Crutchie is glancing through the file at the foot of my bed. I look over at him pulling my headphones out. "What's on your mind Crutch?" I ask. He shrugs and looks down at the papers again.

"What if this story is true? It ain't getting published." Crutchie shakes his head. "No Pulitzer won't let it. What if it ain't even him?" I sigh running my hands through my hair.

"Then we'll be in deep shit Crutch. I don't know what else to say. We either publish it or we don't. If we're wrong the newspaper could get shut down, hell it'll probably get shut down if we're right..." I pause my thoughts dancing from possible outcomes. Crutchie puts the papers down and lays down.

"You're giving me a headache." He groans and I laugh throwing a pillow at him.

"Get your ass to bed then jerk." A smile spreads on my face. "My old man got the air bed set up for you." Crutchie leans up clutching the pillow.

"Thanks for letting me stay here Jack. It means a lot..." He trails off and grabs his crutch. "I'll see you tomorrow morning." He shoots me a smile before slowly getting up and leaving the room.

"Sleep well Crutchie." I call after him. Quickly a get my phone from my pocket. I shoot a text to Davey I want your info guy @ the meeting tomorrow. He responds almost immediately Kk he'll be there. With that, I turn out my light and go to bed.

The next day slugs by before the final bell rings. I arrive at first as usual with Crutchie in my heels. Mrs. Larkin is sitting at her desk. "Hello boys. Figure out the cover story yet?" She asks with a smile.

"Oh have we ever Mrs. Larkin! You won't believe this!" Crutchie beams. "We found something that'll blow the roof off this place." Mrs. Larkin crosses her arms.

"Is that so? Well, can I read the draft yet?" I shake my head.

"I'm afraid not Mrs. Larkin you're going to have to wait." She huffs and looks at the clock.

"Oh no, I'm late for play auditions. I'll see you, boys, later." With that, she stands and leaves. Crutchie looks at me for a long moment.

"Davey talk to you already? About the informant?" I laugh.

"You sound too official. But yeah he did the kids stopping by soon." Crutchie nods and we both turn quickly at the sound of the door opening. Davey and the boys walk in followed by Catherine.

"We've got a problem." Davey blurts as soon as he enters. "The kid ain't coming he got caught in some trouble."

"Trouble? Trouble with who?" I ask.

"Who do you think? Snyder caught the kid on the security camera and he's in big trouble. They're looking for the file."

"So we just hide it from em' not a big deal." Race chimes sitting in an empty desk.

"We can't just hide it. If we don't turn it in then the newspaper could be shit down. Worse we could all get expelled." Catherine adds.

"I agree with the new girl Jack." Davey says. A few mumbles make their way across the room. And I stand up.

"Listen fellas. They don't know we have it so as long as we play it cool they can't pin nothing on us." I smile confidently and people nod in response. "Now come on let's get to work this paper ain't gonna write itself." We all get to work and I try to finish one of the comics. After a few minutes of working the door flies open. Oscar walks in followed by Morris. "Well, well, well if it ain't the Delancey brothers. What are you doing here?" All of the other boys in the room tense up.

"A little birdy told us that you had dirt on a staff member. We just felt like stopping by and going over the rules again." Oscar starts. I glare at him. The Delancey brothers were the school hall monitors so to speak, they made sure that no one broke any club rules or rules in general. 

"Please do enlighten us again Morris." Race mocked. Catherine looks over at me nervously. I take a comically deep breath and shake my head a bit trying to tell her not to worry. 

"You aren't supposed to talk about any school officials. You also need a teacher in your classroom during club hours. Annnnnddddd looks like there's no teacher." Morris tisks and laughs a bit. "Your all going to have to go home." 

"That's not fair! Art club doesn't have a teacher either. Or yearbook for that matter!" Crutchie yells. Oscar turns to him. 

"Listen to me you little cripple. It don't matter if it seems unfair. You can bitch all you want and there's nothing you can do! Now everyone get the hell out before we disband the club." Morris storms out a wicked smile on his face and Oscar trails him. 

"God he's an asshole. I outta give him my two sense!" Finch yells shaking his fist in the air. I sigh and walk over to Crutchie setting my hand on his shoulder. 

"I'm sorry fellas but my hands are tied we don't want the paper to get shut down." The boys mumble and stand. I let out a laugh that confuses everyone in the room. "Just because we can't hang here doesn't mean we're giving up! We're going to Mr. Jacobi's Deli, pay him a visit and work there!" The guy's cheer and Catherine walks over to me. 

"Hey, Jack I don't know if I can go...my dads going to be expecting me soon. I'll do more research tonight. Same time tomorrow?" I nod and she runs out of the room. 

"God, she's pretty ain't she Jack?" Romeo asks me. Spot elbows him allowing me to escape the answer. 

"Ah shut it Romeo, come on guys grab your stuff and let's get a move on."