Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder

she replied, and they both chuckled.
    â€œOkay. I’m going,” he said.
    He kissed her cheek, then he turned and walked away, looking so good in his jeans and jacket.
    He turned back and grinned at her. “See you later?”
    â€œScram!” she joked.
    Then finally he did.
    Â 
    Hazel drifted through her classes that morning, unable to focus on anything. Every time she closed her eyes, she could feel Matty kissing her.
    She glided along, smiling a secret smile. No one knew what she was thinking about. Who she was thinking about.
    Matty Vardeman. Hazel Vardeman. It was silly to think about. But it definitely sounded nice.
    School was a tangled mess of information, exercises, and quizzes, but all she wanted was to revel in everything that had happened: her induction into the PLDs, Matty. If this was what selling your soul to the Devils got you, she was glad that she’d signed on the dotted line.
    Matty met her at the lunch bell and they kissed some more before strolling across the quad to the cafeteria. The sky was clear; it was the kind of warm, sunny day people paid to live in Southern California for.
    The other four PLDs were already at their table.
    â€œYou all always sit together. Maybe sometime it could be just us?” Matty asked as he and Hazel drew near, hand in hand.
    â€œThat would be nice.”
    She smiled, then wondered if that was some kind of official no-no. No one, not even Sylvia, sat elsewhere at lunch. Maybe it was one of the PLD rules.
    They reached the table. Matty said, “Hello, ladies.”
    â€œHi,” Sylvia said sharply, not looking at him. Her gaze was fastened on Ellen. There was tension in her voice. This was not the time for leisurely chat.
    â€œUm, later,” Hazel said quietly. She squeezed Matty’s hand.
    â€œOkay.” He paused a moment, then bent down to kiss her.
    Loud smooching sounds came from the jock table. Matty smiled, then strolled over to his friends. Stephan hit him on the shoulder. Josh and Brandon touched fists with him.
    It was official. Matty had made sure everyone knew that he and Hazel were an item. Nothing could bring Hazel down now.
    â€œHeads up. Someone’s in a mood,” Megan drawled as Hazel took her seat. She gestured with her head at Ellen, who did not look up.
    â€œMegan,” Sylvia reproved, sitting back in her chair. “I told you, it’s all good.” She smiled directly at Hazel. “How are you?”
    â€œGreat.” She held out her carnation. “Look.”
    â€œAh. The cheerleaders give them to the guys. It’s all very symbolic, I’m sure.”
    Hazel put it down on the table. “It is.”
    â€œOh, Hazel. That’s so sweet,” Ellen gushed.
    Hazel smiled her thanks.
    â€œWell, it’s Friday,” Sylvia announced.
    â€œGame day,” Hazel concurred.
    â€œAnd…?” Sylvia turned her head. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and Hazel realized what she was getting at: Sylvia was wearing the trademark PLD purple scrunchie. The four girls wore them every Friday. Another tradition upheld since middle school. They all had them on, even Ellen, although she’d had to hold back her hair with some clips to manage it.
    With a flourish, Sylvia held up a purple scrunchie.
    â€œPour toi,” she said to Hazel. Hazel reached for it, and Sylvia playfully pulled it out of her grasp. “This is your last chance, Haze. The scrunchie damns you for all eternity. So, you in?”
    â€œOui,” Hazel said happily. She took the scrunchie and made a ponytail. She turned her head, displaying it. “How’s that?”
    â€œPerfect,” Sylvia said. “To Hazel!”
    Megan and Carolyn raised their drink cups. Ellen lifted hers as well.
    Then Sylvia glanced down at her water bottle, which was empty. “Ellen? Be a dear and get me another, would you?”
    Ellen’s smile fell. She hesitated. Then she pushed back her chair and