Olivia has landed herself a huge role.’

For an instant, Amy looked guilty. ‘Oh . . . I . . . uh . . .’

‘But,’ Olivia put in quickly, ‘I am glad for your help. After all, if Jackson chose you as his agent, then you must be the best.’

Amy beamed. ‘Aw, thanks. Now, we are going to make you huge!’

Jackson and the Abbotts looked delighted. Olivia gazed at the room full of producers and agents.

How has it happened that I’m part of this world?
she marvelled.

Amy was babbling on about contracts and riders.

Whatever had happened to set this all in motion, Olivia was grateful. She’d always wanted to act professionally. This could be her big chance!

S
ix days later, the sun was shining. Birds were chirping, chickens were clucking at her feet and Ivy didn’t mind in the slightest. Usually, vampires didn’t like this amount of sunlight or being near animals but, for today, Ivy was prepared to make an exception.

She and Olivia were with their dad at Aunt Rebecca’s ranch in Beldrake for a barbecue. Ever since the two of them had come to visit here a few weeks ago, it had become a home-from-home. The stables, the farmhouse, the big willow tree, the lake with the ducks: it was so picturesque.
Their mother had stayed here every summer as a girl, and just being here made Ivy feel closer to her.

It was a relief to finally dress down again after the premiere and the party last week. The only people she’d see today were family and friends. Thank darkness!

She was especially happy that she’d have space from Harker.
All he wants to do is offer me movie roles!
Ivy was definitely feeling the guilt of not telling her sister what had been going on. There had barely been a free minute all week.

Ivy was determined to find the right time today to tell all.

‘I can’t believe you eat that stuff!’ Aunt Rebecca said. She was standing at the barbecue holding a spatula, next to Mr Vega, who had his own spatula for the meat. Rebecca was wearing faded jeans, heavy black riding boots and a yellow checked apron over her flannel shirt.

Mr Vega was lightly grilling the steaks for the meat-eaters while Rebecca was roasting halloumi for the vegetarians, herself and Olivia.

‘My mouth is watering with anticipation,’ Mr Vega replied with a smile.

‘Mine, too!’ Ivy called over from the table.

Ivy was relieved that Aunt Rebecca and her dad had put the past behind them. A few weeks ago, Ivy and Olivia didn’t even know that they had an aunt, let alone that their mother had a twin sister. When Mr Vega made a special trip to track down their aunt and heal old wounds, the reunion hadn’t been exactly warm.

But now they were a big happy family: vampires, humans, horses, chickens and Gibson and Gonzo, the two black Labradors. Ivy had even managed to feel almost – almost! – comfortable around all the animals. Especially after helping track down a runaway horse, she’d
started to believe that her vampire blood didn’t have to get in the way of helping on the farm.

Ivy took a break from chopping up the new carrots for the salad to peer at the barbecue. There were at least ten steaks and half a dozen veggie burgers. ‘I do like steak, but even I can’t eat more than one. There’s way too much meat on that barbecue.’

‘Ah, but you don’t know what I know,’ replied her dad.

‘Or what I know,’ said Rebecca. They shared a smile.

‘Uh oh,’ Olivia said, from the other side of the table. ‘There’s a look in their eyes – and I’ve been slicing way too many cucumbers for the four of us.’

‘So the big question is,’ Ivy said, ‘who else is coming?’

A horn tooted from the dusty driveway. As the
vehicle got closer, Ivy could make out at least five people in the big SUV.

When it came to a stop, the door flew open and out jumped Bethany, Brendan’s little sister, followed by Brendan and his parents, Jackson and Lillian.

‘Killer!’ said Ivy, delighted.

‘We thought we’d make an occasion of it,’ said Aunt Rebecca, waving everyone over. ‘After all, it’s not every day that my nieces are in a movie. I wanted to celebrate!’

Olivia leaped up from the table, knocking over a neat stack of sliced cucumber. ‘Oh, thank you!’ She hurried over to greet the newcomers.

Jackson grabbed Olivia in a hug and Brendan came over to kiss Ivy on the cheek.

‘Hello, gorgeous,’ he said with a triumphant smile. He was clearly proud of himself for keeping Rebecca’s impromptu party a surprise.

‘Hi,’ Ivy replied.

‘Come on, guys,’ said Bethany. ‘Enough of the mushy stuff – I want to meet the horses!’ Bethany was Ivy’s favourite seven-year-old. She was wearing blue jeans with a pink flower appliqué, and brown knee-high boots, perfect for horse riding.

Aunt Rebecca smiled. ‘My kind of girl,’ she said to Bethany. ‘But let’s wait until we’re done eating so I can give you a proper introduction. How about you go and say hello to my ducks, instead?’

