A Snitch in the Snob Squad by Julie Anne Peters Page B

Lydia announced. “Give or take five dollars for the CD. Who knows
     if it was on sale or not?”
    “So, let’s say fifty bucks,” I said. “Assuming they already spent Mrs. Jonas’s money on their matching outfits, how much was
     stolen from Ms. Milner?”
    Everyone looked blank.
    “I could ask her on Monday,” Prairie said.
    Lydia added, “And if it’s more than that, we could always follow Ashley again next weekend. This was fun.” She beamed.
    We all beamed. It’d been a blast.
    “All right,” I said. “By Monday afternoon Ashley’s going down. And it won’t be in a blaze of glory. Which means, Max, you’ll
     be in the clear.”
    “Who cares?” she grumbled.
    “I do,” Prairie said.
    “Me, too,” I said. We both looked at Lydia.
    She clucked. “Of course I care.”
    “All for one,” I began.
    “And one for all,” they finished. We gave the Snob Squad salute.

Chapter 15
    K evin was waiting for me Monday morning when I got off the bus. Falling into step beside me, he said, “How are ya, Jen?”
    I almost melted all over his Reeboks. “Good,” I said casually. “How was your uncle’s cabin?”
    “It was okay. I, uh…” He grabbed my arm and swung me around to face him. His eyes darted back and forth, searching for anyone
     within earshot. Such as Lydia, who was hustling toward us at the speed of a spitwad. Luckily she tripped over her feet and
     crashed into a trash can, which rolled into another one creating a domino effect all the way to the Dumpster. Leave it to
     Lydia.
    Kevin said quickly, “Iwantedtogiveyouthis.” He pressed something into my hand. It was a box, white and oblong, held together
     with a red rubber band. “Ididn’thavetimetowrapitsorry.”
    “Another present?” I stared at the box. “Geez, Kevin. You shouldn’t have.” Then I thought, Why not? I’m worth it. I sounded
     like a shampoo commercial and it made me giggle.
    Kevin smiled. “Go ahead. Open it.”
    I turned the box over. On the bottom was a price tag. I gasped. Out loud I read, “Ninety-five dollars and ninety-nine cents?”
    “Huh?” Kevin’s jaw jammed. He read the sticker and blushed. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “You weren’t supposed to see that.” He tried
     to scrape it off with a thumbnail and couldn’t.
    I had the urge to hug him, but checked it.
    Rolling off the rubber band, I lifted the top and gasped again. “Oh, my God, Kevin!” Inside was a glittering gold chain with
     a little gold
J
in the middle. It was dainty and delicate. And expensive-looking.
    “You can wear it all the time,” Kevin said. “It’s real gold. It won’t turn green in the shower or anything.”
    Just then Lydia arrived. “Hi, Jenny. You’ll be glad to know Max is back.”
    “All right!” It was looking like our last week of school was going to be awesome.
    “Oh, hi, Kevin,” Lydia said dryly. “I suppose you two love birds want to be alone.”
    Neither of us replied.
    “What’s that, another present?”
    Without answering, I looped the necklace over my head. The little links flowed through my fingers. I’d never felt anything
     so precious, so perfect.
    Lydia punched her fists into her hips. “Okay, fine. Be a snot. Act like Ashley.” She huffed, then spun and stomped away.
    That hurt. “Lydia, wait,” I called.
    She didn’t turn around.
    “Lydia!”
    Kevin said, “I gotta go, anyway,” He hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder. “The guys are waiting. Maybe we could do a movie
     or something this weekend.”
    “I do,” I said. “I mean, I’d love to.”
    “Yeah?” He smiled. “Okay.”
    Kevin passed Prairie on her way down the sidewalk. “J-J-Jenny, I g-gotta t-t-talk to you,” she said, scurrying over. She must’ve
     been excited or anxious, her stuttering was so noticeable.
    “What’s up?” Over her shoulder, I watched Kevin ambling away. Even from the back he was adorable. Lydia had already disappeared
     around the corner.
    Prairie sniffed. That got my attention. She