Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder Read Free Book Online

twisted!”
    â€œRelax. You’ve been pranked!” Carolyn announced. “Everyone gets pranked at their first PLD party.”
    Hazel shook her head as different feelings battled inside her. The whole thing was kind of mean-spirited. But the girls were laughing, tossing the stuffed animal back and forth.
    Everyone gets pranked at their first PLD party. Did that mean they accepted her? That she was really a part of the cool crowd now?
    Hazel looked at the stuffed animal, a rabbit, with its crossed eyes and buckteeth. How could she ever have mistaken this for a dead cat? She definitely needed to lighten up.
    Megan and Carolyn walked back to the house, still laughing. Ellen trailed behind.
    â€œIt was just a joke, really,” she explained. “And it’s a good thing. We wouldn’t do that to someone we didn’t like.”
    â€œIt’s cool,” Hazel assured her. “I just have to know—was the whole thing a setup? Does Charlie even own a cat?”
    â€œYeah, he really does. And he really is missing.” Ellen touched her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    â€œSure,” Hazel said. “It was just a joke.”
    Ellen smiled. “Good. I wouldn’t want you to be mad or anything.”
    Carolyn was right. Ellen was really sweet.
    She stayed on the deck as Hazel moved inside. She didn’t see Matty in the kitchen, so she waited, leaning against the counter and helping herself to some more guacamole. She chatted with a few other girls before wandering into the living room.
    There she found Trina making out with a guy in a nearby armchair. Hazel was curious. Who had Trina pounced on? She lingered for a moment, but as long as the two were lip-locked, there was no way of telling. Time to move on.
    Megan and Carolyn sat on the rug, examining a shelf full of DVDs. Sylvia and Josh were curled up on the couch.
    Sylvia turned to Hazel. “Hey. I heard you found Isotope?” She picked up her square glass and peered at Hazel over the rim while she drank.
    â€œYeah,” Hazel replied. “That was, um, pretty extreme.”
    Sylvia smiled. “But brilliant for a last-minute prank, don’t you think?”
    â€œCool!” Megan exclaimed, interrupting. “They do have Scream .”
    â€œWe could watch that,” Sylvia said. She turned to Hazel. “You in? Scary movies are part of the PLD party tradition.”
    â€œSure,” Hazel told her. She glanced around, wondering where Matty was.
    As if she could read her mind, Sylvia pointed down the hall. “He went to talk to Charlie. Nice guy.”
    Hazel warmed. Comforting the kid who lost his cat? That was nice.
    â€œThanks.” Hazel turned to go, then said suspiciously, “This isn’t another trick, is it?”
    â€œGo down the hall and find out,” Sylvia urged her in a mock-creepy voice. “Wahahaha.” She put her arms around Josh’s neck, pretending to chomp him like a vampire. He laughed back, grabbing her around the waist and doing the same.
    â€œNo worries,” Hazel said, making a cross with her forefingers. “I’m armed.”
    She went on down the hall, scooting around a couple engaging in serious PDA.
    At the end of the corridor was a door marked CHARLIE’S LABORATORY . A little picture of Dexter from TV decorated the bottom of the sign. Hazel knocked, and the door swung open. An electronic voice said, “Enter, carbon unit.”
    She smiled and did just that. Inside, she found a little boy in flannel pajamas and enormous, thick glasses sitting on the edge of a twin bed. A comforter featuring galaxies and rocket ships was bunched around him. There were electronic parts, wheels, gears, and disassembled toys everywhere.
    â€œMind if I come in?” she asked.
    â€œHi,” the little boy said. “I’m Charlie. This is Matty.”
    â€œI’m Hazel.”
    Matty sat in a straight-backed chair beside the boy.