The Naughty List (5 page)

“Thank you.”

As he took the bound paper, his finger touched mine. He did it on purpose. I could tell by the all-too-innocent expression on his face and the slight reddening of his cheeks.

The bell rang, and I looked up toward the dinging box over the adjacent doorway. Great. As if economics class wasn’t bad enough, now Mrs. Foster would make me sit in the tardy chair at the front—the one attached to her desk. Fantastic.

“Try and get it back to me tomorrow,” I said to Christian, feeling distressed and tossing a look at him as I slammed my locker door shut with a loud bang.

“Sure thing.” With another polite smile, I turned away and jogged toward the end of the hall. I heard a small sound from back by my locker and knew that my skirt was probably flopping up again, showing off my school-colored panties. But whatever, at least they matched.

SOS INTER-SOS MEMO

FROM:
Leona

TO:
SOS

As the secretary and treasurer, I have some updates and reminders.

First, the self-defense training class has been changed to Thursday night. Master Marco has asked that we wear our uniforms, but I’m not entirely sure why. Either he’s a perv, or he wants us to be prepared in all situations. It begins at seven sharp at the martial arts studio. Make sure to wear bloomers (Kira).

Next up, we just received a large donation in our PO box from Karen McKlusky, mother of Helena. Helena was the unfortunate client involved in that threesome. So gross. Anyway, the money is enough to buy the grappling hook that we were interested in or update our digital recording equipment. We can have a vote after practice on Wednesday.

Also, it has come to my attention that Peter Corning has been soliciting freshmen for dates. Even though he’s not technically cheating anymore, he still loses points for being a creep. Keep your eyes peeled for possible violations.

Finally, since Kara Martin is graduating, we’ll need to induct a new member into the squad and into SOS. If you know a girl with Kitten potential, submit it to me via text, and I can compile a list for us to look over. As Tessa has said, it’s important for the Smitten Kittens to all be on board with SOS to ensure our top-secret status. Please have your nominations in by next Tuesday.

That’s all for now. Let me know if you need any clarification or see Tessa with any questions.

Keep smiling,

Leona

SOS

Text: 555-0101

Exposing Cheaters for Over Two Years

SOS EQUIPMENT ORDER FORM

FROM:
Leona

TO:
SOS

Our monthly order is ready for Tessa’s approval. If there is any last-minute item you need, please write it in and submit it to me before Wednesday.

The order needs to be placed with
spytime.com
by Friday or we won’t earn the frequent buyer discount. The donations this month have been sparse, so please only ask for necessary items. No lip gloss!

ITEMS:

° Portable lie detector—$59.99

° High-resolution tactical camera with night vision—$299.99

° Pen audio recorder—$89.99

° Smart card file retriever—$59.00

° Tubular lock pick—$24.99

Encrypted Cell-/ lost mine!

6ít1ppling hook

EPS
w/cell assist

Keep smiling,

Leona

SOS

Text: 555-0101

Exposing Cheaters for Over Two Years

CHAPTER FOUR

I WAS NEVER SO GRATEFUL TO SEE CORN DOGS.
The loud murmurs in the cafeteria, coupled with the smell of processed meat, were doing a number on me. Economics was miserable. Calculus was worse. All I wanted to do was lay my head on the sticky table and rest my brain. These teachers were seriously impeding my thought process.

“Where were you?” Kira asked, looking at me from across the table with concern. “I thought you’d been Kitten-napped or something.”

“My day was totally blown,” I complained. “I got the tardy chair in economics.”

“Tragic!” Leona said from the other end. “That woman should be stopped. I think Mrs. Foster is inflicting serious emotional damage on the student population with her attendance policies. I’m going to write a strongly worded letter to the school board.” She adjusted her glasses.

