Pretty Little Devils (4 page)

Hazel worked her way into the kitchen, back toward the counter where she had spotted a bowl of guacamole and tortilla chips. She was about to scoop up some guacamole when someone bumped into her from behind. She dropped the chip into the bowl.

“Hey!” She laughed and whirled around. It was Brandon.

“Hey, yourself,” he said. “Do you know where Ellen is?”

Hazel looked over his shoulder. “There,” she said nodding toward the doorway. Ellen caught her eye and came up beside them. She was frowning. Upset.

“What's wrong?” Hazel asked.

“Charlie's worried because we can't find his cat, Isotope,” she said, her brow creased with concern. “Hazel, have you seen him?”

She shook her head. “No. Did he forget to shut his door or something?”

“He says he didn't. He's always so careful.” Ellen sighed. “I've looked everywhere for that cat.”

“You're such a good sitter,” Brandon said. He wrapped his fingers around Ellen's tiny wrist. “Come on. Maybe he's out back. I can help you look for him.”

Ellen gave him a pained look, but her cheeks went pink. “He doesn't like strangers.”

“I'm not a stranger,” Brandon insisted. “I'm here all the time.”

Hazel took in Ellen's slightly embarrassed expression.

Whoa. Is something going on between Brandon and Ellen?
she wondered.
Everyone knows Brandon is bad news.

Ignoring Brandon's hand, which was still on her arm, Ellen turned to Hazel. “Isotope is an indoor cat. If he got out…” She made a little face. “Charlie doesn't need any more grief. He just lost his mom.”

“Yeah, I heard.” Hazel shook her head. “It's a Siamese, right?”

“Seal point. But yeah. Same look.”

“If I see him, I'll grab him for you.”

Ellen smiled gratefully.

Brandon searched inside his letter jacket for a pack of Marlboros. He slid one out and put it to his lips.

“I could use one of those,” Carolyn said, coming up from behind. She snatched the cigarette from his mouth and then put out her hand. Brandon sighed, handing over the lighter, and pulled out another cigarette for himself. Carolyn gave Hazel a mischievous grin while she lit hers.

“You'll have to excuse me for snapping at you back there,” she said with an exhale of smoke. “You guys just took me by surprise.”

“Oh, um, yeah. No problem.” Hazel waved her hand like it was nothing. “Sorry we burst in like that.”

Brandon squinted at Hazel, trying to place her. “Are you new?” he guessed.

Hazel blinked. Maybe she wasn't popular, but she hadn't been completely invisible for the past two years…had she?

“No, I'm not new. Are you blind?” she shot back.

Brandon gaped, surprised, and waited for her to continue.

“She's Hazel,” Ellen filled in the blanks. “Hazel Stone.”

“I'm in your geometry class,” Hazel reminded him. “We see each other every day.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Brandon sounded almost apologetic. Then he turned to Ellen. “Listen, I do want to help look for the cat.”

Carolyn snickered. “I bet you do.”

“No, I'm serious,” he insisted. “Charlie's a good kid.”

Ellen sighed. “Fine. Come and help me.” She looked at Hazel and Carolyn. “You coming too?”

“Sure.” Carolyn linked arms with Hazel and they went out the back door. One whiff and Hazel understood the allure of “going outside”: this was where everyone went to smoke, probably so there wouldn't be any telltale odor in the house. Hazel had to hand it to the PLDs. They partied, but they were very careful about it.

Brandon and Ellen moved on ahead, greeting a group beside a barbecue. Stephan offered Brandon a joint, but he shook his head.

“Come on. You don't want any, man?” Stephan asked.

“Naw, I'm cool,” Brandon insisted. Stephan glanced at Ellen, who had her arms crossed and was peering into the bushes against the house.

“Aw, I see how it is,” he said. He giggled and making a whipping sound.

“Shut up, man,” Brandon said weakly before steering Ellen away to look for the cat.

Beside Hazel, Carolyn groaned. “God, I wish Stephan would just go home.” They sat down on a bench, just out of range of the group. Carolyn glanced around. “Where's Megan, anyway?”

“I don't know. Why?”

“I want to tell her to stay away from Stephan.
He's
getting loaded and
she's
got PMS and they
do not
get along.”

“Why not?” Hazel asked.

“Long story. Too long for tonight.” Carolyn grinned at her—a slightly tipsy grin. “You having fun?”

“Yeah. A lot.” Hazel smiled back. They were silent for a moment, then Hazel said, “Did you hear Breona got expelled for possession today?”

Carolyn smirked. “Hear about it? Who do you think called it in?”

Hazel's astonishment must have been obvious. Carolyn laughed and nudged her with her elbow. “Hey, zero tolerance. She was the one who brought them to school. You can't blame us for reporting her.”

“Wow,” Hazel said. “That's…harsh.”

“I know, but she deserved it. She's a total dork.” She shot Hazel a look of warning. “Just don't tell anyone it was us.”

“Of course not,” Hazel said.

Carolyn exhaled. “All I can say is thank God she's gone. She has been a total pain forever.”

Ellen and Brandon emerged from the side yard, still hunting around the bushes and calling for the cat. Carolyn shook her head. “And those two…those two are trouble waiting to happen. Brandon is such a user. And Ellen's so sweet.”

No kidding,
Hazel thought.

She was about to say as much when she saw Ellen's face crumple. It looked like she was about to cry. Brandon pulled her close, stroking her back and whispering something. Reassuring her.

“Maybe he's not all bad,” Hazel ventured.

