Front Page Face-Off Read Online Free PDF

and Ben that she didn’t have her finger on the pulse of the school. Then I could follow up her idea with something that would be of interest to everyone … like X-ray machines for frogs.
    I pointed to Ava. “Why don’t we let the new student go first? I’d love to hear from the mind of a Junior Global Journalist.”
    Ava was clever enough to regard me with some suspicion, but she leaned forward and addressed the crowd. “I wanted to write my first article on an issue that is affecting more and more young people.” She lifted her chin and sniffed imperiously. “In this country, anyway.”
    I tilted back in my chair and stifled a yawn. “We already covered the obesity topic last year. We even did a focus on stealth junk foods because some people thought Sno Balls were healthy.” I stared pointedly at Jenner, who stuck out her tongue.
    â€œOn top of being delicious, they’re covered with coconut,” she said. “And what’s the first thing people search for when they’re stranded on a desert island?”
    Ava smacked her palm on the table and Jenner jumped. “I am not talking about obesity. I am talking about something much bigger that has happened to someone at this school.” She paused for emphasis, and the room fell silent. “Juvenile detention … for shoplifting!”
    The front legs of my chair slammed into the floor. “What!”
    Ava’s mouth curved into a smile, but she didn’t answer. With the commotion that followed, nobody would have heard her, anyway.
    â€œIt’s Gina Mueller! I know it! Nobody who brings a sack lunch could afford shoes like that.”
    â€œIt’s Abbey Houston. I saw her shopping for an orange prison jumpsuit.”
    â€œThey don’t wear those in juvie.”
    â€œOhhh. Then she has really bad taste.”
    Even Jenner had her own ideas (“An evil twin!”), but I sat quietly, staring at Ava. If nobody else had recognized the mystery student yet, I found it hard to believe that Ava, an outsider, had. And somehow I doubted any preteen purse thief would confide in a stranger with such a charming personality.
    The only person who could have possibly shared this information with Ava was the same person who had shared it with me.
    While Ava basked in the glory of all her attention, I casually knocked my pen off the table and bent to retrieve it. After a glance around to make sure nobody was watching, I ducked under the table and leaned toward Ava’s book bag. A familiar perfume filled the air, and the corner of a red envelope peeked out of the side pocket.
    â€œPaige … that double-crosser!” I whispered.
    â€œDelilah?” Mrs. Bradford’s head appeared under the table. “Are you okay?”
    â€œOh! Yes!” I tried to straighten up, still under the table, and whacked the back of my skull. “I was just … getting my pen.” My eyes watered as I shifted backward, rubbing my scalp. “So, who’s the shoplifter?”
    â€œAva doesn’t want to name names.” Ben gazed admiringly at his girlfriend, Saint Pompous. “She’ll be quoting the student anonymously out of respect.”
    â€œOr because she doesn’t know who it is yet,” I said under my breath.
    â€œOkay, Delilah. You’re up!” Ben held his marker at the ready. “What’s the scoop?”
    All eyes were on me, but my eyes were on Ava’s headline on the board: “Middle School Misfits.” As much as I hated to admit it, her piece was going to get a lot of attention … way more than frog dissection.
    â€œMine … also has to deal with student issues,” I said.
    Jenner knew where I was headed and cleared her throat loudly, giving a cough that sounded like “Don’t!”
    I ignored her and continued to look at Ben. “I decided to do a piece on desperate dating behavior.”
    Jenner coughed even louder and