The Hot List by Hillary Homzie Page B

Maddie.” Dad looked at me expectantly. “Put it on, Sophie.”
    Reluctantly, I took the sweater. Did I have any other choice? I slipped it over my shoulders. Since I’m way broader and taller, it was on the tight side.
    Ava clapped, which surprised me, since I thought she was so into being bored and annoyed unless she was on a horse.
    â€œPerfect,” Maddie said. “It fits you really well.”
    Suddenly, I shivered and my stomach muscles tensed up. But it wasn’t perfect. This was Maddie’s sweater, which matched Nia’s sweater, and it smelled like mango lotion. It smelled exactly like them.

Chapter Fifteen
    I flopped down on my bed.
    I couldn’t fail with Squid.
    There was so much to do over the next month, Squid-wise, and not that much time to do it. In my mind I saw his mullet hair, which was scarily uncombed and the sauce on his superhero T-shirt.
    Ugh.
    There was no doubt about it, I was going to have to do a complete makeover on the boy. I sat by my desk and brainstormed a list to make Squid Hot List–ready.
Do List For Squid
    1) Take Squid to the mall so he can get a look at what’s trendy.
    2) Buy regular, non-superhero shirts.
    3) Buy normal jeans that don’t show the colored bands around his sweat socks.
    4) Buy un-florescent, non–glow-in-the-dark-type shoes.
    5) Be seen with cool people, such as Hot Listers—to up reputation.
    6) Spread the word that he’s hanging with cool types.
    7) Act less goofy.
    8) Act less spazzy and hyper around girls (and guys, too).
    9) Find non–yo-yo playing, non–muddy-footprint-measuring friends.
    10) Get rid of mullet-type hairstyle.
    There was a lot to be done. I decided that I would spread things out and start with the first four items on my list, which meant going to the mall and getting clothes and shoes.
    Over the phone, I explained to Squid that he had some work to do, like acting less hyper around girls and hanging out with people who could help, not hurt, his reputation, and that he needed a style upgrade. I read Squid the list and waited for his reaction. Apparently, I overwhelmed him, as he wasn’t responding. Had I freaked him out? “Squid?”
    â€œYou said you’d get me onto the List, but you didn’t say I’d have to have plastic surgery.”
    â€œI didn’t say anything about plastic surgery. We’re talking some basics.”
    â€œSurgery’s next on your mind. I can tell. I’m a mind reader. And maybe one of those medieval devices, where you’d stretch me to make me longer. Ouch. Okay, I think I’m quitting this Hot List thing.”
    â€œSquid. C’mon. I’ll pay for everything you need at the mall,” I said desperately. “I’ve got a ton of birthday money.”
    â€œHmm, let me think about it.” I could hear him tapping his head. “Think think think think. How much birthday money?”
    â€œTwo hundred dollars.”
    â€œWhoa,” said Squid. “Okay. But I also want a new game for my DS.”
    â€œI don’t think so. I’m not going to spend all of my money.”
    â€œOh, all right.”
    Huzzah! I looked outside my window. The moon was so bright you could see the Rockies almost clearly. “Meet me at the mall. The south entrance right after school tomorrow. I need to be with you to make sure that you don’t buy, like, light-up shoes or Barney pajama tops.We’ve got to make you Hot List–ready right away. We don’t have that much time. One month.”
    Squid made a sizzling sound. “That was me becoming hot.”
    â€œHa-ha,” I said and hung up as Dad popped his head into the room. “That wasn’t Maddie was it?” he asked hopefully.
    â€œNah. It was Nicole and Heather.” Of course it wasn’t, but I wasn’t about to tell my dad that I was speaking to Squid Rodriquez on the phone.
    Dad sat down on the end of my bed. “I know