She stopped at the top of the stairs that led down into her room and surveyed the damage. I didn’t think it was possible, she thought, smiling and shaking her head, but Olivia has made my room even more of a mess!
“Many think there is no deep, dark secret in Franklin Grove,” Serena Star was saying as the TV flickered to life in the family room. Olivia sank down on the couch, relieved that she hadn’t missed the morning news. After last night’s graveyard bash and then staying up late to do her homework, she’d overslept.
“They say,” Serena continued as the camera followed her down Main Street, “that the Goth culture here is no more harmful than football.” Olivia noticed that the camel suede suit Serena was wearing was the same one she’d worn yesterday. In fact, it sort of looked like she’d slept in it.
Her makeup looked a bit hurried, too.
“And perhaps they are right,” Serena Star fin
ished suddenly.
Really? Olivia perked up.
“I’d hoped to have the answers for you this
morning, America, but”—Serena’s face changed
from serious to smiling—“we were all shocked
and overjoyed by last night’s breaking news!
That’s right, I’m talking about Academy Award
winner and former Miss America Charlene
Costa’s surprise wedding to country music heartthrob Manny Shucker. Tune in this afternoon for
exclusive video footage taken by the maid of
honor, the final word on Franklin Grove, and
other hot stories on a special blockbuster edition
of The Morning Star later today!”
Serena Star flashed her trademark smile and
approached the camera. “Because the Star of
truth must shine! My name’s Serena Star. Wake
up, America!”
A smile spread across Olivia’s face as she
clicked off the TV. Finally, she thought as she
headed upstairs to get ready for school, the distraction we’ve been waiting for—Serena will probably be on the next plane to California to cover the Charlene Costa story!
Ivy was walking down the hallway on her way to her first period class when she spotted the Beasts huddled together in a corner. There was something about them that wasn’t quite right, but it took her a second to sink her fangs into what it was: none of them was laughing. They’re up to something grave, she thought.
Charlotte Brown was passing by with her clique of bunny minions. Garrick lifted his head, and Ivy noticed that he was wearing the same Interna 3 T-shirt he’d been wearing all week. “Charlotte!” he called. “Wait up!” He separated from his friends and ran over to her.
Ivy slipped behind a school flag, hoping to catch a hint of what Garrick and Charlotte were talking about, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. She did notice Charlotte’s bunny eyes light up and saw her nodding like Garrick had just promised her a shopping spree. Then Charlotte ran back to her friends, Katie and Allison, shrieking, “Guess what?” and Ivy heard them tittering excitedly as they disappeared down the hall together.
Garrick was slinking back to his friends with a devilish leer plastered on his face when Ivy intercepted him. “What are you up to?” she demanded.
“Vega,” said Garrick. “Wake up on the wrong side of your box again this morning?”
Ivy narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you think it’s time to wash your T-shirt?” she asked pointedly. “It’s ready to climb out of a coffin all on its own!”
“Hey,” Garrick retorted, “I got a free top-of-theline, brand-new Interna 3 out of all the publicity I’ve been throwing their way. And you thought jumping out of that coffin was a bad idea! Shows what you know.”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “What’s going on with you and Charlotte Brown?”
“None of your business,” he answered.
Ivy bore down on him with her death squint.
Garrick’s mouth spread into a sinister grin. “I’m, uh, interviewing her for my movie.” He raised his eyebrows and puffed out his chest. “Once Serena Star sees it, she’ll be begging me to come back on her show,” he added. “And Charlotte might just win an Academy Award for Best Victim,” he finished with a wink.
Then he sauntered back to his friends, who greeted him with hoots and hollers, and Ivy frowned as she watched.
Suddenly, there was a tap on her shoulder, and Ivy turned to find Serena Star smiling at her strangely. Right away, Ivy noticed that there was something different about her. For one thing, her cameraman wasn’t with her. Also, she was wearing the same suit she’d been wearing yesterday, and her hair looked unusually flat.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” said Serena.
Ivy wanted to say You mean Toby has, but she thought better of it. “Well, here I am.” She shrugged. “Aren’t you leaving for Hollywood to interview Charlene Costa?”
“Not until I’m finished with Franklin Grove,” replied Serena, her eyes flashing. “I thought you’d like to know that I’ve decided to reshape my story.”
Ivy took a step back. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Serena said, nodding wildly, “I’ve been in this town all week, and it’s clear that there’s no big secret here.”
Ivy stared at her incredulously.
“So what I’m going to do,” Serena went on, “is profile a Goth who’s really a leader in this community. Someone who all the others look up to, a real role model. I can’t think of a better way to show America that Goths are nothing to be afraid of. And guess who I want to profile?” Serena raised her thin eyebrows.