“I’m fine,” I said, standing up to walk him out. “But I’ll let you know if something comes up.”
Joel looked down at me, narrowing his eyes. “You’re a mysterious girl, Tessa Crimson. And very interesting. I hope your boyfriend comes to his senses soon.”
“Thanks.” I wished he would too.
As Joel and I crossed the living room into the kitchen, he snapped his fingers. “Wait, I almost forgot!”
“What?” I looked at the sofa but didn’t see anything.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, jogging quickly out the front door.
I peeked out the front-hall window to see Joel reach in the passenger side of his car, light up its interior, and grab something on the floor. Then he slammed the door shut and ran back over to me.
“For you,” he said, extending a small, square package in one arm. I looked down, and my stomach fluttered.
“My book?” It was the lavender-covered mystery novel!
“Yep. You left it on my pile of novels, so I bought it for you. You were sort of a blubbery mess.”
I blinked, turning the book over in my hands, and then glanced at him. “Thank you.” An overwhelming mix of feeling rushed through me. I wanted to both laugh and cry because at that moment, I felt special. Not invisible.
“Anytime,” Joel said quietly, giving me a smile as he backed slowly toward his car. “I’ll talk with you again soon, okay?”
I nodded, waving once to him. I liked Joel. In fact, he might be exactly the sort of friend I needed right now. Someone that didn’t judge me. Didn’t—
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, making me jump. I moved back inside the house, turning the dead bolt on my front door before pulling out my phone. It was Kira.
“Hey,” I said, exhaling. “I’ve been trying to call you.”
“I saw that. Sorry. Hey, I’m just around the corner at Taco Bell with Leona and Izzie. Can we stop by?”
“Oh.” I suddenly wondered if Kira knew that her boyfriend had just left my house, but I didn’t think so. It wasn’t like we were doing anything wrong. Still. I might want to keep it to myself. “Sure,” I said finally. “I have to talk to you about something anyway.” I wondered what they would think of Mary being in town.
“Perfect,” she said. “See you soon.”
When she hung up, I stood in the hallway, feeling a bit uneasy. Something about her clipped tone made me wonder what exactly had happened tonight. I swallowed hard. I needed some confidence. I needed…the skirt.
(CODE PINK) SOS INTER-KITTEN COMMUNICATION
Dear Smitten Kittens,
Due to recent events, all of our inter-Kitten communication will change to our most top-secret status: Code Pink.
We are formulating a plan to combat the heinous rumors surrounding the outing of SOS. None of us were involved in the rogue messages or the inefficiently designed blog. It was an imposter.
While we finish assessing the damage, do not discuss SOS with anyone outside the group. There is still a chance for us to remain anonymous.
If you have any questions, please use the Code Pink hotline at 555-0101. Do NOT make any communications on the SOS database or e-mail lines.
Keep smiling,
Leona ☺
CHAPTER TEN
LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES LATER, MY DOORBELL rang. When I opened it, Izzie looked me over and squealed at the sight of my uniform. Kira touched her throat, speechless, I guessed. Leona rolled her eyes behind her glasses (still decked out in her own greasy cheer skirt).
“Playing dress up?” she asked with a smile, glancing down at my uniform as she walked past me into the house.
It may have seemed odd that I was in uniform, but I was sure they understood. We all suffered from the same spirit addiction.
“I like your glasses,” I said to Leona. They were the hip, beehive ones with a thin silver chain. They made her look delish.
“I knew it was time to get serious,” she said, motioning me over to the kitchen table. “And that meant it was time to accessorize.”
I was glad we were all confronting the realities of the situation. I hoped they’d been as focused at their practice. When I sat down on the cold wood of my kitchen chair, Kira looked me over.
“Are…are you wanting to rejoin the squad?” she asked. “Because we’d need to have a vote first, and I’m not sure you have the support yet.”
“What?” I asked, my face stinging. “No, I wasn’t going to rejoin the squad. I just wanted to wear the uniform. But—”
“Surprised it still fits,” Leona mumbled, tapping her nails on the tablecloth.
