Read Online 17 Spooktacular - My Sister the Vampire by Sienna Mercer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sienna Mercer
Ads: Link
felt. She actually rigged all the doors and windows to open on a timer at the end of the show. Everyone
totally
freaked out!’
Tipping her head to one side, she paused and faked a look of concentration, as if she were listening to “Jackson” on the other end of the phone . . . which she had actually turned
off. Then she plastered a huge smile on her face, as if Jackson had just said something wonderful.
‘I know! It was the
best
idea of yours to call in a favour with our director. That machinery he loaned Camilla for the party was unbelievable. Honestly, if I hadn’t known
better, I’d have been fooled into thinking there was a real ghost, too!’
There.
Still beaming, Olivia slipped a glance at the table next to her . . . and the smile slipped right off her face.
All five boys were hunched over games on their phones, their eyes fixed to the screens, their thumbs darting madly over the keys.
‘C’mon, c’mon . . . yes!’ Josh pumped his fist in the air. ‘I
rock
, losers!’
They didn’t hear a word I said.
Not a single person at any of the tables was paying attention to Olivia’s too-loud phone call. They’d all shut it out to focus on their own conversations, leaning towards each other
and gesturing intensely.
Crud. This isn’t working.
Apparently, not even mentioning Hollywood contacts was enough to distract ghost-hunters from their wild theories!
So much for that plan.
‘Goodbye, Jackson,’ Olivia mumbled. She slipped the cell phone back into her purse as she walked out of the Meat and Greet, her steps dragging.
Obviously, they were going to need to try even harder. Which meant it might just be time to bring in an
actual
Hollywood contact . . .
Twenty minutes later, still upset by Olivia’s failure, Ivy and the others streamed into Café Creative for a second attempt at breakfast and another desperate
brainstorming session. The café was nearly as packed as the Meat and Greet today, but Ivy was relieved to see that it wasn’t full of ghost-hunting conspiracy buffs.
Maybe the
creative atmosphere repelled them,
she thought.
Or maybe even the ghost-hunters don’t want to be in a room that might
actually
be haunted!
The café was full of busy groups working quietly on artistic projects, from friends scribbling in notebooks side-by-side, to sketch-artists and mural-painters. It was just the kind of
vibe that Lillian had envisioned for this space . . .
. . . although Ivy was pretty sure that any health inspectors would
not
be impressed by the fact that Albert was painting a watercolour only inches from his meal. Although she
didn’t envy any uppity inspectors who tried to criticise the cranky old vampire – personally, she wouldn’t dare!
Joan harrumphed as they approached her counter. ‘I hope you’re planning to actually stay and eat the food you order this time!’
Ivy saw her twin cringe at the reminder of the way they’d abandoned the café other day. ‘Sorry. I just . . . um . . .’
‘This time, we’re staying,’ Ivy assured the glowering barista. ‘Don’t worry. We’re starving! And today, I
really
need my coffee.’
While Joan pulled their pastries out from the glass display case, Reiko bounced on her toes and scanned the café as if looking for a tennis opponent she was determined to beat.
‘Right. Where are we going to sit?’
Olivia frowned as she picked up her croissant and her smoothie. ‘If we want to be able to talk in private, maybe . . . over there?’ She pointed at the far side of the room, where
there were three empty tables in a row.
‘I might have a better idea,’ Ivy said reluctantly, bracing herself.
Ivy Holmes must show no fear!
‘We should ask someone who
really
knows what’s been
going on here . . . forever!’
The other girls sighed as she pointed at Albert, but none of them argued. The museum’s caretaker might be grumpy, but he was also the best source of information in the café, and
maybe in all of Franklin Grove.
Now Ivy
totally
freaked out!’
Tipping her head to one side, she paused and faked a look of concentration, as if she were listening to “Jackson” on the other end of the phone . . . which she had actually turned
off. Then she plastered a huge smile on her face, as if Jackson had just said something wonderful.
‘I know! It was the
best
idea of yours to call in a favour with our director. That machinery he loaned Camilla for the party was unbelievable. Honestly, if I hadn’t known
better, I’d have been fooled into thinking there was a real ghost, too!’
There.
Still beaming, Olivia slipped a glance at the table next to her . . . and the smile slipped right off her face.
All five boys were hunched over games on their phones, their eyes fixed to the screens, their thumbs darting madly over the keys.
‘C’mon, c’mon . . . yes!’ Josh pumped his fist in the air. ‘I
rock
, losers!’
They didn’t hear a word I said.
Not a single person at any of the tables was paying attention to Olivia’s too-loud phone call. They’d all shut it out to focus on their own conversations, leaning towards each other
and gesturing intensely.
Crud. This isn’t working.
Apparently, not even mentioning Hollywood contacts was enough to distract ghost-hunters from their wild theories!
So much for that plan.
‘Goodbye, Jackson,’ Olivia mumbled. She slipped the cell phone back into her purse as she walked out of the Meat and Greet, her steps dragging.
Obviously, they were going to need to try even harder. Which meant it might just be time to bring in an
actual
Hollywood contact . . .
Twenty minutes later, still upset by Olivia’s failure, Ivy and the others streamed into Café Creative for a second attempt at breakfast and another desperate
brainstorming session. The café was nearly as packed as the Meat and Greet today, but Ivy was relieved to see that it wasn’t full of ghost-hunting conspiracy buffs.
Maybe the
creative atmosphere repelled them,
she thought.
Or maybe even the ghost-hunters don’t want to be in a room that might
actually
be haunted!
The café was full of busy groups working quietly on artistic projects, from friends scribbling in notebooks side-by-side, to sketch-artists and mural-painters. It was just the kind of
vibe that Lillian had envisioned for this space . . .
. . . although Ivy was pretty sure that any health inspectors would
not
be impressed by the fact that Albert was painting a watercolour only inches from his meal. Although she
didn’t envy any uppity inspectors who tried to criticise the cranky old vampire – personally, she wouldn’t dare!
Joan harrumphed as they approached her counter. ‘I hope you’re planning to actually stay and eat the food you order this time!’
Ivy saw her twin cringe at the reminder of the way they’d abandoned the café other day. ‘Sorry. I just . . . um . . .’
‘This time, we’re staying,’ Ivy assured the glowering barista. ‘Don’t worry. We’re starving! And today, I
really
need my coffee.’
While Joan pulled their pastries out from the glass display case, Reiko bounced on her toes and scanned the café as if looking for a tennis opponent she was determined to beat.
‘Right. Where are we going to sit?’
Olivia frowned as she picked up her croissant and her smoothie. ‘If we want to be able to talk in private, maybe . . . over there?’ She pointed at the far side of the room, where
there were three empty tables in a row.
‘I might have a better idea,’ Ivy said reluctantly, bracing herself.
Ivy Holmes must show no fear!
‘We should ask someone who
really
knows what’s been
going on here . . . forever!’
The other girls sighed as she pointed at Albert, but none of them argued. The museum’s caretaker might be grumpy, but he was also the best source of information in the café, and
maybe in all of Franklin Grove.
Now Ivy
Similar Books
