chapter 8
When we got to Leona’s, most of the squad was already gathered in her backyard. We’d switched into our winter uniforms, which were pretty much the same thing but with cute white turtlenecks underneath. We didn’t want to risk ill health.
As I hopped out into the yard with my crutches, the girls came to attention. It didn’t take me long to notice Chloe among them, who seemed to stand out in her Smitten Kitten uniform, her hair in a high ponytail. The girls were gathered around her, cooing and touching her hair. It made me uneasy.
When she noticed me looking at her, she gasped and walked over, stopping to stand close to me. “Wow, Prez. That cast looks really awkward and uncomfortable. Are you okay?” A look of fake concern crossed her face, and I swear, I almost leapt forward and used my palm to strike her.
“I’m fine.”
“Do you need to talk to someone?” she whispered. “Because many domestic-abuse situations happen in high school. Have things with Aiden gotten that bad? Wait!” She paused. “I forgot. He’s doing that Mary girl now. Sorry!” She shrugged and then backed away, glancing around once before taking her spot in line.
I was shaking. My fingers were trembling as they gripped my crutches. Aiden. Mary.
“Unicorns!” I yelled. Everyone stopped to stare at me.
“Is … that a new code?” Leona asked, pulling her brows together. Chloe was next to her, beaming.
I shook my head, trying to get a hold of myself. “Sorry,” I said. “Never mind.”
“Do you need me to lead?” Kira asked from the back of the line, walking up to stand next to Chloe.
I met her icy-blue stare. “No, I’ve got it. Thanks.” Chloe and Kira were tag teaming me with negativity. It was very hard to concentrate.
“Thank you all for being so prompt,” I began in my strongest captain’s voice. “Chloe, I’m assuming you’ve been briefed about our missions and received the official handbook?”
She gave me a crooked smile. “Practically have it memorized, captain.”
I almost went into anaphylactic shock. She was like an allergy, something that could put me in the hospital if I stayed around her too long. And now she was on my squad. She was trying to steal my squad.
“I’ve already filled her in,” Kira said, looking sideways to smile at her. My jaw tightened, seeing them standing there together. Like a force against me.
“Thanks,” I managed to get out. With a cleansing breath and a supportive nod from Leona, I continued. “Before we start discussing the final cheer, let’s hammer out the details of the next mission. If we can get SOS back on track, I really think we can start rebuilding with our classmates.”
“You really think it’ll be that easy?” Kira asked, shaking her head. “They hate us, Tessa. Like, pig’s blood at the prom hate us.”
“Gross. Look, K. I’m sure this will blow over. And I was thinking if we can find out who turned us in, maybe they’ll tell us why, give us some insight.”
“We’ll never be able to find them,” Izzie said, tugging on her messy ponytail.
I tsked. “Never say never. It’s so negative. Besides, if we find the culprit, maybe we can explain the positive force behind SOS, and they can become our ally.”
“I don’t want to talk to them,” Leona said. “I want to drop-kick them.”
“You know I don’t support violence.”
Leona clasped her hands behind her back, letting me continue.
“Now,” I said to the group. “Has anyone heard anything about who told Blaze?”
The squad was silent. My stomach churned uneasily. We’d been post-compromised for nearly forty-eight hours and nothing? It was so unusual for us. Izzie raised her hand I exhaled with relief.
“Thanks goodness. You have something?”
“Oh. Um, no. I just wanted to see if I could go get a drink of water. The stress is
making me very thirsty.” I stared at her. “Never mind.” She waved her hand and looked away.
“I heard something,” Maddie Thomlin, a sophomore, said from the back. “Peter Marachino is in my math class, and as he was passing around graphic pictures of me that he drew, he let it slip that Blaze had been IMing with whoever outed us. So it sounds like he knew the perpetrator before finding out.”
“Wow,” I said, impressed. “That’s a huge help, Maddie. Thanks.”
“It’s a guy.” Kira rolled her eyes as if we were all stupid. “I could have told you that. Like a girl is going to ruin the only chance she has of catching her boyfriend cheating? Not in a million years.”
“Good point,” Leona said. “Well, except for the fact that you told us the copy-Kitten was a guy last time. Hm, now who was the copy-Kitten? My memory is failing me here.”
“Don’t start with me,” Kira growled, stepping forward. Chloe grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“Take it down a notch, K,” Chloe said. “We’re all teammates here.”
My eyes practically bulged from my skull, especially when Kira turned around and thanked her. Chloe was seriously crushing my toes, but I couldn’t deal with it right now. I had cheers to lead. Cheaters to catch. And more importantly, find out who turned us in.