I looked at her and then back at Kira. “What did you mean, ‘not sure I’d have the support’? Are you saying some of the Kittens would vote against me? I was their captain for—”
“Well, I think you look hot,” Izzie remarked, ignoring my conversation as she combed her fingers through her red hair. “Makes your boobs look huge.”
“Hey!” I said loudly, slapping my hand on the table. The girls jumped and then stared at me, wide-eyed. “Are you saying I can’t rejoin the squad?” Up until just then, I hadn’t realized just how badly I wanted to be a Smitten Kitten again. But now I wanted it. It was my rightful place, and how dare they not let me cheer! I had fabulous routines!
Kira and Izzie exchanged a nervous look, and Leona leaned back in the kitchen chair. “Don’t be alarmed,” she started. Immediately my bells and whistles went off. “But I talked to Mary Rudick.”
“Speaking of,” I said. “I saw her tonight!”
They didn’t flinch. Wait. Why didn’t they look surprised?
I pulled my eyebrows together. “Did you know she was in town?” Goose bumps broke across my arms.
Kira nodded. “She came to practice tonight.”
What in the world? “Why would she do that?”
“She was concerned,” Kira spoke up. “About you. Said she thought you’d want to rejoin the squad but that you weren’t ready. She said your activities with Aiden had compromised you and that we shouldn’t take you back. She gave a pretty good speech. I think she swayed a few of the girls her way.”
“She said that?” My breath felt caught in my chest. I might hyperventilate.
“She was kind of bitchy tonight,” Leona added, rubbing the pad of her index finger over her front teeth to remove any lingering lipstick. “Total rag.”
“I didn’t think she was that bad,” Izzie said, looking between them. She must have noticed the devastation on my face because she winced. “I mean, other than the not letting you be a Smitten Kitten again thing.”
My eyes were stinging, and I couldn’t stop a few tears from falling. In a million years, I never thought a fellow Kitten would betray me. We were like family. I had an idea of how my life looked to other people, and it wasn’t great. I knew that things weren’t perfect anymore. But I’d been learning to be okay with it. Until now.
“Is this why you’re here?” I asked, meeting Kira’s eyes. She tried to smile supportively at me, but behind her expression she looked upset. “To tell me I can never cheer again?”
Kira’s face scrunched. “Heck no, Tessa,” she said. “We’re here to help you get back on the squad.”
My heart leapt. “Good gravy, K.” I sighed, reaching out to hug her. “You must have read my mind. I could use some positive perk right about now.”
“Perfect! So you’ll come to the movies with us tomorrow?”
I straightened up. “Movies?” I looked at Izzie and Leona, and they both glanced away like they knew this was coming. “How will that get me back on the squad?”
Kira pressed her lips together. I felt small. Kira had never made me feel so insignificant before. “I know you’re ready to get to business—cheering, spying—all that,” she said. “But first, we need to work on your image. Mary addressed the squad about it tonight. And to combat what she said, we need to show that you’re up to snuff, Tess. You need to pull yourself together.”
??
?My image?” I looked down at my uniform. Sure, it was a little tight, but hardly unbecoming.
“Not physically,” Kira pointed out.
“Maybe a little,” Leona muttered. I narrowed my eyes at her.
“What I mean to say is…” Kira was fumbling with her words. I knew from experience that usually meant she was trying to be nice. “Your reputation has taken a bit of a stomping since last year. I think before you campaign for the vote, you should have a…coming-out party.”
“Oh my word!” Izzie gasped, turning to me. “You’re gay? I thought this was because the guys at school are calling you slutty.”
Slutty? I wasn’t used to a word like that being associated with me. “I’m straight,” I said to Izzie. “And I’m certainly not…that other word.” I turned to Kira. “Is that really what they’re saying, K?” After years of being a great example, I was getting treated terribly. It wasn’t fair!