That was Leona. She was a great asset to SOS. Smart, prompt, and sassy! Sure, sometimes she was a little judgmental (like the time she called Coach Taylor a dictator for making her take a fitness test), but she was a whiz at both computers and fashion accessories. In fact, if I hadn’t been so melancholy, I would have certainly found out where she’d gotten her headband. It was fab.

“I like the letters you write,” Izzie announced, biting into her corn dog and nodding at Leona. “You have totally great verbiage.” Leona thanked her.

Just then, a hand slid across my shoulders, and I looked up, startled. Aiden dropped down in the seat next to me, a bewildered expression on his face.

“You look surprised to see me,” he said, taking his arm from around me. “Were you expecting someone else?” He grinned.

“Nope. I’m just depressed.” And I was. It was like uneasiness had settled over my uniformed chest. I glanced around the filled cafeteria and wondered how many of the guys in here had been unfaithful in the last two years. Unfortunately, I knew the answer. And it wasn’t good.

Aiden’s mouth dropped open. “That’s not like you. You’re like a little ball of sunshine. Always. And I mean
always.
What could you be sad about?” Aiden leaned over to kiss my shoulder, making my stomach flutter. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

Indeed, he was here. I had no reason to be sad. After all, I wasn’t the one being cheated on. But Darren had been the third adulterer this week, and his indiscretion had totally messed with our lunchtime seating arrangements. I glanced at the empty seat between Kira and Izzie and sighed.

Darren might not have been the first cheater, but he was the first one that we hadn’t discovered
on our own
—and that worried me. Because up until now, SOS had been foolproof.

Why were all of these boys going horny? And why did I feel worried when my relationship was healthy?

“We’re okay, aren’t we?” Aiden murmured into the sleeve of my shirt.

My eyes snapped to his. He
never
asked questions like that! Aiden was pure confidence.

“What? Why wouldn’t we be?” I asked, searching his face when he pulled back. His skin was smooth and tan as he widened his green eyes at me.

“Nothing,” he said quickly, shaking his head and wrapping both arms around my waist to pull me into him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by that.”

“Hey, Tess,” Leona called from the end of the table. “I meant to ask you about the new lollipop in your history class. I heard he is oh, so lickable.”

“Ladies,” Aiden said, letting me go and pushing away his lunch tray, looking nauseous. “Please don’t talk about the men of the school like lollipops. Especially to my girlfriend.”

Leona giggled and winked at me from behind her glasses. “By the way,” she said as she stood up from the table. “The new boy has a sister, and she’s in my algebra class. A real bitch, if you ask me.”

“Language,” I tsked.

“Sorry. But she is.” Leona shrugged, backing up toward the lunch line. “She told Ms. Kellan that she didn’t ‘do’ word problems. Total pout face. And
no
accessories!”

I adored Leona, but maybe she didn’t understand that being the new kids at school was probably difficult for Christian and his sister, especially if they’d just moved. I mean, sure, using the word
do
on purpose was sort of tactless, but—

“Psst,” Kira interrupted, touching at the corners of her mouth with a paper napkin. “Hottie alert.” She darted an excited glance over my shoulder. I was glad she was working on her observation skills. They’d come in handy on missions.

Aiden cleared his throat and grabbed his tray back from the middle of the table to pick at the salad. He probably wasn’t interested in hearing about hot guys. Although I knew that no one was cuter than my sweetie. With that blond hair and those lean muscles, he—

“Tessa?” a soft voice asked.

There was a twinge of irritation, but I recovered quickly and spun around. Christian. Of course. Only this time, he had company: a small, attractive girl with long, straight blond hair and full lips. Her face, however, was pulled into a scowl. At least it was until she noticed my boyfriend. Then her pretty face perked up. Hm. She was checking him out.

“Hello again, Christian,” I said, bringing my gaze back to him. I felt Aiden turn around in his seat. I looked sideways at him and he was relaxed, lounging against the table and picking at his fingernails.

Christian took another step closer and smiled at me. “I was wondering if we could join you?” His dark eyes were framed perfectly by his lashes, making his stare intense yet ... vulnerable.

