Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder Page A

left the table.
    â€œIt’s time for another soiree. I want Ellen to ask her dad about having it at their place,” Sylvia said to Hazel. “She’s dragging her feet about it. My patience is wearing thin.”
    â€œOh…That’s too bad,” Hazel said, shifting in her chair.
    So Ellen hasn’t asked her dad about a party, Hazel thought. What is Sylvia doing? Punishing her for it?
    Hazel turned to glance at the jock table. Brandon was in the center, clowning around with some of the others. At the sight of him, Hazel got the feeling that this was about more than the party.
    â€œLet’s talk about happier things.” Sylvia cocked her head and scrutinized Hazel. “You and Mattise? Holding hands? A carnation. And a kiss? Public affection? Is that the way to go?”
    Hazel’s lips parted. She thought for a moment. Sylvia kissed Josh in front of everyone. What was wrong with her and Matty—
    â€œI think it’s a good move,” Carolyn declared. “He’s hot, and he’s on the team.”
    â€œBut is there anybody you’d rather have?” Sylvia asked Hazel. “Because once you start kissing in public, you’re stuck. Although I guess the proper term is committed .”
    â€œI like him,” Hazel murmured. “A lot.”
    â€œIt would be hard to do better,” Carolyn said. “And everyone else has hooked up for the year.”
    â€œUntil the inevitable breakups,” Sylvia added. “But he is one of the best.”
    â€œIf you’re into that sort of thing,” Carolyn put in.
    â€œThen it works,” Sylvia decreed. On either side of her, Carolyn and Megan nodded. “However, Brandon does not work. Not for our Ellen.” She scowled at Ellen’s empty chair. “The sooner she gets that, the better.”
    Hazel frowned. Again, there was something strange about Sylvia’s tone. It was as though she were trying to teach Ellen a lesson.
    But if Ellen decided to date Brandon, was it really any of Sylvia’s business?
    The lunch bell rang and Hazel went to bus her tray. She caught sight of Lakshmi and the others standing in a clump beneath the diversity mural, scanning the crowd.
    They’re looking for me, Hazel realized. But Sylvia had been very clear: she couldn’t be friends with Lakshmi anymore.
    That was a sacrifice Hazel was more than willing to make.
    She took a breath and avoided Lakshmi by using the side door. The PLDs followed her toward the quad.
    Â 
    In chem lab Hazel was donning her goggles when her cell phone vibrated. She fiddled with the end of her carnation while she checked the message.
    It was from Sylvia.
    PLDSLY2PURPLEHAZE: Plan change. C me L8r
    â€œOkay, everyone.” Ms. Carpentier clapped. “Let’s begin today’s experiment.”
    Hazel couldn’t respond now.
    Lakshmi appeared in the doorway. Hazel busied herself putting the phone back so that she couldn’t catch her eye.
    â€œWhere did you get this?” an outraged voice demanded.
    Breona Wu had rushed up to the side of Hazel’s table. She grabbed Hazel’s carnation so tightly that the stem broke.
    â€œHey!” Hazel cried. “That’s mine!”
    As she reached for it, Breona raised it over her head. Her eyes were slits, her lips pulled back so her teeth were showing. “These flowers are for the team! What did you do? Steal it?”
    â€œExcuse me?” Hazel asked.
    â€œBreona? Hazel?” Ms. Carpentier called from the front of the room. “Is there a problem?”
    Breona shook the flower toward the teacher. “She stole this!”
    Ms. Carpentier raised her brows. “Hazel, is that Breona’s?”
    â€œNo,” Hazel said. “It was a present from—”
    â€œMatty Vardeman gave it to her,” Lakshmi said loudly, half rising from her stool. “I saw them. At her locker.”
    Hazel and Breona both turned to stare at Lakshmi in