Kira gnawed on her lip, unable to meet my eyes. Then she nodded.
Well, she might as well have slapped my face because I felt sacked. How quickly a school can turn against you! Even your own squad. “So…are you telling me that I need to fix my reputation before you’ll let me cheer?”
Leona reached out and patted my hand. “I think under the current circumstances, we need to resurrect our image. And it’s going to start with you.”
I sniffled, feeling my nose beginning to run. “I’m an embarrassment.”
“Don’t think of it that way,” Leona said, leaning over to wrap one arm over my shoulders. “We love you, Tess. You’re our true captain.” Kira shifted next to me. “We just feel like some damage control might be in order.”
I was flabbergasted. Totally deflated. I could have told them that Principal Pelli had practically given me the squad earlier, but what would that solve? Obviously the Smitten Kittens had their doubts about me now. I half wondered if they thought I was the copy-Kitten. I sighed, feeling nauseous and not at all perky. “What did you have in mind?” I asked.
“A movie,” Kira said, sounding happy that I’d asked. Leona straightened up and took out a pocket mirror before retouching her lipstick.
“And how will that help?” My face was hot with humiliation. I was at their mercy now. I felt like I’d fallen from atop the human pyramid.
Kira took me by the droopy shoulders and turned me to face her. “Being single,” she began, “is not working for you. At all.”
Ouch! That was a low blow.
“And I know you still love Aiden,” she added quickly, reading my expression. “But that car has sailed. He—”
“It’s ship.”
“Right. Well, either way, he’s in college, and you guys aren’t really dating anymore. Not officially. And although I know that’s completely tragic, it’s time for you move on. But”—she held up a finger in warning—“you need to move on with the right type of guy.”
“Type?” I’d never dated anyone other than Aiden. Did I have a type?
“Now, tomorrow night Joel and I are going to a movie, and I decided that you should come with.”
She was making less sense by the moment. “I still don’t see how that’s going to help.”
“Double date!” she squealed like it was the best idea she’d ever heard. “We’ve decided—Chris Townsend is perfect for you. He’s totally sweet and he has a great rep.”
“He is nice,” Izzie agreed. “And I might bring Sam. So it’ll be a triple date.”
“It’s called a trilogy.” Kira shook her head. “Leona? Did you want to tag along? I’m sure Joel can find a friend for you.”
“Ew,” Leona snapped, taking off her glasses to glare at Kira. “I don’t need you to set me up. I’m not desperate.”
“Hello,” I said, raising my hand. “Neither am I.”
The table got quiet. I looked around at all the girls, wondering if they did think I was desperate. Sure, maybe I was hooking up with Aiden while we weren’t technically together, but who wouldn’t? He was adorable.
I looked between them, feeling my lips pull into a pout. For the first time, being in the skirt wasn’t making me feel better. It was making me feel bad about myself.
Then I remembered that even Aiden suggested that I date other people. Golly, I must look really pathetic—to everyone. I lowered my head. Maybe Aiden was right. Then again, maybe if I did this double date thing and got back on the squad, I’d be perk-perfect again. Then Aiden would see that I didn’t need anyone else. He’d want me back. Officially.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll go to the movies. But it’s just for show—not a real date. I still think there’s a chance for Aiden and me. I’m not ready to move on.”
“Knowing is the battle,” Kira said, beaming.
“It’s half the battle,” I corrected.
She rolled her eyes. “I was being optimistic.”
I tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry. I looked back toward my fridge, wishing I had the energy to get a glass of water. Being told that you needed to date against your will to get back on the cheer squad would exhaust anyone.
“Well, that was a fun conversation, Kira,” Leona scoffed from the other side of the table. “Now that it’s settled, let’s get to the real topic. What was the deal with Chloe tonight? Seriously. A bookstore?” She snorted.
“I’m not sure it’s her anymore,” I said, trying to refocus. “She caught me following her and—”
“Wait,” Kira interrupted. “You got caught? That’s never happened before!”
