Switched (9 page)

“Who
are you kidding, Ivy?” said the girl with the shock of white in her hair. “Your
father loves this kind of thing. My parents still talk about the Dead of Winter
fund-raiser he planned a few years back.”

The
girl with the studded collar nodded. “I’ll bet he’d even be willing to help out
with decorations,” she added. “After all, he is one of the top interior
designers.”

“He
redid my aunt’s place last year,” put in the bald-headed boy. “It looks killer.”

Well,
Olivia thought,
at
least that explains the inside of Ivy’s house.
“But a ball for the whole
school is a lot of people,” she pointed out.

“Don’t
be so dramatic, Ivy,” the girl with the studded collar said. “It’s not the
whole
school.
It’s just the kids in our community from middle and high school. A
hundred people, tops.”

Olivia
suddenly understood why she hadn’t seen any posters at school: this was an
exclusive all-Goth affair.
How intense!
she thought excitedly.
Maybe
that’s why they’re being so secretive.

“Since
you came up with the theme and it’s your house, Ivy, I think it’s only fair
that you be head of decorations,” Melissa said.

“I
still have to ask my dad,” Olivia muttered, while thinking,
Head of
decorations! How cool is that?

“All
in favor, say aye,” Melissa commanded.

Everyone
said, “Aye,” even the Beasts.

“Great!”
shouted Olivia. Wait, her sister wouldn’t be so excited. She rolled her eyes. “I
mean,
great,”
she said sarcastically.

Olivia
was still walking on air when she and Sophia emerged from the FoodMart after
the meeting. Halfway across the parking lot, Sophia spun around to face her.

“That
wasn’t like you,” she said in a quiet, firm voice.

Olivia’s
heart sank.
Sophia’s seen through the switch!
she thought.

“That
idea,” Sophia went on slowly. “The way you spoke up. Really, the fact that you
came at all.” Her lips curled into a smile. “Thank you so much, Ivy!” She
started talking really fast. “It is such a seriously big deal to be on the
planning committee for the All Hallows’ Ball at all, and my best friend”—she
grabbed Olivia’s hand proudly—“my
best friend,
came up with the theme,
is hosting it at her house, and is going to be head of decorations! And guess
who she is going to appoint head of photography? This is deadly!” Sophia
concluded, throwing her arms around Olivia in a huge hug.

Olivia
couldn’t help smiling and leaping around with her, at least a little bit.

“Enough!”
Sophia cried, throwing her scarf over her shoulder. “I
must
go home and
study algebra. But I will talk to you later.” She gave a little wave and took
off in the dimming autumn light.

Olivia
knew she should hurry home, too. She’d promised to be home by seven; her father
was grilling veggies on the new barbecue for dinner. But she decided it was
okay if she paused for just a second. After all, she had made it through the
meeting. Not only that, but she had really
contributed.
Her parents
would be proud of her if they knew. She felt like she was really going to love
Franklin Grove. That is, as long as Ivy didn’t kill her.

As she
stopped off in a restaurant’s bathroom to change clothes, Olivia prayed that
her sister had had a good date with Brendan. Actually, she hoped Ivy was more
overjoyed than she’d ever been in her entire life, because, if not, she
probably wasn’t going to handle Olivia’s news very well. After all, not only
was Ivy—the official Antiperky—going to have to
plan
the All Hallows’
Ball, she had to convince her father to
host
it, too!

Ivy
kicked off her boots, fell back on her bed, and grabbed one of her black cat
pillows to her chest.

As her
head swam, her heart went under.

What
did he mean when he said he was scared to death?
she wondered.

I
can’t believe I spilled my drink! But at least I didn’t have to answer his
question about whether I have a sister.

Was
it an accident when his hand brushed against mine on the escalator?

He
said we’d keep a running tally in air hockey. Does that mean he’s going to ask
me out again?

I
never want to forget the look on his face when he said good-bye.

