So Many Boys

by Suzanne Young

  Chris smiled at me. “Well, I’m here for you if you wanna talk,” he said, backing away, his sneakers squeaking on the linoleum floor.

  I nodded, not sure if he was trying to be comforting or trying to ask me out. Seemed that since I’d become single, there were a lot of guys trying to “comfort” me. But they didn’t understand that Aiden and I were still figuring out our relationship.

  “Take your seats,” Ms. Lipton said as she stomped into the room wearing her leather combat boots. She had short, spiky black hair and a closet full of flannels. She was pretty but in desperate need of some lipstick. Still, I enjoyed her class.

  I sat down at the wood-top desk and folded my hands in front of me, thinking over what Leona had said the day before. Was I home when someone broke in, asleep in my bed while an intruder tiptoed around my house? I shivered.

  “Ms. Crimson?” Ms. Lipton asked. I glanced up quickly only to meet her very stern expression.

  “Yes?”

  “You were mumbling,” she said, squinting her dark eyes. “We have a test—are you unprepared?”

  I gasped. Of course I was prepared. What a silly question. “I studied,” I answered, trying to flash a winning smile. But by the expression on her face, I could tell I was unconvincing.

  After another second of scrutiny, she nodded and hopped off her desk to grab a stack of papers that was sitting on its wood surface. She counted out the tests row by row, and we passed them backward as usual. When Ralph Moss turned around to give me my test, he grinned. “How’s it going, Sex Kitten?” he asked.

  Gross. I’d caught his dimpled rear…well, I’d seen his dimpled rear through the back windshield of his Bronco two years ago. He was cheating on his girlfriend with a foreign exchange student from Brazil. But I was pretty sure the only reason Magdalena was in that truck was because she didn’t speak English. Ralph was a tool of epic proportions.

  “I’m not on the squad anymore, Ralph,” I said as politely as possible. No need to feed into his negativity. “And besides, it’s Smitten.”

  “Not what I heard,” he said with a laugh before turning around.

  Sigh. That joke had gotten old. No one ever actually came out and accused me of anything scandalous—my sources were secondhand (aka: Kira).

  As I turned to pass the test behind me to Megan Wright, she smiled. “Don’t listen to Ralph. He’s an idiot.” She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and rolled her eyes in his direction. “Remember when he cheated on Jessica with Maggie Jimenez?”

  “I think so.” Of course I remembered. I’d seen Maggie’s entire anatomy and physiology and captured it on film. Good gravy! It’d just occurred to me that the copy-Kitten had highly sensitive information. There was more at stake than just our reputations.

  Megan nodded. “It was totally weird. You know the only reason he was able to hook up with Maggie was because she didn’t understand English. If she did, she would have known that he was a complete butthead.” I laughed. My thoughts exactly.

  “Ladies, do you mind?” Ms. Lipton asked, tapping her black boot on the shiny classroom floor.

  “Sorry,” I answered, turning back around. I didn’t like being scolded.

  “By the way,” Megan whispered from behind me. “The cheer squad’s not nearly as good now that you’re gone. Caught their practice the other day, and their cheers were pretty lame. You really rocked as captain. Way more original.”

  I pressed my lips into a smile and glanced down at the sheet on my desk. It was sweet of her to say, but my stomach dropped. I missed the squad, being a part of something. Dismissing the thought, I looked closer at my test. I apparently had other problems to think about because none of the questions on my test looked even remotely familiar. I rubbed my eyes and checked it again. Nope. Not a clue.

  My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. For a second, my heart sped up, but then I remembered that it wasn’t the SOS phone—it was just mine. I hadn’t gotten used to that yet. With a cautionary glance toward Ms. Lipton, I slid my pink cell out of my pocket and looked at the incoming number. I didn’t recognize the area code.

  I clicked the phone off and slipped it back into my jeans, turning back to my test. Honestly, had I even read Death of a Salesman? It sounded tragic.

  “Ms. Crimson?”

  I looked up, startled by Ms. Lipton’s voice. She was sitting at her desk, staring at me. Next to her was a freshman I barely recognized, clutching a slip of white paper. He handed it to her and walked out.

  “It’s from Principal Pelli,” my teacher said. “He wants to see you.” She pursed her lips as if the next part disgusted her in unspeakable ways. “You can come in during lunch to finish the test.”

  “Really?” That was excellent news! I’d be studying all through the morning. Hm, where could I get CliffsNotes at this time of day?

  “Meow,” Ralph Moss said as I stood up.

  “Moss, I’m beating your ass after school,” Chris Townsend called from across the room. I smiled a little. It was nice of him to stick up for me.

  “Enough, gentlemen.” Ms. Lipton shook her head.

  I shoved my pen into the front pocket of my backpack and grabbed my test, handing it off to Ms. Lipton.

  She took it, her face tightening at the sight of my blank page. Ms. Lipton rolled her eyes and handed me the hall pass. “See you at lunch, Ms. Crimson.”

  I made my way out the classroom door and into the deserted hallway. I was a little creeped out. The corridor was empty, but I couldn’t shake that paranoid feeling. That feeling of being watched. Having someone break into your house will do that to a person.

  I wrapped my arms around myself and began the long walk to the principal’s office, listening to the echo of my footsteps.

  “Hey, prez.”

  I twirled around to see Chloe Ferril hang her dark leather jacket in her locker. Immediately I was reminded of my vow to investigate her. The corner of my mouth twitched.

  “Chloe.” I nodded in her direction.

  Since last year, her style had gone from vixen to vampire. She dressed in goth clothes, even going so far as to paint her ragged fingernails bloodred. But I couldn’t complain. At least her breasts were covered up now.

  She smirked. “How’s Aiden?”

  I nearly hissed. “He’s great. Thanks for asking.” She knew it got under my skin when she inquired about my ex. That was probably why she did it every time she saw me. Which, thankfully, wasn’t very often.

  Chloe laughed, tilting her head so that her smooth blonde hair flowed over one shoulder. “I’m glad to hear that. Tell him I said science isn’t the same without him, okay?”

  “Sure.” I most certainly would not.

  She smiled and slammed her locker shut before traipsing off in the opposite direction, her boots thudding on the hall floor.

  “I’ll get right on that,” I mumbled as she walked away. Well, she definitely shot up on my suspect list. I made a mental note of her locker number and decided that I’d pick the lock after school and see if she was hiding anything inside there. Then maybe tonight I would take a drive by her house.

  I pulled my lips into a pout. Seeing Chloe today was particularly irksome. At least I didn’t have to deal with Christian. The brother-sister duo would have been a little too much, especially right now.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket again. I exhaled, slightly unnerved by Chloe’s mention of Aiden, and slid out my cell to check the number. It was the same unfamiliar one from before.

  “Hello?” I asked, my eyebrows pulled together.

  “Tessa? Hey, it’s Mary.”

  I squealed. “Mary! How are you?” Mary Rudick was our ex-captain and the founder of SOS. She was, like, the ultimate in pep preservation, so she’d called at the perfect moment. “I haven’t talked to you in forever!” We barely spoke now that she was going to school in California.

  “I know,” she apologized, her voice raspy but upbeat as always. “I’ve been going crazy with these courses. College. Is. Supe
r-hard.”

  “That’s what Aiden tells me.”

  “Aiden? He—I mean, I thought Kira told me you two broke up.”

  “Sort of,” I said, my stomach turning at the mention of it. “But we’re…um, anyway, he goes to Washington State now. He’s always studying.”

  “Oh, well, that’s good,” she said, then paused. “I’ve been there a few times. It’s a beautiful campus.”

  I frowned. “I’ve never been up there.” At that, I wondered why none of my sessions with Aiden had taken place on campus. Hm. I’d have to ask him if I could come visit.

  “Actually,” Mary said, sounding suddenly serious. “I was wondering if you had a sec. I wanted to talk with you about something.”

  Even though I loved to talk cheer, there was the pesky matter of the note in my hand from Principal Pelli’s office. “Do you think I could call you when I get to lunch?” I asked, reaching behind me to rub at my back muscle. “I’m at school, and Principal Pelli just summoned me to the office.”

  “Are you in trouble?” Mary asked.

  “Don’t think so. Probably just a new student to shadow me or something.” I swallowed hard, remembering the last time a new student came to this school. He ended up with his tongue in my mouth. Gross. “But I’d love to catch up,” I added into the phone, shaking the uncomfortable memory.

  “For sure,” Mary said. “It’s…no big deal. I just wanted to touch base. I’ve missed you girls and I couldn’t get through on the SOS phone, so I thought I’d try your cell.”

  My heart skipped a beat. None of us had told Mary that we’d dissolved SOS. When she went to school here, she’d put her all into SOS. In fact, nearly every detail of the society came from her. She might freak if she found out we stopped without consulting her, and, well, we didn’t want to disappoint her.

  “Sounds great,” I said, gnawing at the corner of my bottom lip. “The squad will be stoked to talk to you.” And they would. I’d just have to make sure they kept it short and sweet. I wouldn’t want Mary’s college workload to be impaired by stress. And I certainly didn’t want her getting wind of this copy-Kitten nonsense. After all, her rep was on the line too.

  “Talk soon,” she sang.

  I took a deep breath and shoved my phone back into my pocket. This was a very delicate situation, one I’d have to take charge of. Whatever we did, we’d have to act fast. And most importantly, we’d need to keep it quiet.

