CHAPTER TWELVE
“YOU DID WHAT?” I DEMANDED, MY MOUTH HANGing open as I stared at Izzie while she drove.
“I thought they could help,” Izzie said, her face puffy from crying. She’d just admitted that she’d solicited help from the fake SOS in order to find out if Sam had been cheating on her!
“Izzie, why would you do that? Don’t you remember what happened when I spied on Aiden?” If not, the small scar on my forehead should be a reminder.
“I know! It was stupid,” she said, tears racing down her cheeks. “But what am I supposed to do? He said he wanted to take a break. Why would he need a break if there wasn’t another girl involved?”
I shook my head. Okay, I knew the stats. And I knew it was not only possible, but probable that Sam had met someone else, but that didn’t mean Izzie had the right to spy on him. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” I said softly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. “But Sam broke up with you. So technically, if he’s seeing someone else, it’s not cheating.”
Izzie whipped her head toward me so fast, the car swerved. “You think he’s seeing someone else?”
“Hey,” I said, pointing at the windshield. “Watch the road.” I was thankful to see the multiplex just ahead. “I’m not saying he is, but I just don’t want you doing something crazy out of anger.”
Izzie sniffled, resuming her gaze on the road as she turned into the movie-theater parking lot.
“That copy-Kitten can’t be trusted, Izzie. You should know that. I promise we’ll work through this. You just need to be patient.”
Izzie nodded and parked her car before turning off the engine. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “Just because I’m desperate, it doesn’t mean I can get in bed with the enemy. You know, like you did with Christian.”
My face stung and I turned quickly to look out the passenger window. Even if Izzie didn’t mean it as an insult, her words crushed me.
Izzie looked at me, her green eyes tired and sad. “I’m sorry that I didn’t come to you first, Tess,” she murmured. “But I needed a captain. I needed a leader.”
I nodded in agreement. But after the obvious disarray of the squad, I wasn’t sure if she was following the right captain anymore.
When we got inside, Kira hadn’t arrived yet, but Leona was waiting in front of the concession stand, tapping one size-nine sneaker in annoyance. The bright neon lights across the ceiling flashed blue, green, and red across her glasses. Chris Townsend emerged from the line behind her with two Cokes. He smiled widely at me, and I swallowed hard. I was so not ready for this.
“Chris is so cute,” Izzie whispered, her minty breath washing over the side of my face. “And you guys will look totally dreamy together.”
I twitched my nose as I waved halfheartedly to Chris, watching as he and Leona made their way over to us. Chris’s blond hair was perfectly messy, and his button-down shirt made his blue eyes stand out fantastically. And sure, he was cute enough—but he wasn’t Aiden.
“Hey, Tessa,” he said, pausing in front of me.
“Hello, Chris. You look nice.” I tried to smile.
His face brightened. “Yeah? Well…um…you look nice too.” He handed me one of the Cokes, then slid his now-empty hand in his pocket; then, as if rethinking it, he ran it through his hair instead.
“Nice shirt,” Leona mumbled from next to me, adjusting her glasses as she looked over Chris, then turned away.
He glanced at her. “Oh. Thanks.” Then he looked back to me. “So…” He let the word hang there, but I didn’t know what to say! This date wasn’t my idea. My fingers began to tremble, and I blinked quickly, chewing on my lip.
“I’m here!” Kira announced from behind us, and I turned to see her, walking up, waving her hands wildly. “Sorry I’m late.” I immediately felt better. Waiting for Kira could have been an all-night affair.
As she passed behind Chris, she looked him over (pausing to get a good look at his rear), then gave me a big thumbs-up. I laughed.
Just then, the glass doors of the cinema swung open, and Joel came running in, skidding to a stop on the tile floor when he saw us all gathered in the lobby.
“And where were you?” Kira asked, just as he opened his mouth to talk. Joel’s eyes flicked to mine, then back toward her.
“Sorry. My dad needed to put the car—”
“Whatev,” she said, waving her hand. “I had to get a ride from my mother because you weren’t answering your phone. I’m really unhappy.” Kira pulled her glossy lips into a pout. I looked at Leona, who groaned next to me. This was awfully uncomfortable.
“Wow, Kira. You’re so pleasant. No wonder he didn’t answer the phone.” Leona laughed, but Kira spun around so fast that it actually made us jump back a little.
“Shut your stupid mouth, Leona,” she snapped. “And stay out of it.”
My eyes widened. I’d never seen Kira lose it like this. It wasn’t like Leona’s harsh comments were something new.
“Whoa,” Leona said, holding up her hands. “Back off, Dragon Lady. I was just being observant.” When Kira seemed to calm down, Leona shrugged. “And besides, getting called stupid by you is almost like a compliment.”
“Okay, okay,” Joel said, stepping over to stand between my friends. “Keep it up, and you’ll both be in time-out.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Leona said, walking away toward the movie entrance to check her phone.
I glanced over at Joel to find him grinning at me. His crooked smile made me sigh. I was glad to be here. Even if I was on a tragically misguided date, it was nice to be around friends.
