Sabotage Season by Alex Morgan Read Free Book Online

especially me, after our friendship breakup.”
    â€œYou’re better off without her,” I said as I slung an arm around Jessi’s shoulder. “Besides, you’ve got us now!”
    â€œTrue.” Jessi’s face brightened. “And I’m with my new best friends in the mall, and the best part is yet to come.”
    â€œBest part?” Zoe asked.
    â€œBoys and pizza!” Jessi said, pointing her finger toward the ceiling. “To the third floor!”
    I laughed. “What, do they have a store on the third floor where they sell boys and pizza?”
    â€œWhat do they call it, Boys R Us?” Emma joked.
    â€œOr maybe they call it Cody Hut,” Zoe said with a sly smile at Jessi.
    Jessi looked a little embarrassed at Zoe’s comment, but she tried to laugh it off. “Whatever. The arcade is on the third floor, and that’s where all the boys hang out. The food court’s on the third floor too. So let’s go check it out!”
    We followed her out of the store and up the escalator.
    The smells of the food court hit us as we headed across the mall. Just as Jessi had said, a bunch of boys were hanging out talking in front of the arcade.
    â€œSo, um, what are we supposed to do?” I asked. “Talk to them?”
    â€œNo. We just watch them and decide who’s cute,” Jessi replied. “Wait, is that Brendan Insler over there?”
    Zoe blushed. “No, thank goodness. What did Frida tell you?”
    â€œOnly that he follows you around like a puppy and carries your books everywhere now,” Jessi answered.
    â€œI never said he was like a puppy,” Frida protested. “Although, that’s not a bad description.”
    â€œRight. A sweaty, annoying puppy,” Zoe said, making a face.
    â€œHey, I think there’s some soccer boys over there,” I said, pointing. “Isn’t that Cody and Steven?”
    â€œDon’t point!” Jessi said frantically, pushing down my arm, but it was too late. Cody waved at us with a big smile on his face, and Steven gave us kind of a shy wave.
    I waved back, but Jessi grabbed me by the arm and started pulling me toward the food court. The other girls followed us.
    â€œWhat was that about?” I asked.
    â€œYou can’t point like that!” Jessi cried. “Then they’ll think we like them.”
    â€œBut you do like Cody, don’t you?” I asked.
    Jessi rolled her eyes. “That is totally not the point.”
    â€œI’m hungry,” Emma said. “Let’s get that pizza.”
    Frida closed her eyes. “Mmm, pizza.”
    â€œAre you going to order yours with an extra topping of Cody?” I couldn’t help but tease Jessi, who glared at me.
    â€œShhhh! He might hear you,” Jessi said nervously, glancing back at the arcade.
    â€œWe’re in the crowded, noisy mall, totally across the room from him,” I reminded her. I was starting to think that when Cody was around, Jessi’s brain short-circuited or something.
    â€œUnless he has some kind of superhero hearing or something,” Emma said, and giggled.
    â€œJessi thinks he’s got some superpowers, that’s for sure.” Zoe grinned.
    â€œMaybe his superpower is kissing,” Frida said. She folded her hands across her chest and began puckering her lips, making loud smacking noises as she kissed the air. “I’m Cody,” she said in between air kisses. “Or you can call me by my secret identity superhero name, Captain Kiss!”
    â€œFrida!” Jessi shrieked, and lunged at her. Frida took off running, with Jessi in hot pursuit.
    Emma, Zoe, and I exchanged glances and then started cracking up, laughing so hard I thought I was going to cry.
    Frida came back, panting hard, and hid behind me as Jessi went to grab her.
    â€œTruce!” I yelled, putting my hands in the air to stop Jessi. “We’re starving. Let’s go eat some