I nodded. “I have some things to make up for,” I admitted. “And now that people know about SOS, they’ll never stop searching for us. Not unless we can prove we stand for good.”
“Maybe my way is better,” she said, glancing toward me.
“It’s not.” I watched her as she smiled a little, like she was going to challenge everything from here on out.
“I’m still the captain of the Smitten Kittens,” she said.
I couldn’t believe that after everything she’d done, all the lying, she was still adamant about being the captain. I felt anger course through me.
“Oh,” I said. “You’re hereby relieved of captain duty. And possibly off the squad. I’ll let the Smitten Kittens vote on it.”
“Go for it. Some of them will stand with me.”
I considered this. “Not all of them.” But she was right. The squad would be split, and that was no way to cheer. I’d need to figure out a way to bring us back together. Fake friends for the sake of school spirit. At least for a little while.
“Co-captains, then?” I asked, my elbow throbbing.
Kira sneered. “One more thing for us to share.”
“After a mandatory suspension, of course. Let’s say the rest of the football season. We’ll see you during basketball.” It was a harsh sentence, but really, she didn’t have room to complain. She was lucky I wasn’t calling the police.
The gym doors opened with a metal click, and Leona came rushing in followed by Izzie and the rest of the squad. They skidded to a stop when they saw Kira and me sitting on the floor of center court.
“You okay?” Leona called to me. I waved, letting her know I was. At least physically.
Kira smiled, but I knew that smile. It was completely fake—totally inauthentic. It made my heart sink because right then I knew. I knew that things between Kira and me would never be the same.
“Kira’s going to be suspended for the season,” I announced, still sitting down. “She’s admitted fault, and we hope to just move on from here. Repair the squad.”
There was a series of murmurs and quiet patters as the team crossed the gym in their spying outfits.
“But I’ll be back soon,” Kira said, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Co-captain for basketball. You all know I love you and I won’t abandon you.” She looked sideways at me.
Ooh…that really peeved me, but I was trying to keep a brave face. Leona shot Kira a dirty look, then outstretched her hand to mine.
I took it, smiling and blinking back my tears. She was choosing me. She was on my side of the foul line. When I tried to stand up, I was lopsided. I looked down at my foot, noticing that one of my shoes was missing. I glanced around quickly, but it was nowhere in sight. I’d wondered if it had flown under the bleachers when I’d been tackled.
Kira tsked as she slowly climbed up, smoothing back her blonde hair with her hands and avoiding eye contact. “Whatever,” she mumbled.
Izzie stood apart from all of us, looking between Kira and me. She chewed on her lip, switching from foot to foot.
“Izzie—” I started, but she shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Tess,” she whispered, dropping her eyes and crossing the court to stand behind Kira.
My mouth opened, and I was wounded, betrayed. But I didn’t say anything. She’d made her choice.
“She can’t help you get Sam back,” Leona said to her, obviously as bothered by Izzie’s lack of loyalty as I was.
“We’ll see,” Kira answered for her. Looking back over her shoulder to Izzie. “Sam isn’t out of the picture yet.” She smiled at her, then glanced at me. “Unless Tessa wants him, of course.”
“Oh, shove it!” Leona said, and I had to reach out to hold her back. I couldn’t believe that this was what we’d dissolved into. It was tragic. Complete Death of a Salesman tragic.
“The fake SOS is over now,” I said to all of them, rolling back my shoulders. “Look, we all make mistakes, but we can’t hold animosity toward each other. School spirit is on the line. We have to stick this landing and get through this.”
“I’m glad you’re back,” Leona replied, her voice crisp. Then she smiled. “Without a leader, we were just Kittens. You brought the Smitten.”
“You had a leader,” Kira snapped, darting a glance her way.
Leona shook her head. “I have one now.” Leona turned her back to Kira and looked at the rest of the girls. “Tessa’s right. We need to let this go. We are not rogue Kittens. None of us should do things against the squad. No matter how jealous we might get.” She smiled. “Now. Let’s get back to that homecoming dance.”
“Yes, let’s,” Kira murmured.
Leona spun around and tilted her head, studying Kira. “I don’t know about you, but I have to go home to change. You’re not going to wear that, are you?” Leona asked with a smirk, motioning to Kira’s black outfit that was now covered in dust.
“No,” Kira hissed. “My dress is in my locker.”
“Classy.”
I watched Kira’s jaw clench, but then she began to brush the dirt from the gymnasium floor off of her clothes. Izzie chewed on her lip, looking between Kira and me, and then she shrugged.
“So we’re still a squad?” she asked, her voice meek.
“Yes.” I nodded, although I wasn’t sure if that was true anymore. But for now, I’d have to pretend it was.
“Great.” Izzie exhaled, rubbing her stomach. “I’m starving.”
I pressed my lips together, nodding for the squad to go ahead, waiting until Kira and I were alone again. We turned to look at each other.
“One other thing,” Kira said, focusing her big blue eyes on me. “I…” She paused, looking uncomfortable with what she was about to say. “I love him.”
I swallowed hard and nodded.
“I love him, Tessa. So…” She looked away and then back at me. “So leave him alone, okay?”
My face stung. Not just because my ex-best friend had practically accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend, but also because…she was right to worry. And I knew that.
“I’ll leave him alone.” I nodded, wishing that things could go back to the way they were. But Kira and I were like SOS. We’d have to rebuild—even if we could never get to where we’d been before.
SOS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT