Front Page Face-Off Read Online Free PDF Page A

before you grabbed it?”
    Ava’s upper lip curled with malice. “It is a sack dress. And if you knew anything about fashion, you would know they are the hottest thing this season.”
    I nodded. “I’ve heard it’s what all the tables are wearing.”
    â€œHey, Delilah!” Jenner dropped into the seat on my other side and gave me a squeeze. “Are you feeling better? I tried to call your house, but Major said you weren’t available.”
    â€œOh, yeah. I’m fine. I was busy working on ideas for the paper.” I fanned the stack of notepad pages at Jenner, making sure Ava could see them too.
    â€œYou might have a hundred ideas,” said Ava with a wave of her hand, “but if none of them are good, you might as well have nothing.”
    â€œOh, Delilah’s ideas are always great.” Jenner fished in her pocket and pulled out a candy necklace. “She’s won a bunch of awards, and she’ll be a Junior Global Journalist soon.” She smiled at me encouragingly, but I blushed and concentrated on my notes.
    â€œShe’ll be one soon ?” Ava purred. “Interesting. You know—”
    â€œIt really doesn’t matter what awards we’ve won,” I blurted. “What matters is what the readers think. It’s all about giving them the news they want and need to hear.”
    â€œ Very inspirational.” Ava rolled her eyes. “I can see why they let you play reporter.”
    I wondered how much of her ego-swollen head would fit into the plastic bag. “I don’t play reporter. It’s not a game .”
    â€œThen you wouldn’t mind a little friendly competition.” Ava raised an eyebrow. “Would you?”

Chapter Four

    At that moment, I would have preferred to sit as far from Ava as the edge of the continent would allow, but I wasn’t ready to just give up the lead reporter spot. Especially not with my editor/potential boyfriend trapped in her claws.
    The room buzzed with conversation as students compared summer vacations and plans for the new school year, until Ben motioned for quiet.
    â€œTo anyone who was here last year, welcome back. And to anyone who just joined the Brighton Bugle …” He paused and grinned. “What took you so long?”
    Several people laughed.
    Ben turned to a dry erase board and began writing newspaper sections, with names of the staffers who handled them. “Since a lot of our writers graduated last year, we have some people moving up. Headline news will be handled by Delilah James and Ava Piquet.”
    â€œDelilah and who?” yelled someone in the back.
    With a fierce hair toss Ava rose and faced the rest of the table. “Ava Piquet, Junior Global Journalist.”
    Jenner snorted, but when Ava whirled to look at her, she smiled up innocently, candy necklace stuffed in her mouth.
    â€œAva is an exchange student from France, and she reported for her own paper back home,” said Ben.
    â€œDoes she even know how to write in English?” someone else asked.
    â€œOf course I do!” Ava shot back. “I have studied your language since I was little, and I am also fluent in Latin.”
    â€œThat’ll be handy—two thousand years ago,” I said.
    Ava’s eyes frosted over as they fixed on mine. “They say Latin is a mystery to stupid people. I guess they are right.”
    Mrs. Bradford cleared her throat. “Let’s focus, ladies. We only have forty-five minutes.”
    Ben continued introducing the other new staffers and returned to the board when he was done. “We’ll start withthe headline news.” He looked at me and smiled. “Delilah, what’s your debut piece?”
    I was about to answer but thought better of it. If I let Ava go first, she would no doubt suggest some lame article, like “Ten Reasons I Wish I’d Stayed in France.” Nobody would care, and it would show Mrs. Bradford