Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder

door—and cried out in surprise.
    A huge spider hung inside the locker. It dangled from a web stretched across the opening.
    Hazel took a deep breath and looked more closely. It’s a fake spider, she realized, courtesy of the PLDs.
    A drawing was stuck in the center of the spider’s web. It looked like a skull and crossbones, only this was a hockey mask with two chain saws crossed beneath it. WE PRANKED HAZEL ! was written in jagged letters above the mask.
    Those guys. She giggled and rolled her eyes.
    â€œYou have the nicest laugh,” said a voice behind her. A voice with a deep, southern accent.
    Hazel smiled. Matty.
    He had been hanging around nonstop since that first PLD party—e-mailing her and talking to her at every opportunity. Still, he hadn’t asked her out. Hazel sensed that he was waiting for the right moment. She hoped he wouldn’t wait too long.
    â€œThanks,” she said as she folded up the web and the picture.
    â€œWhat was that?” he asked, pointing to the items.
    â€œOh, just a little love note from Sylvia and the other PLDs.” She hauled out her books and slammed her locker shut.
    â€œOh yeah.” He grinned. “I forgot. You’re one of the bad babysitters now.”
    â€œThat’s right. The baddest.”
    Matty leaned against the nearby locker. “I don’t believe that. You’re more angel than devil.”
    â€œShh! Don’t tell the others,” Hazel joked. “They think I’m as rotten as they are.”
    The bell rang. Matty groaned.
    â€œI gotta take off. My class is at the other end of the school.”
    â€œRun. Run like the wind,” Hazel told him. She turned away, playing a little hard to get.
    â€œSee you at lunch?” he asked her.
    â€œI’ll be there.”
    â€œCool.” He looked like he was about to say something more. Too late. The second bell sounded. Matty sighed and took off.
    â€œWe are completely ignoring her,” Sylvia informed the PLDs at lunch.
    â€œWho?” Hazel asked. “What’s going on?”
    â€œOver there.” Megan nodded toward the cafeteria entrance. “Check it out, but don’t be obvious.”
    Hazel turned and saw the entire varsity cheerleading squad striding into the cafeteria. There were fifteen girls total—and Breona Wu was among them!
    She walked in the center of the group, her best friend, Jenna Babcock, by her side. All the girls wore kelly-green-and-gold uniforms, their hair and makeup flawless, like an army of glam.
    Breona sat down at her usual place, about eight tables over from the PLDs. Jenna took the chair next to Breona. All the others filled that table and the two surrounding it.
    â€œHow’d she get back in?” Megan demanded. “What about the zero-tolerance policy?”
    â€œZero tolerance, my butt,” Carolyn growled.
    â€œStay calm,” Sylvia said sternly. “We’ll figure something out.”
    The PLDs settled in, everyone refusing to look in Breona’s direction. Hazel stole a glance at the jock table, which was to her left. Josh, Brandon, and Stephan were already wolfing down hamburgers. But Matty hadn’t shown yet. Where was he?
    â€œTonight you’re sitting Charlie, Hazel.” Sylvia’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “That would be the little boy with the cat. From the last party.”
    â€œRight. Isotope.” Hazel tried to build up her nerve to tell Sylvia that she really had to stay home, but before she had a chance, Sylvia continued.
    â€œI was talking to Josh between classes. He brought up your Mr. Matt ise. Josh says he is very aggressive on the field.”
    â€œOoh la la,” Carolyn drawled. “Hot-blooded.”
    â€œMmmm. Très bien , Mattise!” Sylvia smiled at her own cleverness and stabbed a piece of lettuce.
    All Sylvia ate was salad, Hazel noticed. Maybe it was the secret behind her awesome complexion.
    Hazel sneaked