“Exactly.” Serena Star nodded. She paused to let the information sink in. “I’m holding an audition, and the person who wins gets to be my assistant.”
“How exciting!” Principal Whitehead said approvingly.
What is she up to? Ivy wondered suspiciously.
Serena Star looked around the table with her wide eyes. “To audition, you have to get out there and get me a quote about Garrick Stephens and his coffin.”
“What kind of quote?” asked Kelly Marlings, flipping open her spiral pad and furiously starting to take notes.
“Something juicy,” replied Serena Star, “something that will make the American public sit up and take notice. And the person who gets the best quote will get to help me, WowTV’s Serena Star, with my story,” she finished, her eyes sparkling.
Ivy was beginning to see what Serena had in mind. She’s using us to find out stuff no adult could, she thought.
Ivy felt Sophia slip a piece of paper into her hand. She unfolded it beneath the table and glanced down to see one of her friend’s hastily drawn bunny cartoons. Surrounded by a bunch of wide-eyed baby bunnies was a particularly thin bunny with enormous eyes, long hair, and a sparkly smile—Serena Star, obviously. Her speech balloon said, “The first little bunny to give up their fur wins a rabbit coat!”
Ivy hid her smile. Serena Star isn’t the most ethical reporter, she thought, but she’s not as dumb as I thought.
Ivy cleared her throat. “Does the quote have to be about Garrick Stephens’s stunt at the cemetery?” she asked. “I mean, that was just a lame practical joke, right?”
“I think there’s more to the story,” Serena said meaningfully, “and a good reporter will find out what.”
So much for my attempt to derail her, Ivy thought.
Camilla raised her hand, looking a little bored. “Does everyone need to get a quote? I mean, I’m more of a critic than a reporter.”
“Only those with investigative reporting experience need apply,” Serena answered.
Ivy saw Sophia grin at Camilla and whisper, “Looks like you and me are off the hook!”
“Well, for those of you who do audition, I cannot imagine a greater opportunity than working with a journalist as respected as Serena Star,” Principal Whitehead said.
A snort of disdain erupted from Sophia. Ivy kicked her under the table, and her friend tried to make it seem like something had been caught in her throat. She descended into a dramatic coughing fit, shrugging at Ivy in a way that said “Oops.” Camilla was also suppressing giggles.
If Serena Star noticed, she didn’t show it. She flashed her trademark smile at the staffers around the table. “You have twenty-four hours to get your quotes. May the best reporter win!” she declared.
“Thank you, Ms. Star,” Toby Decker said professionally. With that, the Scribe staff started to file out of the room, chattering about their highprofile assignment. Sophia started to leave, too, but Ivy put a hand on her arm. They had to talk to Serena first.
“See you,” Camilla said to Ivy and Sophia and headed toward the door. Just before she reached it, though, Ivy saw her do a double take and walk over to the cameraman.
“That’s the Sign of the Cyborg!” Camilla said, pointing to a symbol on the guy’s T-shirt.
“You’re a Coal Knightley fan?” he responded.
Soon they were deep in conversation about Coal Knightley’s books.
Meanwhile, Ivy and Sophia went over to talk to Serena. The reporter grabbed Ivy’s hand and shook it. As she did, she peered down at Ivy’s fingers. “Interesting choice of nail polish,” she said, raising her other hand and signaling her cameraman to come closer. He was too busy talking to Camilla to notice, so Serena smiled at Ivy in a plastic way and waved her free hand more frantically. Finally she snapped, “Martin!”
“Sorry!” Martin the cameraman said, rushing over as Camilla left the room.
Serena huffed and let go of Ivy’s hand at last. She looked at her and Sophia intensely. “You two must be friends with Garrick Stephens.”
Sophia scoffed, and Ivy elbowed her before she said something rash. “Do you mean because we wear dark clothes?” Ivy asked innocently.
Serena Star nodded. “Exactly.”
Ivy frowned. “You mean you agree with stereotypes?”
“What?” Serena Star spluttered. “No. Of course not.”