Front Page Face-Off by Jo Whittemore

I’m sorry you didsomething stupid and got caught at it, but I’ll never be sorry I told everyone.” I was thankful to see Jenner waiting for me at one of the tables. “And since we talked about this now, I assume we won’t have to talk tomorrow or ever again, so …
have a nice life.”
    I nodded to Jenner, who scooped up an envelope sitting beside her and followed me down the hall.
    â€œThat’s not really an apology!” called Marcus. “Crazy redhead!”
    Jenner waited until we’d stepped off campus before saying, “I guess that’s a ‘no’ on the follow-up interview?”
    I sighed, relaxing my shoulders until they were no longer up by my ears. “ He actually came looking for me . To get an apology because he had to change schools.”
    â€œWow. Nothing like a little guilt before dinner.”
    I took the envelope from her and folded the flap back. Inside were pictures of various members of Hot Stuff she’d nabbed from the journalism room.
    â€œMarcus left because he couldn’t live with what he did,” I said. “Not because of me.”
    â€œWell, it was a little because of you.” As soon as she’d said the words, Jenner pointed to the envelope. “And before you smite me, remember that I busted my butt to run down here with these.”
    â€œOkay, okay.” I pulled out the photos and flippedthrough them slowly. Nothing jumped out at me. I hadn’t really expected to see anything scandalous, but it would have been nice to see a picture of Katie shoplifting or kicking a puppy. “There’s nothing unusual about Katie Glenn,” I said with a sigh.
    â€œOh, yeah. Nothing unusual.” Jenner leaned over my shoulder and smirked. “Unless you count her obsession with sea turtles, the fact that she only wears long-sleeve shirts, and her tendency to wander off mid-conversation.”
    â€œShe does that to you, too? I thought I was the only one who drove her to boredom.”
    Jenner shook her head. “If you don’t have a shell, you’re lucky to get five minutes of her time.”
    â€œNote to self,” I murmured. “Purchase turtle costume before talking to Katie.” I held up a picture of her at a basket-
ball game the previous school year. “Her hair was really short back then. Shorter than it is now.”
    â€œWell, it does grow.”
    I gave Jenner a withering glance. “That’s not what I mean. She hasn’t worn it that short ever since. Why not?”
    Jenner shrugged. “Because she realized it made her look like a guy? Who knows.” She took the picture and fanned herself with it. “What exactly didthe Little Debbies ask you to do to Katie, anyway?” The disapproving tone I’d been waiting for finally worked its way into her voice.
    â€œThey want me to bring down her clique, which involves digging up dirt on her officers.”
    â€œOh.” Jenner’s tone changed to one of surprise. “So, you’re just writing an exposéon another clique.”
    I nodded. “Nothing’s changed. I’m still the same girl doing the same things.”
    Jenner nodded. “While wearing a hideous purple whistle.” She pointed to my neck and I blushed.
    â€œIt’s supposed to be my personal security system.” I tucked the whistle under my shirt. “When I blow on it, mermaids swim to my rescue or something.”
    â€œNot a bad idea, given your situation,” she said. “You should definitely wear it to the beach tonight.”
    I stared at her as if she were speaking a different language. “The beach?”
    Jenner gasped in mock surprise. “Don’t tell me the Little Debbies aren’t in the know!”
    I pushed her. “Paige is allergic to seaweed, so she doesn’t care about the beach. Why? What’s happening there?”
    â€œTwilight Surf.” Jenner leaned forward