Fangtastic! by Sienna Mercer

could become Toby’s new best friend,” Sophia
suggested.
    “As
if,” Ivy replied. “Did you see that tie he was wearing today? I don’t really
think I’m his type.”
    “Come
on,” her friend teased. “You’d look killer in polka-dots.”
    That
gave Ivy an idea. “ I might not be the right person,” she said, looking
down the hall, “but I think I know who is.”
    Ivy
hurried over to join her sister, who was opening her locker.
    “Did
you get the job?” Olivia asked hopefully.
    Ivy
shook her head, and Olivia’s face fell. “We lost to a quote about Garrick
Stephens asking a dentist for a set of fake fangs,” Ivy admitted.
    Olivia
winced. “That doesn’t sound good. What are we going to do now?”
    “I’m
glad you asked,” Ivy said. “We’re going to make sure we know what Serena Star’s
finding out even before she does.”
    “How?”
    Ivy
smiled. “Well, Olivia, have I ever told you how seriously great you are at
making friends?”
    Olivia
looked at her suspiciously. “Why do I think you’re buttering me up for
something?”
    “I’m
not,” Ivy answered innocently. “I just thought you might like to make Toby
Decker the next new friend on your list.”
    “Toby
Decker?” Olivia repeated. “I know him. He’s in my math class. He’s nice. A
little boring, though.”
    “Not
anymore,” said Ivy. “Now he’s bound to have some interesting stories to tell;
he’s Serena Star’s new assistant on her Franklin Grove investigations.”
    Olivia
took this in. “I’d better start befriending,” she said.

Chapter 5
    After
school, Olivia was warming up for cheerleading practice in the gym, trying to
ignore both Charlotte Brown, who was chattering on obliviously beside her about
how being on TV had completely changed her life, and Garrick Stephens, who was
lounging on the bleachers with Kyle Glass and leering at all the cheerleaders
as “research” for his movie.
    Suddenly,
the gym door swung open and in marched Serena Star, followed by Toby Decker and
her cameraman. Charlotte’s friend Katie shrieked and whispered, “But I’m having
the worst hair day!”
    “Hey,
Serena!” Garrick Stephens sprang up from the bleachers and trotted over. He was
still wearing the same Interna 3 T-shirt, which Olivia thought was starting to
look crusty. “I was wondering when you’d be back for more of me!”
    Serena
turned to Toby and said, “Keep him away from me,” loud enough so that everyone
could hear. Toby looked doubtfully at Garrick and went to distract him while
Serena went up to Charlotte.
    “I
need to talk to you,” Serena said.
    “Of
course!” Charlotte winked at Olivia smugly as Serena led her out of earshot.
    I
have to hear what they’re saying! Olivia
thought. She started doing huge jumping jacks, inching closer to where
Charlotte and Serena were standing with every jump. Finally she heard Serena
Star say, “...you have a big role in a film that Garrick Stephens is making?”
    Charlotte
flipped her hair and said, “Not really, it’s just—”
    “It’s
called ‘Cheers for Fears,’ ” Garrick interrupted, reappearing beside them as
Toby scrambled to intercept him. “It’s going to be a blockbuster!”
    Serena
spun around to face Garrick and snapped, “Don’t you have a coffin to be in?”
Then she looked over his shoulder at her new assistant. “Toby, is there a
problem?”
    “No,
Ms. Star,” Toby answered sheepishly. “I mean, yes, Ms. Star. I mean, come on,
Garrick.” He put his hand on Garrick’s arm.
    Garrick
shook him off. “Showbiz,” he scowled. “One day you’re the big story, and the
next you’re out on the street.” He glowered meaningfully at Serena Star and
then stalked away.
    Serena
turned back to Charlotte and switched her smile back on. “Have Garrick or his
friends ever asked you to do anything strange?” she asked.
    “Like
what?” said Charlotte.
    “Like
sleep in a coffin? Or do anything with vampire fangs?”
    Charlotte
laughed, “Oh,