“Pfffft!” Carolyn rolled her eyes at the thought. “Well, enough about them. Let's have some fun.” She pulled Hazel over to the group still huddled by the barbecue. She extended her hand and Stephan passed her a tightly rolled joint. She took a long drag, then offered it to Hazel.

Hazel froze. The others were smiling—rosily, expectantly.

She wanted to fit in, but she didn't want to smoke. Would they bounce her from the party just because she didn't indulge?

Sylvia seemed to prize strong character more than anything. Hazel was willing to gamble that they'd be cool with her choice.

“Not tonight,” she said.

“You sure?” Carolyn asked.

Hazel nodded and Carolyn handed the joint to Trina.

Hazel breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Crisis averted.

She glanced around the yard, half searching for the missing cat and half taking in the scene around her. Absolutely all the cool kids were here and finally—
finally
—she was among them.

Some of the kids even waved hello to her. Had they noticed her at school? Probably not. But now that she was here—now that she was invitation-worthy—all that seemed about to change.

For the first time, Hazel felt like she was on the way up. It was a good feeling, one she hoped wouldn't fade as soon as the party was over.

Hazel gazed upward. The night was chilly, the sky bright and clear. Brookhaven offered stars, something most San Diegans didn't get to see because of all the city lights. Tonight, this party was the center of the universe.

“I think Isotope is just hiding from all the strangers.” Carolyn cut into Hazel's thoughts. “Might as well call off the search.”

Hazel nodded. They broke off from Stephan and the others and Hazel began to mingle, moving through the swirls of conversation. She danced with a guy named Mark and then with Carolyn. Someone passed out monster chocolate chip cookies. Hazel had two. Later in the evening, she found herself with Trina, telling her an old story about Breona getting in trouble in chem lab.

“Ms. Carpentier found the notes she and Jenna Babcock had been writing
in
class. They were writing them in their notebooks so it would look like they were comparing findings or something. There was one that said, ‘Carpentier is a crazy bitch today.'”

Trina started cracking up. “Oh my God!”

“She was so busted. Ms. Carpentier sent her to Clancy,” Hazel went on.

“Maybe she was busted, but have you noticed? She always bounces back. This time won't be any different. She'll be back in school before you know it,” Trina proclaimed. She took a sip of her drink. “She's like a virus. You think you've gotten rid of her, but she just pops back up.”

“A virus?” Hazel laughed.

“Yeah.” Trina snickered. “The flesh-eating kind. And the only thing more dangerous than the Breona virus is Breona mixed with Sylvia Orly. Put them together and you get a supervirus—capable of wiping out everything around it! I don't know what those two have against each other, but it can get ugly.”

“Seriously,” Hazel agreed. For a moment, she thought about telling Trina that the PLDs had narced on Breona. Then Hazel remembered: she'd promised Carolyn she'd keep her lips sealed, and she wanted to keep her promise.

“What's going on out here?” a deep voice called. Hazel turned toward the sliding glass doors.

Oh. My. God.
She blinked. There, walking out into the backyard, was Matty Vardeman.

He looked amazing in his letter jacket, black jeans, and a black T-shirt. His faint smile was too incredibly sexy, and his dark eyes were dancing with amusement as he took in his surroundings.

“Whoa,” Trina said under her breath. “New-guy alert. He is so hot.”

Hazel licked her lips, aware that her mouth had gone dry. She could hear her heart pounding. Then Matty looked straight at her. He brightened and came toward her.

He stood facing her. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she managed.

“I'm Matty.”

I know,
she almost said. But she maintained. “Hazel,” she introduced herself.

“And Trina,” Trina said.

Matty nodded politely. Then his gaze returned to Hazel.

“So,” he said.

Trina cleared her throat. “I'm going to get something to drink. You want anything?”

“I'm good,” Hazel said. “How about you?” she asked Matty.

He held up a bottle. “I'm fine with water.” Trina took off, and Matty nodded at some familiar faces. “Cool party,” he said.

“Yeah,” Hazel agreed. She glanced over Matty's shoulder to see Sylvia standing in the doorway. She gave a little wave.

Sylvia's eyes glittered. She pointed at Matty's back and mouthed the words, “You're welcome.”

Hazel fought hard to hide her grin.

“This time of year, it's getting cold in Virginia,” Matty said. “Out here, it's practically like summer.”

“I've never been to Virginia,” she said. “I've heard it's pretty, though.”

“It is. Green grass, rolling hills…but what I think I'll miss most are the crazy thunderstorms we get in the spring. I used to sit out on our front porch when the rain was coming down, and the thunder would get so loud.” He drank from his water bottle. “You've always lived in Brookhaven?” he asked.

“All my life,” she said.

“It's not a bad place; I just didn't ask to move.” He sighed. “And living with my sister sucks.”

Someone called his name and he waved.

“Well, at least you've made friends,” she pointed out.

“Yeah. I mean, the guys on the team are cool, but I haven't found anyone I really click with yet. You know?”

His southern accent was insanely endearing.

“I totally understand. I'm that way too.”
Not that I'm feeling that way right now,
Hazel thought.

“Really? But you've lived here forever!”

Hazel shrugged. “That doesn't mean I've made any real connections. The kind that count. The kind you have forever.”

He squinted at her and gave a playful grin. “Maybe you're too deep for Southern California.”

“Thanks a lot!” She laughed.

“No, I mean it,” he said sincerely. “You seem a little more…in touch than most of the people I've met.”

“Thanks,” Hazel said, with a straight face this time. They both went quiet and Hazel felt his dark eyes swallowing her up.