The
phone rang, making Ivy jump. It rang again.

Maybe
it’s Brendan!
She
rolled over and picked it up. “Hello?”

“Greetings,
Madam Head of Decorations,” Sophia declared dramatically.

Ivy
had completely forgotten about Olivia and the meeting. She sat up with a jolt. “Hi,
Soph. What’s up?”

“The
deadliest All Hallows’ Ball in history, that’s what’s up,” Sophie replied
delightedly.

The
All Hallows’ Ball?
Ivy
wondered.

“I’m
supposed to be studying,” Sophia barreled on, “but I just couldn’t stop
thinking of ideas. Like, what if you could have your picture taken with a
cutout of that short old guy who was Grandpa on
The Munsters
?”

“
The
Munsters
?” quavered Ivy.

“You
know, that old TV show.”

“Uh-huh,”
Ivy admitted. She was starting to feel seriously ill.

“Or I
think it would be killer if we had coffins near the entrance, and you could get
your picture taken getting out of one, right next to your date getting out of
his
coffin. Isn’t that killer?” Sophia rattled on.

Ivy
was dumbfounded.
What did Olivia do?

“So?”
Sophia asked expectantly. “What do you think?”

“Since
when does it matter what I think?” Ivy asked, a little testily.

“Uh,
since you came up with the theme, got elected head of decorations, and agreed
to have the ball at your house,” Sophia answered matter-of-factly.

WHAT?
Ivy’s head pounded.
She lay back down on her bed.

“Speaking
of which, did you talk to your dad yet?” Sophia asked.

“No, I
did not speak to my dad yet!” Ivy answered incredulously.

After
a long pause, Sophia said, “Ivy, are you feeling okay?”

“I . .
. er, I’m sorry, Soph. I just ...have a really grave headache. Can I call you
back later?” Ivy managed, and then she hung up, her hands trembling.
I never
should have let Olivia go to that meeting!
she thought in a panic.

But
then she thought of Brendan. If she hadn’t gone through with the switch, she
wouldn’t have been able to go on the date. In fact, if it weren’t for Olivia,
she might never have spoken to Brendan at all.

Ivy
let out a heavy sigh. She rummaged through her purse for her phone. She’d saved
her sister’s number on it when Olivia had borrowed it to call home.

“Abbott
residence,” Olivia answered perkily.

“It’s
me,” Ivy said.

“Ivy!
You’re home!” Olivia squealed excitedly. “I tried you like fifteen minutes ago!
How was it?”

“It
was—” Ivy stopped. “It was
perfect
,” she said at last. She heard Olivia
gasp as if she’d just opened a wonderful present.

“I
knew it,” Olivia said softly.

Ivy
was suddenly dying to tell her sister everything: where she and Brendan had
gone, what he’d said, how he’d smelled, and how he had looked at her when they’d
said good-bye. Instead she said, “Don’t try to change the subject, Olivia. I
specifically
told you to sit in that meeting and not say anything.”

“I
know,” Olivia said sheepishly. “I’m sorry.”

“And
not only did you not do that but you landed me the one job at which I’m
guaranteed to be a disaster!”

“You
won’t be a disaster,” Olivia protested.

“Oh,
come on!” Ivy cried. “Ivy Vega, head of decorations? I don’t like pressure, I
don’t like people, and I
don’t
like decorating things.”

“But
you have great taste,” her sister countered.

“Olivia,
you don’t understand. This is the most important event of the whole year for”—she
just caught herself in time—“for our community.”

“I’ll
help,” offered Olivia.

“Thanks,
but I think I’ve had enough of your help,” Ivy said, rubbing her temples. “Besides,”
she added, “who says my dad will go for it?”

“Sophia,”
Olivia answered matter-of-factly. “You never told me your dad’s an interior
designer. Everybody seemed to think it was right up his alley.”

Ivy
groaned in frustration. It was true: her dad would be utterly delighted. He was
always trying to get her to be more involved in the community. “With a name
like Ivy,” he was always saying, “you should be getting out and about more.”