  When I entered the front office, the smell of paper and potpourri immediately struck me. The dark-haired, middle-aged secretary behind the desk waved. She was great like that. Total spirit addict.

  “Morning, Tessa. How are you?” Her desk tag said Mrs. Lambert, but she let all of the students call her Peggy. Unfortunately a few people called her Piggy behind her back, but I always made sure to correct them. There was no excuse for unwarranted rude behavior.

  “I’m doing very well,” I said, smiling. “Thanks for asking. Principal Pelli sent for me?” I handed her the note and reached up to adjust the ribbon of my ponytail, stopping when I realized that the ribbon wasn’t there. I instead smoothed out my hair in one nervous movement.

  “Oh, right.” Peggy snapped her fingers. “He wanted to talk to you about homecoming.”

  “Homecoming?” Perspiration was beginning to gather under my arms, which was a disturbing development. I’d never had perspiration problems before. “Why me?”

  “Because you’re head of the Washington High welcoming committee. If it’s a problem, I’m sure he can call Kira—”

  “No,” I interrupted. “I’m still the president of the homecoming committee. He’s right. Sorry.” I didn’t want to burden Kira with anything more and hey, at least I was still in charge of something. “He’s expecting me?” I asked.

  Peggy reached up to put the end of her pen between her teeth. “Yeah, you can go in.” She nodded toward his door.

  “Thanks,” I tried to sound perky. I walked across the carpet, and just before I opened his glass door, Peggy called out to me.

  “Tessa?”

  “Yes?”

  “The squad’s not quite the same without you.” She looked nostalgic. I remembered her at the games last year, front row, painted face. My cheeks warmed as I met her small eyes.

  “Thanks,” I murmured, dropping my head as I turned to walk into the principal’s office.

  SOS NEW POLITICIES

  Dear Clients,

  As a matter of safety, SOS has decided to take our investigations public. In the past, our services have always been confidential, but we do not feel that exposing infidelity privately has been an effective deterrent to cheaters.

  For the protection of all girls, the Naughty List will now be released to the public. It will be posted on our new blog at www.thecheaterreports.blogspot.com. There will also be updates, pictures, and videos available for viewing.

  Although our identities are still confidential, our services are not. So spread the word. SOS is stomping out heartbreaking countywide.

  And remember, cheaters never win. Especially with SOS on the case!

  Keep kicking ass,

  SOS ☺

  SOS

  www.thecheaterreport.blogspot.com

  Text: 555-1863

  Exposing Cheaters for Over Three Years

  CHAPTER SIX

  “HAVE A SEAT, TESSA.” PRINCIPAL PELLI MOTIONED to the boxy wooden chair in front of his desk. I’d been a little nervous before, but now, actually being in his office made me very uneasy. The return of SOS had frayed my nerves.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, sounding guilty even though I was sure I’d done nothing wrong. At least, nothing lately.

  “It’s about the squad.” The principal took off his glasses and began cleaning them with the white handkerchief from his desk. “We have a problem.”

  Lucy in the sky with diamonds! Did he know about the copy-Kitten? Did he know what we’d been doing for the past two years? “Problem?” I squeaked.

  Principal Pelli nodded, slipping his glasses back on his nose. “I’ve sat in on a few of the Smitten Kittens’ practices, Tessa. Things are not looking good. Coach Taylor is concerned.”

  “He shouldn’t be. Kira is completely capable and—”

  “I know she’s your friend.” Principal Pelli held up his hand to stop me. “But last routine, they had to call an ambulance after Izzie fell during a lift.”

  “Human pyramid,” I corrected.

  He raised his eyebrows.

  “Sorry. You were saying?” I wasn’t sure what exactly Principal Pelli wanted from me. I wasn’t the captain.

  “Listen, Tessa,” he said in a quiet voice. “The squad has been very popular over the last few years, bringing in tons of revenue from the games. Lord knows the team wasn’t attracting the crowds,” he mumbled.

  The Wildcats had been on a three-year losing streak until they’d made Aiden point guard for his senior year. I smiled. He was so athletically gifted.

  “But after last season’s playoff debacle,” Principal Pelli continued, “things haven’t been the same. The Smitten Kittens don’t inspire the image we want for the school, and they definitely aren’t preselling many tickets. Part of that is due to your hasty exit, and part is due to Kira’s inexperience. If I don’t see some changes quickly, I’m going to have to ask her to step down.” He paused before delivering the final blow. “I need your help.”

  My face grew hot as embarrassment washed over me. It was one thing for my personal trainer and hairdresser to know about my meltdown in center court last year, but it was something completely different for the principal—the education chief of staff—to call what happened a debacle. I mean, he was right. But it still stung.

  “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).