Pretty Little Devils Read Free Page B

shoulders.
    â€œOh my God! It’s a bagpiper!” Lakshmi announced.
    There was a stir among the students; the cluster in front of Hazel’s table parted as the piper, fully decked in Highlander plaid and a beret with a green pom-pom, marched into their midst. He was playing “Scotland the Brave.”
    Directly behind him was a delivery guy carrying two enormous bags with P.F. C HANG’S written on the side. P.F. Chang’s was an upscale Chinese restaurant in Brookhaven Center. Hazel had never eaten there, but she’d always wanted to.
    Sylvia raised a hand, waving at the delivery guy. He came straight for her table. Ellen got up and rushed toward him, grabbing up the bags. She made a show of how heavy they were.
    Brandon bounded over from the jock table and picked up not only the bags, but Ellen as well, carrying her under his arm like a football as she laughed and batted at him. The guys whistled and clapped, Matty included. Sylvia smiled serenely. Hazel knew immediately—this was her doing. She watched as Sylvia lifted her cell phone out of her purse.
    In the middle of all this, she’s taking a call? Hazel wondered.
    Then Sylvia looked down at the phone and started keying in. Ah, texting.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” someone bellowed from the other side of the caf. It was their resident old hippie, vice principal Clancy, in his million-year-old Dockers and Birkenstocks.
    The geometry teacher, Ms. Miller, who also had lunch duty, stomped beside him in her too-young-for-her fashions—low-slung stretchy pants and a clingy top in berry colors.
    â€œOh God, they’re going to get in major trouble!” Lakshmi said, blinking excitedly.
    Clancy was closing in. Sylvia’s cell phone disappeared. Carolyn and Megan took the P.F. Chang’s bags, opened them, and began spooning heaps of noodles, egg rolls, and vegetables onto four plates. Josh darted away, then returned with another plate as Clancy and Ms. Miller headed for the piper like they were going to tackle him on the twenty-yard line.
    At a signal from Sylvia, the piper switched from “Scotland the Brave” to “Brookhaven Spirit,” the school song. As the notes played over the cafeteria, clusters of students began to join in:
    Brookhaven Spirit, our school so dear,
    our love for you travels far and near.
    Our voices ring proud and loud and clear
    with loyalty and spirit, Brookhaven Spirit!
    All hail! Our school so dear!
    By the time Clancy reached the piper, nearly every person in the room was singing with gusto. Hazel remained silent.
    The two teachers looked around and Hazel could practically read their thoughts. No one was doing anything wrong, exactly. And more people were singing than would at a regular pep rally. Okay, a takeout food delivery? Not exactly in the handbook, but what could it hurt? After all, it was Sylvia Orly. Such an upstanding girl. Pride of the entire administration.
    Mr. Clancy waved at the students as if they might possibly be glad to see him.
    Sylvia stood on her chair and held an egg roll above her head like the Statue of Liberty holding her torch. “Here’s to varsity,” she cried, “and the game this Friday!” Then she stepped down and graciously offered egg rolls to Mr. Clancy and Ms. Miller.
    People cheered and the jocks traded high fives. Matty just smiled; he turned his head just so…and for one moment, Hazel thought he might be looking at her.
    Breona’s table—the varsity cheerleaders—sat stone-faced. Jenna Babcock, Breona’s best friend, put a hand on Breona’s forearm, as if to say, Down, girl .
    â€œThat was awesome,” Lakshmi gushed.
    â€œYeah,” Ginger agreed. She turned from the scene and started winding spaghetti around her fork.
    â€œWe could order a pizza sometime,” Lakshmi ventured.
    â€œIf we did that, we’d get in trouble,” LaToya muttered. “We’re not celebrities like the