“I know.” I nodded. “And then on top of that, while I was there, I saw Mary. And I’m telling you girls, she was acting really strange.”
“Interesting,” Leona said, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest. “Could be because she was about to try to get you blackballed from the squad. But then again, she could be the copy-Kitten.”
“No way,” Izzie said. “Mary is way too savvy to be the copy-Kitten. Whoever’s impersonating us is dumb.”
“Who says?” Kira sat up. “I bet they’re super-smart. Like a techie or something. Or,” she added, holding up her finger, “she could be someone desperate for attention.” They all looked at me.
I watched them for a minute before we all looked down at the table. Seemed like none of us really was above suspicion. Leona sighed next to me.
“God. What if it’s really a mass murderer or something?”
Izzie squeaked. “Murderer?” I looked across at her as she bit her red nails. Her eyes darted around the room. “Would they kill cheerleaders?”
“No,” I said, trying to comfort her. “I’m sure they don’t kill anyone, especially not cheerleaders.”
“Nah. My money is still on Chloe,” Leona said. “She’s totally mental and clearly still obsessed with Aiden.”
“And what about Christian?” Kira spoke up. “Even though he’s not around, it could still be him.” She smiled to herself. “It’s actually kind of hot to think of him peeking in my window at night.”
“Ew,” Leona snapped. “It is not. It’s pervish and illegal. Quit being such a freak, Kira.”
“Quit being such a b-i-t-c-h, Leona!” Kira shot back.
As they began to trade insults, I looked across the table at Izzie. She was petrified, poor thing. The arguing was certainly not helping her self-esteem issues. And I’d heard her position on the soccer team might even be in jeopardy. I had to take control of this situation.
“Enough,” I said sternly, waiting for them to stop. To my surprise, they did. Guess I did still have a little power after all.
“Do you have a plan?” Kira asked. I wondered if she’d been waiting for me to come up with one all along.
“Not really. But I do think it’s time for us to get serious and re-form SOS—the real one. This assignment is too big for just one Kitten.” I paused and looked between them. “Unless I’m not allowed to spy, either.”
All three girls looked down at the table, avoiding my eyes. “Of course you can help w
ith SOS,” Kira murmured before glancing up.
I smiled a little. Suddenly I felt better. Like I’d just regained a small piece of myself. “Okay, then. Let’s get the entire squad together after school tomorrow and fill them in.”
I hated breaking promises. And right now, I’d just broken (another) promise to Aiden. I wouldn’t tell him about SOS. I couldn’t. Not when our relationship was already so strained. Or, as some would call it, nonexistent. And I’d probably leave out the part where I go on a date with Chris Townsend. He was just a decoy anyway.
“About time,” Leona mumbled. “We should have never stopped SOS in the first place.”
I shot a glance at her, but she wasn’t looking at me. She was biting her thumbnail. I blinked quickly, then touched her forearm. “Do you think you can start drafting up a timeline of the events so far?”
“Yep.” She sighed before getting up. She put on her glasses and smiled at me. I could tell she was happy that we were all going to spy again. I think she missed the excitement. “It’ll give me something to do since there’s no routine to memorize. Kira blew another practice.”
“Did not! I wasn’t exactly expecting Mary Rudick to show up.”
I widened my eyes. “So no routine?” I asked. Homecoming was only a few short weeks away. Principal Pelli was going to have a coronary!
“Look, Tess,” Kira snapped. “I’m trying, okay? Get off my back.”
I gasped, staring at her. It was completely unlike her to be rude. Outbursts like that were generally reserved for Leona. “I didn’t mean—”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m just super-stressed.”
I completely understood. The stress had sent me into near PTSOSD last year. “I believe in you, K,” I whispered encouragingly. She looked sideways at me. And smiled.
“Thanks. I needed to hear that.”
We all sat quietly until Leona stood up, yawning and reaching her arms above her head. “Fun stuff, girls. But I need to take off.”
“Me too,” Izzie added. “Sam’s coming by later for ice cream.”