“I’m
really sorry, Ivy. I completely understand why you’re upset. I never should
have signed you up for something like this. But Sophia says it’s cool to be
involved with the ball,” Olivia said.

“It
is,” Ivy admitted. “But I can’t do it, Olivia. I just can’t.”

“A few
hours ago you said you couldn’t go on a date with Brendan Daniels,” argued
Olivia, “and look how that turned out.”

Ivy
was speechless. She was still trying to come up with a suitable comeback when
she heard her dad pick up the phone.

“Pardon
me, Ivy,” he said politely, “but it is time for dinner.”

“I’ll
be up in a minute, Dad,” Ivy answered softly. Her father hung up, and Ivy
sighed. She felt so tired. For a moment she said nothing. “Meet me at Meat
& Greet tomorrow at noon,” she said finally to her sister, “and I’ll let
you know what my dad said.”

“Great!”
Olivia exclaimed on the other end of the phone. “So you’ll ask him?”

“I’ll
see you tomorrow,” Ivy finished.

Head
aching, Ivy hung up and stood to go to dinner. She walked to the bottom of the
stairs like a zombie. Then, suddenly, she imagined Brendan standing on the
landing above her, wearing a dashing tuxedo and lounging against the banisters
as he waited for her. He looked gorgeous, his dark curls framing his high
cheekbones and strong jaw as he glanced around, clearly admiring the
decorations. His gaze finally came to rest on Ivy, an adoring look in his eyes.

Ivy
shook the thought from her mind, but she couldn’t shake the smile that had
crept onto her face. She skipped up the stairs to talk to her dad.

“This
place does quite a business,” Olivia’s father said as Olivia climbed out of the
car in front of the Meat & Greet Diner.

Apparently,
the Meat & Greet was even more popular for weekend brunch than it was for
burgers after school. The line was out the door. Olivia waved good-bye to her
dad and squeezed inside to see if her sister had already arrived.

Sure
enough, Ivy was sitting at her usual table tucked in the back.

Olivia
bounded over. “Hey!” she cried.

Ivy
responded with a serious-sounding, “Hello, Olivia.”

Right
away, Olivia’s heart sank. She sat down, ready to learn that they wouldn’t be
having the All Hallows’ Ball at Ivy’s house after all. “Your dad said no, didn’t
he?” she said with a sigh.

Ivy
shook her head. “He said yes.”

“Yes?”
Olivia cried.

“Yes,”
Ivy confirmed, her face breaking into a smile.

“That’s
awesome!” Olivia declared.

“And
everything’s going to be fine,” Ivy added lightly.

Wait
a minute,
Olivia
thought.
This doesn’t sound like Ivy.
She looked at her sister
skeptically. “I thought you thought this was a terrible idea.”

“I do.”
Ivy nodded. “But I’ve figured out how to fix it.”

“You’re
going to burn me at the stake?” Olivia joked.

Ivy
grinned. “Close,” she said. “Hereafter, you will pretend to be me for all ball
planning meetings and decorating activities.”

Olivia
blinked. “You mean you want to switch again?”

Ivy
nodded.

Suddenly
the waitress appeared. Ivy ordered a burger, and Olivia asked for a Greek salad
with extra tomatoes.

After
the waitress was gone, Olivia said, “What happened to ‘you’ll never make it
past my friends’?”

“I’m
willing to take that risk,” said Ivy. “Apparently, my friends don’t know me
very well anyway.
Head of decorations?
” She rolled her eyes.

Olivia
thought for a moment. She had to admit, being Ivy at yesterday’s meeting had
been great fun.

Ivy
said, “There are only two more meetings, right?”

“Uh-huh,
plus the actual decorating before the ball.”
This could work,
she
thought.

“Then
that’s the plan,” Ivy said decisively. She flashed that fake mean squint of hers.
“You better make me look good.”