“Well,” I said, getting their attention. “Then maybe a serial adulterer has gotten a hold of our identities and used them to ruin us.”
“That makes sense,” Leona said. “That way he can cheat without consequence.”
“There are always consequences,” Izzie said, looking out over the yard. “Especially when you lie.”
A prickle of concern raced over my skin, and I quickly jetted my gaze over to Leona who was staring back at me. She gave me the we-need-to-talk expression. I was so lucky to have her. Otherwise—now that Kira and I weren’t friends—I’d be all alone.
“Can we get started on the cheer now?” Chloe asked. “Unless, of course, you’re feeling overwhelmed between ESPN, cheaters, and your broken ankle. Maybe you should be taking it easy.” She smiled.
I was offended! “Chloe, I’m perfectly capable of leading the cheers, finding the traitor, and catching cheating boyfriends. I’m a multitasker. So I ask that you don’t question my authority.” Normally, I wouldn’t have reacted so negatively, but she was purposely trying to get under my skin. Between her and Kira my leadership was highly threatened.
“She’s right, Tess,” Kira added. “Maybe you are doing too much.”
“I am not going to take it easy! In fact, after practice tonight, I’m going to go home and write an entirely new routine.”
Kira looked down at the ground, seemingly off balance by my answer. Chloe smiled at me, an unusually pleasant expression on her face. She leaned to whisper something to Kira I couldn’t quite catch, but when things were settled, I adjusted my crutches underneath me.
“Now, about the schedule,” I said. “I need to find out everywhere Garrett Bash and the accused accomplice Stacy Sadera hang out. Who wants to do recon?”
“I will,” Chloe said. “I can’t wait to dive in.”
My mouth twitched. “Sorry, Chloe. You’re still on probationary status for two weeks. She frowned. “Izzie, how about you?”
She looked over at me, surprised that I asked. “Uh, okay.” Not the sort of enthusiasm I liked to see, but compared to how she’d been acting lately, this was a step up.
“And I’ll scan his e-mails,” Leona added. “Speaking of multitasking, I’ll also hack into the school e-mails and see if I can find anything to Blaze about us prior to the incident. I know how to hack into the computer lab.”
“Unethical but good,” I answered. “Killing two birds with one stone.” Izzie gasped. She was a member of PETA.
“Kira,” I said turning to her. “Do you think you can create a fake screen name and try Garrett on IM?”
“Psht. Done.” She picked at her nails. That girl was a genius at IM seduction.
“But no sexting,” I warned.
She rolled her eyes. “I learned my lesson on that. Lance McGill forwarded my messages to the entire school, remember?”
I did. I had been in home ec with Aiden one afternoon last year when he burst out laughing. At first, he wouldn’t say why as I continued to sew our latest project. Turned out, Kira’s, um … desires were onscreen for the entire world to see. And I’ll admit, they were kind of freaky.
I put my hands on my hips through the rungs of my crutches. “I’ll set up a stakeout in front of Garrett’s house, but I’ll need someone to drive.”
“I can,” Chloe spoke up, sounding anxious. I looked across the lawn at her cute blond hairstyle and perfectly fitted uniform, and I almost said okay. Until I saw her eyes—her dark, black-lined eyes. This was Chloe. And people didn’t change. Even Aiden didn’t change.
“Izzie,” I called, ignoring Chloe’s offer. “Can you drive? I’ll watch the house while you listen to the locker-room chatter on the wire. Luckily, they haven’t found the bug we planted under the bench.”
Izzie shrugged and then seemed to rethink it and smiled. “Definitely,” she said. “Hey, maybe the guys will mention us.”
Leona laughed. “Oh, I’m sure they’ll mention us. I’m just not sure you’ll like what they have to say. Then again, maybe they’ll mention the bastard that turned us in.”
I shifted on my cast. Leona was heck bent on finding the person who had caused our compromised position. I might have to keep an eye on the situation for potential overzealousness. “Still nothing from Chris?” I asked her quietly.
She shook her head. “I don’t care anyway. He’s a tool.”
I knew she didn’t mean it, but maybe it made things easier if she thought of him that way. Maybe it was what I needed to do about Aiden.
I looked back at my squad. “Listen, girls. I want you all to try to stay positive. I know we’re going through a tough time right now, but just remember: We have each other.”
“That’s all we have,” Leona mumbled. “We’re like a virus at school and people are staying away.”
“Viruses are totally gross,” Kira said, looking around for agreement. Most of the girls nodded. Well, except for Kayla Anders. She’d had mono last year. It was an unfortunate case of over-kissing.