My heart sank. He was probably embarrassed that he had to ask to sit with us. I couldn’t stand to see someone looking so lonely. “Sure,” I said politely. “You can sit with us.”

Kira let out an excited squeak as Aiden shifted next to me and turned back to the table, still picking at his nails. I watched as the blond girl stared at my boyfriend’s dropped head and made her way around to the seat across from him, between Kira and Izzie. She didn’t have the same laid-back clothing style as her brother. No, she was more provocative. Or as Leona liked to call it, “slutty”—too-short skirt, low-cut tank top. I swallowed hard. When she finally met my gaze, she smiled-close-mouthed.

“Oh,” Christian said, sitting down on the other side of me. “This is my sister, Chloe.” He motioned toward her, and she rolled her big brown eyes, as if she didn’t like the formal introduction.

Never one to forget my manners, I immediately stretched my hand over the table to her. Just because Leona had a harsh opinion of her didn’t mean ... wait. Chloe looked at me for a second, almost as if the thought of taking my hand repulsed her. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

But then she reached out and took my palm in her cool one. She might have thought I hadn’t noticed her side glance at Aiden. But I had.

I turned to him, and he was still messing with his fingers, not paying attention. What was with him and his nails? I knocked my knee into his, and he looked up at me, surprised.

“What?”

“Nails,” I reminded him. The kid bit his nails to a ridiculous length and then chewed on his cuticles. It was sort of disgusting. I’d tried to give him a manicure, but, well, we never got very far. He always ended up offering to do me instead.

“Sorry, baby,” he said, dropping his hands into his lap. “Maybe you can buff them out for me later.” He looked sideways at me.

I crossed my legs to control the tingling between them. His stare was devious.

“We’ll see.” I couldn’t help but smile. I loved the snot out of him.

“It’s so fun meeting new people,” Izzie said happily to Christian as she chewed on the stick of her corn dog. “I think it’s really cultural and stuff.”

She was sweet. The only redhead in the school that wore the uniform. It was good to have diversity.

Kira cleared her throat and smiled until her dimples were deeply set in her cheeks. “I’m Kira.” She reached over the table to Christian, holding out her hand as if she expected him to kiss it.

He chuckled and instead turned it and shook it. Kira’s brilliant expression faded briefly, but then she turned to Chloe and smiled again.

“So you’re a sophomore?” Kira asked her enthusiastically. She was really great at staying perky.

“Yep. And you’re a cheerleader?” There was that tone again. The same one Christian had this morning. Had they been attacked by a roaming band of cheerleaders when they were younger? What was with the hostility?

“I am,” Kira said, not at all concerned. “I’m co-captain.” She straightened her back with pride. She’d been excited to get that title. Leona had threatened to quit, but we’d resolved it. Smitten Kittens didn’t hold animosity toward each other.

“Huh,” Chloe said, then looked over at me. “You the captain?”

I didn’t like her voice. It was low and gravelly, not cute and small like she looked. It made me think she was not at all the way she presented herself. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, if you will. Leona’s theory might have been spot-on.

“I am.”

“And I’m the captain of the basketball team,” Aiden spoke up. I turned to him. He was smiling at her. She smiled back. My stomach felt slightly ill.

Chloe’s stare came back to me. I felt pale and not at all cute. She started talking again. “Well, I was surprised when Christian said he wanted to eat lunch with a
cheerleader,
but I guess I can see why. You’re prettier than the ones at our old school.”

I heard Christian shift next to me. I didn’t think his sister was supposed to disclose their private conversation out loud. My pastiness began to grow pink, and my boyfriend didn’t make a sound. Biting at the inside of my cheek, I held Chloe’s stare.

She brushed her hair behind her ears, looking bored. “Besides, he usually hangs out with smart chicks—like class presidents.”

“Chloe!” Christian said through clenched teeth.