“Do you want some popcorn?” Chris asked, his deep voice startling me as he touched my arm.
I glanced over at the concession stand. “Sure. No butter, though.” Because those five pounds weren’t going to lose themselves.
“What?” Joel asked, shaking his head. “You have to get butter on it.” He paused, looking me over. “You’re not one of those diet girls, are you?” He leaned in to whisper. “After all, I saw you inhale an entire pizza.”
“Half!”
“And a Frappuccino.”
Ooh…he had me there. I glanced at the group, glad Kira hadn’t heard. Suddenly I felt like everyone was sizing me up. Literally.
“Tessa needs to get in shape before she comes back to the squad,” Kira said, fluffing her curls and smoothing her lips together.
Joel scoffed as he pointed to me. “You’re joking, right?” He glanced toward my…er…date. “Chris, do you believe that shit?”
“I think she looks great,” Chris said, his hand grazing mine as he stood next to me. I gulped.
“Thanks.” I tried to sound upbeat, but the idea of sitting in a darkened theater with Chris was making my stomach butterflies go from anxious to nauseous.
“Now get this girl some butter.” Joel smiled at me. “And see if they have any gummy bears. I bet she likes gummy bears.”
Hm. It just so happened that he was right.
“What about me?” Kira asked, her arms sliding around Joel’s waist from behind. “Anything you want,” he murmured over his shoulder to her, his voice low, sexy.
I felt queasy. I remembered when Aiden and I were like that. Oblivious to the people around us—just in love. I sniffled.
“Tessa.” Leona called from across the lobby. She was standing with Izzie, who even from here looked like a complete wreck. “Let’s go get seats. Now.”
I glanced at Chris, who nodded.
“See you in there,” Joel said with a smile before taking Kira’s hand and walking toward the concessions.
We parked ourselves in the back row of the near-empty theater and tried to answer the movie trivia. After a few minutes, I took out my phone and called Aiden’s dorm room, but all I got was his voice mail. I hung up.
“Stop calling him,” Leona murmured from the seat next to me. “You’re trying to look like you’re on a date.” She wasn’t even looking in my direction, but I nodded anyway.
I heard loud giggling as the theater doors opened. I turned in my seat to see Kira being followed in by both Joel and Chris. She looked completely confident. The opposite of how I felt.
“She looks so pretty,” I said.
“She always looks nice for Joel,” Izzie replied.
As Kira made her way down the aisle, Leona got up and moved to the far corner by the wall (at least four seats away from Kira) and Izzie slid over next to her. Chris carefully balanced a tub of popcorn—with butter running down its side—as he sat next to me, and Kira dropped down on my other side. Joel paused before sinking down next to Kira.
“I’ve had the worst day,” Kira said, turning to me as she fanned herself with her hand. “Mary has been calling me nonstop.”
“Really?” My back flinched. “What about now?”
“You.”
I widened my eyes. “I told her to back off,” I said. “Remember, Kira, she isn’t part of the squad anymore. You don’t have to listen to her.” Just thinking about Mary’s betrayal was making my blood boil.
Kira reached over for a handful of popcorn. “I know,” she said. “First she was rambling on about college, and honestly, Tess, you know how much I hate talking about the academic system. Mostly she wanted to hear your cheer status.”
Seemed like I was the talk of the squad lately, only no one was talking to me. “And what about…other things?” I asked, not sure what Kira had updated her on regarding SOS. Just then I noticed how Joel was leaning forward, listening to our conversation. He was being a bit of a snoop. “We’ll discuss this after the movie,” I whispered to Kira, leaning back in my chair.
The lights dimmed as the movie started, and there was rustling as everyone got situated in their seats. I wasn’t particularly excited to see this flick. I mean, I was always happy to watch attractive movie stars display their muscles in the name of action, but now it only made me think of Aiden. And that time when I stabbed him.
“I was wondering,” Chris whispered, his breath reeking of Junior Mints. “Are you still coming to my party next weekend after this? I want you to.”
There was a fluttering in my stomach. Sure, this movie could possibly already be considered a date, but now Chris was asking me on a second date. And although I was flattered, I was also scared senseless! I wasn’t even sure that I liked Chris.
“Um…”
“We’ll all be there, Chris,” Leona said for me, leaning over in her seat to look down the aisle at us. “Thanks for asking.”
“I have the perfect costume,” Izzie cooed, clapping.
“Great,” Chris said, glancing between us. Then he leaned back in his seat and placed his arm around me, kneading my shoulder with his fingers. I thought about moving, but I didn’t want to be rude. Instead I picked up a handful of over-buttered popcorn and shoved it into my mouth.
“Oh.” Kira jumped from next to me, startling me.
I looked over as she fished her cell phone out of her purse and glanced at the number. She bit her lip, bending forward in her seat. “It’s Mary,” she whispered.
“Do you want me to talk to her?” I asked. Because I had a few choice words for her.
Kira looked over her shoulder at me, as if surprised that I’d ask. “No. I’ll handle it.” She clicked the phone on and said, “Hold on,” into the phone as she got up. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered to Joel, patting his leg as she stood up.
