Jackson Greene, basketball star and Botany Club president, tries to ignore his empty stomach as he rides his bike to Maplewood Middle School wearing his jacket and signature red tie. Since the cafeteria food is inedible, he plots ways to skip class and steal food from the vending machines or the secret stash in the teacher’s lounge. With four months of clean behavior behind him, Jackson suppresses his thievish thoughts, but a glance at Gaby de la Cruz’s campaign poster for class president distracts him. Jackson carries a note in his pocket, his only method of communication since losing his cell phone privileges at school after the Kelsey Job. Stealthily slipping outside, Jackson pretends to trim shrubbery as he waits for Charlie de la Cruz, Gaby’s twin brother and editor of the school newspaper the Maplewood Herald.

Charlie called the meeting to tell Jackson that Gaby needs emergency help with the election. Naomi Sinclair told Charlie that Stewart Hogan dropped out of the election and her cousin Keith decided to run against Gaby for president. Jackson tries to conceal his surprise claiming the deadline for applications has expired. Charlie explains that Dr. Kelsey overruled Mr.