‘We’ve a lot of food to get through,’ Mr Vega said.

Bethany considered for a moment. ‘OK, but only if I get to pick which steak is mine.’

Mr and Mrs Daniels laughed and shook hands with Aunt Rebecca.

‘Thanks for inviting us with Brendan,’ said Mrs
Daniels. ‘Bethany thinks she’s won the lottery!’

Lillian hung back a little. She was wearing black jeans with black ankle boots and a black-and-grey checked sweater – almost like a cool vamp-farmer.

Mr Vega hurried over and said, ‘Excuse the grease, Lillian. I’m so glad you could come.’ He leaned in for a cheek-kiss, at the same time as Lillian went for one on the opposite cheek, so there was a little awkwardness because they almost kissed.

Mr Vega blushed and Lillian chuckled. They tried again, and got it right.

‘You made it!’ Rebecca said to Lillian. ‘I just had to meet the woman who was so inspired by Charles that she hired his design services.’

‘Thanks for inviting me.’ Lillian pulled a packet, wrapped in brown paper, out of her big black bag and handed it to Rebecca. ‘Charles said
that you used to live in LA, so I thought these might remind you of home.’

Ivy was impressed that Lillian had brought a present. Rebecca opened it and Ivy peered over to see what it was. It was a little envelope with seeds labelled Ceanothus Joyce Coulter.

‘I know these!’ exclaimed Rebecca. ‘It’s that gorgeous blue mountain lilac. Native to California, right?’

Lillian nodded.

Rebecca smiled at Lillian. ‘We are going to be good friends, you and I. Now, where do you live in LA?’

The adults were all happy chatting and Bethany was occupying herself tearing up a loaf of bread and tossing it to the ducks, with Jackson and Brendan helping by stuffing chunks of bread in their own mouths. Ivy realised it was the perfect moment to talk to Olivia.

Ivy scooted around the table with her carrots and started chopping next to her sister. ‘So . . .’ she began, feeling a little nervous.

‘So?’ Olivia replied, pausing mid-slice.

‘I’ve wanted to talk to you about something, but the past week has been so manic.’ Ivy knew she should just come out with it, but she didn’t know if it would upset her sister.

‘OK,’ Olivia said, returning to her chopping.

‘You know
Eternal Sunset
?’ Ivy said.

Olivia beamed. ‘I am so, so excited. I have always loved those books and can’t believe I might have a chance to play Carmina!’

Ivy knew this meant the world to Olivia. ‘And then you know that there has to be a Belinda as well.’

‘Of course! Amy is trying to find out who it is.’ Olivia sliced away. ‘Although it will be weird to have a sister that isn’t you.’

Ivy cleared her throat.

‘Wait a minute,’ Olivia said. ‘What’s going on?’

Ivy smiled sheepishly. ‘It’s me.’

‘You!’ The knife clattered on to the plastic chopping board.

‘Harker totally loves you and thinks it’s a genius plan to surprise the whole world with me as your twin when he announces the movie,’ Ivy rushed out.

Olivia squealed and gave Ivy a huge hug. ‘We get to be twins on screen! Oh, it will be so much better having you
and
Jackson by my side. This is amazing.’

‘But, Olivia,’ Ivy protested. ‘I can’t act. I’m as wooden as a stake.’

‘Um . . .’ Olivia winced. Ivy didn’t even mind that she wasn’t disagreeing; she knew it was true.

‘I’m happy behind the camera,’ Ivy said, ‘but
I’ll be the worst Belinda possible if Harker goes through with this.’

‘So, why haven’t you told Harker this?’ Olivia asked, confusion filling her big green eyes.

‘I tried, but he wouldn’t listen.’ Ivy sighed. ‘The truth is, if I’m not in the movie, then you won’t be either. Harker insists it’s the two of us or nothing.’

Olivia sucked in her breath. ‘So you’re doing this just for me.’

‘And there’s another catch,’ Ivy went on. ‘If the bunny press catch wind that you and I are twins and ruin Harker’s big announcement, he says he’ll call the whole thing off.’

Olivia stared at Ivy, her eyes brimming. ‘We don’t have to go through with this, you know. I don’t want to force you into doing something you’d hate.’

‘I want you to have your shot,’ Ivy said,
determined, ‘but I also don’t want to humiliate myself or you if Harker sees me acting.’

All the sparkle had gone from her sister’s eyes.

‘We just need a plan.’ Ivy looked down at her decapitated carrots. ‘A way to show Harker that you are perfect for the movie, but I’m not. Then he might see sense and let me off the hook.’