No One's Watching by Sandy Green

“There’s a computer camp, too.”
    Dira stared off. “I’m not sure she goes for the geeky types.”
    â€œFrom the little I know about her, I’m not sure that matters.” Candace poked her in the ribs, and they both laughed.
    Shelly’s table was by the window, and she’d surrounded herself with the guys and Amy. I mindlessly piled plates of food on my tray and followed Dira and Candace to a small table near them.
    Amy glanced over her shoulder, her short-cropped hair poking out at all angles from under her green bucket. She bent her moon face close to Shelly’s, who swiveled her head in our direction. Shelly’s dangly earrings swayed like mini chandeliers. I was sure they were talking about me. They snickered. My personal air conditioner turned on high, and I shivered.
    Shelly’s baggy purse hung low on the back of her chair, all patchworky and pink. If I brushed by it, would I be able to pull out her cell phone? Only if my arms were four feet long. They’re long and dangly, but I wished I was Flexi-Girl and could stretch them across the floor, up Shelly’s chair and into her bag. I’d have her cell phone and wouldn’t have to worry about crashing her hot tub party. Seemed like a great idea before. Felt like a big mistake now.
    Blake salted his mashed potatoes and concentrated on chewing.
    I flicked the rim of my hat. Why had I said I liked baseball? I didn’t know anything about it. How could I be interested in it, or anything else, but dance? There was no time. I swirled the iced tea in my glass. The cubes jangled like Shelly’s earrings. I was lost in my own thought movie.
    â€œUh, oh.” Candace elbowed me.
    I blinked. “What?”
    Candace nodded toward the empty table. Empty except for Shelly’s messy tray. “The hot tubbers have left.”

Chapter Seventeen

    I swiped my mouth with a napkin. “I’m ready to go, are you?”
    Candace nodded. “Can we walk you to your room, Dira?”
    â€œI’m not finished.” Dira pointed to my untouched salad. “You gonna eat that?”
    â€œHere.” I slid her my plate. “See you later.”
    Candace stood and picked up her tray. “We’ll let you know how it goes. Take notes on Nicki.”
    They giggled, and Candace and I hurried off to the elevator.
    We hid our bathing suits under the same shorts and shirts we wore to dinner. Candace pulled her hair up in a fluffy bun. We stuffed towels into my backpack because we were pretty sure what we were about to do was illegal and didn’t want to advertise it. Shelly’s physical therapist might have told her she could use the hot tub. I doubted she meant for Shelly to invite a bunch of people to party in it.
    Candace glanced around. “Do you know where the pool is?”
    I adjusted Dira’s hat on my head. “We just need to follow the scent of chlorine.”
    Candace hit the lobby button on the elevator. “Let’s start here.”
    My heart trilled. Everything was working according to plan. We’d see Blake, spoil Shelly’s private party and I’d borrow her cell phone. I patted my backpack.
    â€œWeren’t you supposed to be meeting Blake for rehearsal this evening?”
    â€œNot after he was lured away by Shelly.” I scratched my head under the hat.
    Candace’s smile fell from her lips. “I’m sorry. I thought he was better than that. It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter.” The elevator bell dinged, and we emerged on the lobby level where the cafeteria was closing for the evening.
    Besides, I had a more urgent mission. Get Shelly’s cell phone. The thing was, even if I managed to get her cell phone, she could borrow someone else’s. Nicki said a couple of boys had them. Then what? Sneak into everybody’s dorm room and confiscate their phones? Leave unsigned messages to Mrs.