He nodded, still staring ahead, obviously riveted by the scene in the movie where the hero gets the girl. In bed.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Chris murmured, standing up. “I’ll be right back?” I wasn’t sure why he asked it as a question. Like I was going to say no?
“I’ll come with,” Leona called, getting up to scoot past me, following Kira and Chris down the movie aisle.
“Now?” I watched as the three left, illuminating the room with the hallway light. I heard a small squeak and looked over at Izzie. She was shifting uncomfortably in her seat like a five-year-old. “Seriously?” I asked.
“Uh- huh.” I shook my head, pulling my legs up in the seat so that she could squeeze past me. Were they ditching me on purpose, or was it a coincidence that Izzie’s and Leona’s bladder filled at the exact moment that Mary Rudick called? Hm.
Once they were gone, I glanced over at Joel. He was sitting a seat away, biting his nails as he watched the movie, his legs spread out in front of him like he was lounging on a couch.
He looked sideways at me once and then did a double take. “Hey,” he said, and smiled. It was a little dark, but I did notice the way his hazel eyes sparkled with the reflection of the movie screen.
Joel turned in the seat and crossed his legs, facing me. “Interesting company. Are your friends playing matchmaker?”
My smiled faded. “Yep. Awesome, right?”
“Not really.”
I laughed. At least someone agreed with me.
“Chris’s nice, though,” he said, glancing at the screen as someone got shot. “A little bland if you ask me, but nice.”
“I didn’t ask,” I responded.
“Very good, Crimson. I see you’re working on your sarcasm.”
I laughed and we both turned back to the movie, immersed in a long scene involving backward car chases and exploding gas stations. Eventually Joel exhaled loudly and I looked over at him.
“Man,” he said, shifting in his seat and glancing at the door. “Did they forget about us or what?”
“Probably got sidetracked by the bright lights and candy boxes.”
Joel looked at me, his mouth hanging open. He apparently hadn’t expected that zinger, but he looked amused.
“Sorry.” I shook my head. “I’m going overboard. I’m just not really feeling super-upbeat today.”
“If it makes you feel better, despite this cool exterior, I’m suffering from some severe social anxiety disorder right now.” He paused and then leaned over to whisper, “But I promise that if anyone asks, I’ll tell them you were peppy beyond comprehension.”
Aw. That was awful sweet of him. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Joel rested the back of his head against the seat, watching me. “Oh,” he said, holding up his finger. “Speaking of candy…”
Joel reached into his pocket and pulled out a box of gummy bears. “Just for you,” he said, shaking the box temptingly before tearing into it.
“You’ve been keeping gummies in your pocket this whole time?” I asked.
He widened his eyes like it was a stupid question. “Of course.”
I shook my head and turned back to the screen. After a second, he nudged my arm. “Here,” he said, holding out the box. I put out my palm and he poured a few in. But then he paused and reached down to pinch some out. “Sorry,” he said, popping them into his mouth before I could yank my hand away. “I get to keep all the red ones.”
I giggled just as Kira appeared at the end of the aisle. “Hey!” She looked between Joel and me huddled together, fighting over the gummy bears.
Joel straightened in his seat and I shoved the handful of bears into my mouth, making my teeth stick together so I wouldn’t have to talk. Besides, I might have been a little ticked at being cut out of the Smitten Kittens’ loop. Again.
When Kira got down the aisle and sat next to me, she lowered her head in my direction. “Izzie’s having a mini-meltdown in the bathroom,” she whispered.
“What?” I mumbled through a mouth full of bears.
“It’s okay; Leona’s there.” She looked down the aisle. “Where’s Chris?”
“Bathroom.” Actually it’d been a while, but I didn’t want to really consider it.
Kira crinkled her nose, then took the box of gummy bears out of Joel’s hand and poured a bunch into her hand. “It’s fine,” she said to me between bears. “You can ride with me—and after I drop Joel off, we’ll set up the…you know.”
She was so covert.
I nodded, wondering what had gone on outside the movie doors. All I knew was that Kira was here and Izzie was crying in the bathroom being comforted by Leona, of all people.
Just then the door opened and Chris came in, holding a package of gummy bears and beaming at me. I heard Joel snicker from down the aisle. As Chris sat down, he offered them to me.
“Want some?” he asked.
I turned and smiled politely at him. “No, thanks. I’m full.” I felt Kira look at me, but by the time I glanced over, she was snuggled next to Joel with her head on his shoulder.
There was a small pang in my back, but I thought it away and tried to focus on the movie. I was tired of being insignificant. I wanted some power back. Or at least, whatever power I was willing to take.
(CODE PINK) SOS INTER-KITTEN COMMUNICATION
Dear Smitten Kittens,
This is a reminder that we are on high alert. You should not, in any way, try to contact the copy-Kitten without SOS approval. Even for emotional support.
Any Kitten found to be consorting with the enemy will face suspension.
If you have any questions, please use the Code Pink hotline at 555-0101. Do NOT make any communications on the SOS database or e-mail lines.
Keep smiling,
Leona ?