I asked Leona for a time check and then decided we had better get started on practice if we wanted to have anything put together for ESPN. First, we had to go over the basics, just to make sure we were in sync. Just to make sure Chloe fit in.
I dropped my crutches down at my side and then kept my knee bent so that my stance was near normal. I motioned for the girls to get in formation, and when they were, I clapped my hands. “Ready? Okay.”
I started the cheer and narrowed my eyes as Chloe was able to mimic every cheer move, every tone fluctuation. That rattlesnake had amazing control of her diaphragm. I pushed harder, doing everything one legged. I was able to raise my cast boot, but not nearly as high as normal. I made up for it with voice projection.
But soon, I was being drowned out by Chloe’s voice. Enunciating every word. Clipping all her vowels. Argh!
In a moment of frustration, I felt the weight of my cast shift me to my side. I hopped, trying to catch myself, but it was too late. Soon I was falling sideways and landing hard on my hip in the lush, backyard grass. Ouch.
The girls squealed, and I felt them surround me as I tried to sit up. Kryptonite! My ankle was killing me. I must have hit it when I fell.
“Are you okay?” Leona asked, squatting down.
“I’m fine. Let’s keep going.” But even I knew I wasn’t fine. I’m sure my doctor would frown upon cheering while in a cast.
“I don’t know, Tess,” Izzie said, standing over me and twisting a red curl around her finger. “I think maybe you should take it easy today. You did just break your
ankle… .”
I closed my eyes, heat warming my cheeks. I felt embarrassed. Both because I fell and because I wasn’t acting like a strong leader. And if I didn’t right this ship, I’d be out as captain.
“I’ll take you home,” Leona said, getting up and reaching down for my hand. “We’ll pick up practice tomorrow. I mean, might as well. We’re suspended anyway.”
I didn’t glance at Chloe although I could feel her stare on me. She was probably smiling, happy that I was out for today. I was having a really bad day.
Kira walked up, looking me over, her face more concerned than pleased. For a second, I could see the old Kira. The one who trusted me. The one I trusted. But then her eyes went to where my pants had lifted up enough to expose my cast. She gasped.
I followed her stare and saw that she was looking at Joel’s note. Of course, she knew I didn’t write it, but did it matter? I let him write it. She took a step back from me, looking away quickly and seeming to hold her breath. I felt awful.
“You okay?” Leona asked from above me.
I nodded, hearing the squad behind us becoming unfocused. But I couldn’t look away from Kira. I felt like I’d betrayed her. I understood how she felt. She probably felt a lot like I did when Mary Rudick started sleeping with my boyfriend. Even though this situation was completely different, and even though Kira had been completely evil to me, I felt sick with myself.
“They’re losing focus,” Leona said, motioning back toward the squad. She was right. I needed to get my ponytail on straight.
Someone had to take the squad reins, and Leona (although a great cheerleader) wasn’t the Kitten for the job. I knew who could be. I just debated whether or not it would cause more harm than good. “K?” I asked.
“Yeah?” She turned back to me, her icy-blue stare chilling me.
“Will you lead them through the rest of the routine?”
She seemed to choke, looking confused. But then she recovered and nodded.
“Uh … sure.” She looked at Leona who glared at me. “I’d love to.”
“Thanks.”
Kira glanced at the ground, then at the squad. “Well,” she called out to them impatiently. “What are you waiting for? Get in formation!” She clapped her hands together, and the girls fell in line, even Chloe. I might have been a little jealous, but I tried not to think about it as Izzie handed me my crutches.
“Sorry you fell, Tess,” she said. “I know what it’s like to feel out of control.”
I watched her for a second before putting my hand on her shoulder. “I know you do, Iz. And I’m sorry for that.” When she and Sam had started to have problems last month, Izzie fell apart. She seemed even worse now.
She nodded, a look of guilt crossing her otherwise pale face. Then she went back to stand in the cheer line, mimicking Kira’s moves.
“We’ll see you tomorrow, Tessa,” Kira called without looking over. She was completely serious as she worked the arm movements for the squad, taking them through the steps. But at the last second, I saw her lips pull into a smile.
I put one crutch in front of the other and began my way around the house with Leona at my side. I may have lost that battle, but giving in a little might not be so bad. Because I had to admit, I’d missed Kira’s smile.
From: Joel Fletcher <[email protected]>
To: Tessa Crimson <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, October 9, 5:45 PM
Subject: Excited!
Is this lame? Do you think it’s totally ridiculous that I’m e-mailing you fifteen minutes before I’m supposed to pick you up? If so, too bad. I can’t wait to see you and your casted declaration of love to me.
J