Olivia couldn’t believe that sharp-tongued Charlotte was taking all of this abuse without a single comeback.
‘Without a photograph, I can’t do anything. Not without risking my reputation – I need proof! You are a disgrace to all cheer captains everywhere,’ Jessica declared, standing up. ‘You are totally not cool enough to hang out with me.’ Then she tossed her hair and marched off, leaving Charlotte looking miserable, shooting a disgusted look at Olivia as she went.
‘Serves her right,’ Ivy grumbled, but Olivia felt bad. Charlotte was the captain of her squad, after all. Olivia was just about to go over to Charlotte’s booth to see if she was OK when someone burst through the doors of the Meat and Greet.
Olivia jumped, thinking that the paparazzi had tracked them down. But it was Amy Teller, for once without a phone or a cup of coffee in her hand, looking like she’d just won a million dollars.
She rushed over to their booth. ‘We’re going home!’ she declared.
Everyone around the table stared at her.
‘To Hollywood!’ she cried. ‘I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’
‘For me?’ asked Jackson.
‘No, for my-new-favourite-client Olivia!’ Amy beamed, gently pushing him out of the way.
Olivia gulped. Amy could be a little intense with her enthusiasm sometimes. ‘Why me?’ she asked.
‘Because, you . . . and your sister . . .’ Amy cast a quick glance over at Ivy and then did a double-take when she realised that it looked like there were two Olivias sitting at the table. ‘Because the two of you will be flying out to Hollywood on Harker’s private jet for the Bright Stars awards ceremony on Saturday! He wants you both to be there; he’s finally going to break the news of your roles in his new film!’
‘Wow,’ said Camilla.
‘So cool,’ breathed Sophia.
Olivia couldn’t stop the grin. ‘A private jet?’
‘Break the news?’ Ivy echoed. Olivia could tell she had mixed feelings about the announcement. At least they wouldn’t have to worry about being exposed as twins, but it meant that she would be committed to the movie.
‘Your dad will be there, and Lillian is hitching a ride as well,’ Amy explained. ‘And what about me, you ask? Well,’ she paused for dramatic effect. ‘I will be stepping off the plane and going straight to a coffee shop. I can hardly wait!’
‘This barely feels like an airplane,’ Olivia whispered to Ivy as she sat in a white leather designer armchair, looking around at the wood panelling and huge flat-screen TV. ‘It’s more like a swanky living room at twenty thousand feet.’
‘I can’t believe there’s something that beats first-class travel to Europe!’ Ivy replied, stuffing a Californian sushi roll into her mouth. When they had gone to meet their Transylvanian relatives, their grandparents had paid for them to travel first class.
Today, the private lounge at the airport had been huge and stocked with a fresh sandwich bar. Brendan had come to see them off and had a Philly cheese steak sub. Jackson had already flown out. He’d taken a day off school and left the day before for the award show’s dress rehearsal.
Olivia glanced out of the window at puffy white clouds in a blue sky. I am on my way to Hollywood! she thought. Later that night, she would be attending a star-studded award ceremony with her movie-star boyfriend and she wouldn’t have to keep the secret any more. It still felt a little unreal.
‘More sushi?’ asked the stewardess, poking her head through the curtain.
‘Yes, please!’ Ivy piped up.
Olivia stared at her. ‘Well, it seems there are some things you could learn to live with.’
Ivy stuffed the last piece of sushi into her mouth and rolled her eyes at Olivia, making her laugh.
Olivia shook her head and gazed out of the tiny window at the ground far below.
‘Hollywood, look out!’ said Mr Vega. Olivia couldn’t agree more. They were on their way!
In what seemed like no time at all, the private jet had landed and Olivia was following Mr Vega and Lillian out on to the tarmac, where a stretched black limo was waiting for them.
The bright sunshine felt warm on her skin after the cold air-conditioned plane, and the sky was bright blue.
‘Miss Abbott,’ said the chauffeur as he held the door for her. He was huge, and was probably more like a bodyguard than a chauffeur. ‘I’m Frank.’
Once they were all settled in the luxurious back seat, Frank turned around and said, ‘I hope you don’t mind, folks, but Mr Harker has asked me to show you some of the sights.’
Olivia clapped her hands. ‘A private tour!’ she squealed.
‘It seems we would like that very much,’ said Mr Vega.
Frank set off, winding the mammoth car around the city streets. As they drove away from the airport, the scene changed from rundown houses to wide streets with plush green lawns and leafy trees.
‘Most people think Hollywood is where all the glamour is,’ Frank said. ‘But actual Hollywood ain’t pretty. The stars all live in Beverley Hills and that’s where we are right now.’
The houses were huge and there were palm trees everywhere.
‘Is this like your house?’ Ivy asked Lillian.
‘Ha!’ Lillian replied. ‘I have a teeny apartment on the other side of LA. These properties are for the mega-rich.’
Soon, they were driving past rows of stores.
‘Oh, my pom poms!’ Olivia squealed. ‘That’s Serendipity Fashion! And that’s Kevin Greene! We’re on Rodeo Drive!’ She knew Ivy wouldn’t be as excited, but she was glad to see her sister still smiling.
‘Beverley Hills is six square miles of shopping, eating and luxurious living,’ Frank went on. ‘There are no hospitals and no cemeteries in the city limits, which means that, technically, no one is born or dies in Beverly Hills.’
‘And that’s not even counting the vampires,’ Ivy whispered.
Olivia giggled. She wondered how many of the undead were wandering about in this town.
‘Look at that dress!’ Ivy declared, pointing out of the window at the Asante couture store. The dress on display was layers of rainbow colours with a huge u-shaped cut-out in the skirt – just like Spencer’s creation.
‘That’s a rip-off of your skirt from the premiere,’ said Lillian. ‘And that girl there is wearing one, too.’