Who knew the Wallachia Academy Experience would ever feel like a fond memory?
Promptly at eight a.m., Ivy was sitting outside her house, waiting for her ride to school and feeling like James Bond going undercover.
The week before, Lillian had shopped with her like a fashion master, helping her tear through the stores until they’d found the perfect subtle goth clothes. They were still ‘Ivy’ in style, but nothing that would catch the eye of Lincoln Vale bunnies as being too alternative. Now, she was dressed in all greys instead of blacks, from her deep grey dress, embroidered with a tasteful silver bat, to her soft, dove-grey tights. Her eyes were still lined with kohl, but she’d even changed her usual black nail polish for sparkling silver.
The one thing she had flat-out refused to change was her bat ring. It had been a gift from Brendan when she’d first returned from the Wallachia Academy, and she’d never agree to take it off. It goes where I go!
Now Ivy twisted it nervously around her finger as she waited for the bus. For the first time in her life, Undertaker Hill didn’t feel quite safe. Instead, it felt eerily silent, apart from the sound of the school bus that her vampire ears told her was only one street away. Not long now. It was already on its unstoppable charge towards her . . . and then it would take her all the way to school.
High school!
Just the fact that she needed public transport to get to school now, instead of walking, underlined how huge this day really was.
And she was doing it alone. Olivia was already on her way to London. Ivy’s chest tightened at the thought. I am going to miss her so much.
The dull roar of a plane’s engine overhead made her head jerk up. Could that be the same plane Olivia was taking all the way to London? She narrowed her eyes. It was definitely the right timing, but was it flying in the right direction? London was due east, right? And the sun rose in the east – everyone knew that. So, if the sun was in the east, then this plane looked like it was flying north – which meant it probably wasn’t her sister’s plane. But then again, when Ivy and her family had last flown to Transylvania, the plane had taken off and slowly turned around, so this plane could have been Olivia’s flight, just taking off . . .
Oh, I give up, Ivy thought, as a slight headache set in. According to Charles’s detailed instructions, a headache would not be good for the ‘fiendish’ educational challenge that was high school!
Then a new sound made Ivy’s head jerk up. The school bus had rumbled on to Undertaker Hill. Or rather: a Yellow Monster had! From front to back, the bus blazed fluorescent yellow. It was as subtle as the sun, or a flashing neon sign that read to everyone in town: Bunnies Aboard!
Ivy froze as the Yellow Monster charged towards her.
I can’t do this!
If only it had been black and purple, maybe she wouldn’t have minded being seen getting on board . . . but this? How could any self-respecting vampire go to school in a banana on wheels?
But what choice do I have? she realised. I’m the one who didn’t want to stay at Wallachia Academy. I promised Dad that I could do this. I have to prove that he was right to let me.
It took every ounce of pride Ivy had to force herself to her feet. Once she was there, she had to readjust her backpack just to give herself something to do . . . other than running for her life!
The bus hissed to a stop outside her house. Its doors creaked open like the jaws of a dragon, waiting to devour her whole.
Taking a deep breath, Ivy stepped through the open doors.
The bus’s driver was a middle-aged woman in a fuzzy blue sweater, and Ivy’s stomach sank. Even as she smiled politely, she braced herself for the look of disdain that she knew would be aimed her way any moment now. Bunnies like this hated goths!
But the bus driver just smiled back at her. ‘Welcome to the bus run, Ivy!’ She leaned forwards, lowering her voice to a whisper. ‘I know today is a big day for you, but everything will be just fine. You take it from me.’ She winked encouragingly.
Ivy was so stunned, she couldn’t even speak. All she could do was give the bus driver another wavering smile and then make her way down the aisle, past rows of mostly unfamiliar chattering bunnies towards the rear bench seat where – thank darkness! – she finally saw Sophia sitting all by herself.
Like Ivy, Sophia had dressed down for their first day of high school, wearing a plain black T-shirt instead of any of her beloved rock-band merch. Her long, dark hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, making her face look tense, and her fingers and ears were bare of her usual fashionable goth accessories.
‘I’m so glad you’re here!’ Sophia picked up her backpack and scooted over to make room for Ivy. ‘Is it just me, or do the streets outside look almost . . .’
‘Scary?’ Ivy filled in sympathetically. ‘Trust me, it’s not just you.’ As she sat down next to her friend, the bus pulled away from her house with a rattle and jerk. Through the window, Undertaker Hill slid past, then disappeared behind them.
Ivy took a deep breath. She didn’t just feel like she was being carried to school – she felt like she was being pulled along in an insistent current. The current of change.
And she didn’t like it one bit.
Forget it, world! Ivy set her jaw hard. No one takes Ivy Vega anywhere she doesn’t want to go. I’m still in charge of my life . . . even if I am riding in a bright yellow bananamobile!
The bus screeched to a stop, throwing everyone forwards in their seats. As Ivy pushed herself back into place, the doors hissed open and a timid figure hesitated at the entrance. Finally, she moved forwards . . . and Ivy choked as she recognised Charlotte Brown, cheerleading queen bee of Franklin Grove Middle School, looking around the bus as nervously as a baby zebra heading into a den of ravenous lions.
Charlotte’s anxious gaze skittered all around the bus – then landed on Sophia and Ivy. Her face lit up into a beaming smile. ‘You’re here!’
She waved excitedly.
‘Is she for real?’ Sophia whispered, even as she half-lifted a hand to wave back.
Ivy had to bite back a laugh of astonishment. ‘Well, I guess our relationship did improve a lot by the end of last year . . .’
‘But still,’ said Sophia, ‘it’s not like we’ve been meeting up with her over summer vacation.’
‘Well . . .’ Ivy hesitated as Charlotte hurried towards them. ‘It’s actually quite . . .’ No, she had to stop there. Just thinking the word ‘sweet’ made her shudder.