“Well, Tessa is the junior class president,” Kira announced proudly and pointed at me.

“Really?” Chloe widened her dark eyes, looking sincerely impressed.

My stomach became further ill, and I didn’t know why. I had made sure to eat a balanced breakfast! Still, Chloe was bothering me. I wanted her to go away, but I would never say that. It would be rude.

“My Tessa is smart at everything,” Aiden said, his voice dripping with admiration. I felt my fist unclench.

“Wow.” Chloe held up her hands in apology. “That’s really cool. I guess Christian hasn’t gone as bat shit as I thought.”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” her brother asked her. I looked next to me to see that his nostrils were flaring as he clenched his jaw.

“No, Christian. I don’t.”

They stared each other down, neither flinching away. No one seemed to notice but me. The rest of the squad came over to our table, and when Leona returned, she gave Aiden her corn dog. She would never, and I repeat
never,
eat anything served on a stick. My boyfriend looked ecstatic and munched on it like he was a five-year-old at a county fair.

When Aiden leaned over to whisper in my ear, I had already begun contemplating if I wanted to spend time with the school nurse. I was not fond of the way her floral perfume smelled. I’d rather just sign out and leave, but I wanted a second opinion about my gut. It was highly unusual for me to feel this unwell.

“You okay?” my boyfriend asked, kissing my cheek. I didn’t look at him.

“I don’t feel very good right now.”

His hand immediately went to the small of my back. He brought his fingers to my chin and turned me toward him, looking me over with concern. His green eyes were so sweet. I didn’t know what was going on with me.

“Let’s blow off the rest of the day. I’ll take you home.” He smiled softly.

It wasn’t a terrible idea. I only had one more class and then back-to-back study halls. Aiden was fairly caught up in chemistry. I blinked a few times, and his face darkened more.

“Come on,” he whispered, pulling me up.

My head was beginning to ache. I felt dizzy, so I held on to Aiden’s arm as I looked at my table. The maroon and gray colors of all the cheer uniforms blended together in a school spirit haze. I got a better grip on Aiden and steadied myself.

“We’re going to take off,” he said to them. “Tess isn’t feeling well.”

“You okay?” Christian asked, clearly disappointed at my abrupt departure.

I just nodded.

“It was nice meeting you,” Chloe said loudly to Aiden.

“Uh, yeah ... you too.” I could tell by his pause that he forgot her name. It made me feel a little better.

After a second, Chloe looked at me and lifted her hand in a sarcastic wave. “Feel better, prez.”

“Wench,” Leona fake-coughed.

If I weren’t about to throw up, I might have scolded Leona for her language, but at the moment, I was just happy she noticed. Smitten Kitten code was one thing, but out-and-out rudeness by the new girl was another. Christian saw my unease. He mouthed the words “I’m sorry” before Aiden pulled me away.

I lowered my glance and felt a strong arm wrap around me as I hugged him. He moved his cold palm to feel my forehead, then widened his eyes.

“God, Tess. You’re burning up.”

I stared at him, feeling faint. Something was wrong around here. My Kitten senses were meowing. And I needed to figure out why.

I had a hundred-and-two-degree fever. Really? I hadn’t had a fever in years. This would be silly if it weren’t so uncomfortable. I shifted on my living room couch, digging my toes into the chenille cushions.

“Are you going to throw up again?” Aiden asked, moving over. His upper lip was curled in disgust, although I knew he was trying to look supportive.

“No. I think I’m done.”

“Thank God,” he said under his breath.

“Don’t tease me. I’m sick.”

“I’m sorry. You want me to rub your feet?” There was a devilish gleam in his eye as he looked over my body.

“Stop!” But I laughed. Luckily, the wood-beamed ceiling had stopped spinning after I’d thrown up. Small favors.

“What?” He leaned over and picked up my feet, setting them in his lap.

“Aiden,” I whined, leaning my head back into the couch arm. “I can’t fool around. I’m sick.”