“How can I help?” I asked quietly.
“I want you back on the squad. I want you to make sure that the homecoming game goes off without a hitch. Or an ambulance. It’s our biggest game of the season.”
I shook my head, confused. “But sir, I’m not on the squad anymore. I can’t just… show up in uniform.”
“Can’t you?”
I looked down into my lap, perplexed by this new turn of events. I’d given the power to Kira. It wouldn’t be right for me to just take it away without letting her have a real shot. Besides, it wasn’t totally my decision. Smitten Kitten rules would require a vote. “No,” I said, meeting his gaze. “I can’t.”
He exhaled loudly. “Then I’m sorry, but I—”
“However,” I interrupted, holding up my index finger. “I will sit in on the practices and help the squad put together some cheers for the game.”
He smiled, looking relieved. “Thank you, Tessa.”
I nodded and stood up. My anxiety returned as I began to consider how I would tell Kira about this conversation, but then I decided that maybe it was best if I didn’t. Kira wasn’t great with pressure. And it would be totally natural for me to show up more, given the recent turn of events.
Yeah, Kira and stress didn’t mix. Last time we went to our annual cheer competition, she’d puked in her megaphone during the finals. It was horrific.
After closing the principal’s door behind me, I passed through the front office. Peggy was giving me a wayward glance—like maybe she’d been listening over the intercom the entire time. I tried to look cheerful, but the pain in my back made me pause mid-step.
“Everything okay?” Peggy asked. I winced but forced a smile.
“Peachy.” Truth was, I felt sourer than I wanted to admit.
When lunch arrived, I found out that the Smitten Kittens were having a squad meeting (that I wasn’t invited to), and I was left to hurry through my test, then plop down in the cafeteria among the smells of processed meat and steamed corn. It wasn’t a really great day, and now I only had a few minutes to regroup.
“Hey, Tessa,” Chris Townsend said, coming to stand at the end of the lunch table.
I turned in my seat, surprised to feel more than a little relieved. Sitting by yourself was rather humiliating, especially when the word around campus was that I was a desperate ex-Kitten who still hooked up with her ex-boyfriend (sort of).
“Hi,” I replied, motioning for Chris to sit down. He offered me a flawless smile as he eased onto the seat. His cologne was a bit stronger than I preferred, but his adorable button-up shirt made up for that. I was trying really hard to notice the little things about people. The barista at Starbucks said it’d be good for me.
“So I was wondering,” he said quietly. “Would you come to my party Saturday after next? If not, it’s totally cool. I just—”
“Oh…” I hadn’t been expecting that. It wasn’t like I had plans, but—
“Party?” Izzie squealed, appearing suddenly and plopping down in the seat next to Chris. She looked positively elated. I knew I’d been out of the loop for while, but it seemed odd for her to be that pleased. Izzie didn’t really like jocks. “Is it a costume party?” She beamed. “I love those.”
“No…” he said slowly.
“Tessa will be there,” Leona said, walking over to sit across from us. Her lips were dark red, making her resemble a fifties pinup model. It was a fabulous look for her! I hoped this meant she’d worked things out with Marco.
“I will?” I darted a glance around the table just as Leona kicked my shoe.
“Yes,” she said through gritted teeth. “We’ll all be there.”
“Awesome.” Chris grinned, looking completely stoked that it’d been decided. I felt a little uneasy but forced back a tight smile. I liked to leave my weekends open in case Aiden came to town.
“Sounds great.”
I waited until he was gone and crossing the crowded lunchroom before turning to face Leona. “What was that about?”
Leona popped a stick of gum in her mouth, looking bored. “You’ll see,” she said with a wink.
Izzie giggled from next to me. They were definitely up to something, but it would have to wait. My phone vibrated in my pocket.
Holy Macintosh! It was Mary again. Before I could decide what to do, the ringing stopped. Had she hung up? Hm. Maybe she’d misdialed. I decided to wait to see if she’d call back. It could have been considered stalling, since I had no idea what I’d tell her about SOS or cheerleading, but I liked to think of it as proper etiquette. Oprah once pointed out that a person should plan what they’re going to say before speaking up. And Oprah was never wrong.
After lunch, Izzie and Leona went to the library for study hall as I slowly made my way to sociology class. I was halfway to my locker when I heard it—a new rumor. I only caught pieces of the story as I walked, but it still made me stop cold in my tracks.
SOS.
It was Robert Bullard. SOS (the real one) had caught him last year, cheating on his girlfriend with her cousin. It had been a really messy assignment. Lots of stakeouts, lots of…positions. Gross. Sometimes I hated thinking about those days.
I glided over to the right side of the hall and bent down, pretending to take a drink from the water fountain as I listened.
“Yeah,” he said, his nasally voice tinged with anger. “Apparently some bitches put together a website about cheating boyfriends.”
I choked on the water.
“No way.” Robert’s friend Shane rubbed at his pimply chin. “Wait. That would totally explain that break-in!”
“Yep.” Robert shook his head. “Heard about that. Some dude’s computer got f**ked. Then there was this list of guys posted on the internet. Something called the ‘Naughty List.’ ” He scoffed.
“And no one knows who’s behind it?”
I gulped, my breath coming out in gasps. The copy-Kitten must have done something. A…website? I was about to hyperventilate.
“Nope,” Robert said. I sighed with relief. “But they call themselves SOS.”
“Oh, shit, man!” Shane said. “Do you think that’s how Melinda found out about you last year?”
“Probably,” Robert said, looking angry. As if SOS was the problem and not his cheating. “Like you said, it explains a lot. All I know is whoever it is, they’re going down.”