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"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&039;t rave- yard bash and then staying up late to do her homework, she&039;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 ca was the same one she&039;d worn yester- day In fact, it sort of looked like she&039;d slept in it

Her ht," Serena Star fin- ished suddenly

Really? Olivia perked up

"I&039;d hoped to have the answers for you this ed fro--"ere all shocked and overjoyed by last night&039;s breaking news! That&039;s right, I&039; about Academy Ainner and for to country music heart- throb 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&039;s Serena Star Wake up, America!"

A smile spread across Olivia&039;s face as she clicked off the TV Finally, she thought as she headed upstairs to get ready for school, the dis- traction we&039;ve been waiting for--Serena will probably be on the next plane to California to cover the Charlene Costa story!

Ivy alking down the hallway on her way to her first period class when she spotted the Beasts huddled together in a corner There was soht, but it took her a second to sink her fangs into what it was: none of theht

Charlotte Broas passing by with her clique of bunny minions Garrick lifted his head, and Ivy noticed that he earing the sa 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&039;t hear what they were saying She did notice Charlotte&039;s bunny eyes light up and saw her nodding like Garrick had just pro spree Then Charlotte ran back to her friends, Katie and Allison, shrieking, "Guess what?" and Ivy heard theether

Garrick was slinking back to his friends with a devilish leer plastered on his face when Ivy inter- cepted hia," said Garrick "Wake up on the wrong side of your box again this ?"

Ivy narrowed her eyes "Don&039;t you think it&039;s time to wash your T-shirt?" she asked pointedly "It&039;s ready to climb out of a coffin all on its own!"

"Hey," Garrick retorted, "I got a free top-of-the- line, brand-new Interna 3 out of all the publicity I&039;ve been throwing their way And you thought ju out of that coffin was a bad idea! Shohat you know"

Ivy rolled her eyes "What&039;s going on with you and Charlotte Brown?"

"None of your business," he answered

Ivy bore down on him with her death squint

Garrick&039;sher for my movie" He raised his eyebrows and puffed out his chest "Once Serena Star sees it, she&039;ll be begging ht 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 sht away, Ivy noticed that there was so, her ca the sa yesterday, and her hair looked unusually flat

"I&039;ve been looking for you everywhere," said Serena

Ivy wanted to say You ht better of it "Well, here I a for Hollywood to interview Charlene Costa?"

"Not until I&039;m finished with Franklin Grove," replied Serena, her eyes flashing "I thought you&039;d like to know that I&039;ve decided to reshape my story"

Ivy took a step back "What do youwildly, "I&039;ve been in this town all week, and it&039;s clear that there&039;s no big secret here"

Ivy stared at her incredulously

"So what I&039; to do," Serena went on, "is profile a Goth who&039;s really a leader in this com- munity Someone who all the others look up to, a real role model I can&039;t think of a better way to show Auess who I want to profile?" Serena raised her thin eyebrows

Ivy sed "Me?"

Serena unleashed a sht"

"You&039;re serious?" Ivy asked suspiciously

Serena nodded enthusiastically "Aren&039;t I always?"

She&039;s not kidding, Ivy thought I think we ht have fooled her

"So?" Serena Star pressed "Ready for your close-up?"

"I don&039;t really like being the center of attention," Ivy said It was true Just the thought of being on TV h ti to be head of decorations at the All Hallow&039;s Ball "I&039; to her old black cardigan and flared black pants

"I won&039;t take no for an answer," Serena said, with a sparkly smile

If this is what it takes to shut the coffin on Serena&039;s interest in Franklin Grove once and for all, Ivy thought, I&039;d better do it

She forced herself to suess I have to say yes," she told Serena

"Maybe we can pull Edna&039;s jeweled fan across the screen to reveal a ested Olivia

Careat idea" They were inon the storyboard for their le shot, to make sure they used up the whole five minutes

Behind the intensely Olivia heard Garrick ain!"

"Let me see!" one of the other boys whispered There was so clatter to the floor She looked down

Gross, she thought,a face Dentures They were all old and yellow and pointy

Wait a sec, Olivia thought Those aren&039;t just den- tures!

Garrick snatched the teeth off the floor and shoved theet us staked!" Olivia heard him hiss as he slid back into his seat

So Garrick&039;s finally got hiht, but at least he&039;s trying to keep theive the public- va, and Ivy put her hand on Olivia&039;s open notebook just as her sister was about to close it "Play dead for a minute," she said quietly "I need to talk"

The other students in science class filed out of the roo the black- board and looked at the to stay here and talk about tomorrow&039;s experiment for a few minutes, if that&039;s okay with you, Mr Strain," Ivy said

"Of course," Mr Strain replied "I&039; to take scientific explo- ration seriously" He picked up a huge pile of papers from his desk, squeezed the Olivia and Ivy alone

"What&039;s up?" asked Olivia

"Serena Star wants to interview asped Olivia "I thought she was backing off"

"She is" Ivy nodded "She says she wants to profile a Goth student who&039;s a good role model"