I grabbed another fry. “You used to eat this crap all the time. And you were a lot more fun.”
“Well, I’m about to get more fun, because I scored you guys invites to Savannah’s party. We’re all going.” He unfolded the orange flyers, and there they were: four orange invites, each cut in a circle and decorated to look like a basketball.
Lena picked up one by the corner as if it was actually covered in dirty hair and old oil. “The golden ticket. Guess that makes us the cool kids now.”
Link didn’t pick up on her sarcasm. “Yeah, I hooked y’all up.”
Ridley slurped her malts. She had drained both of them down to the dregs. “Actually, I did.”
“What?” I couldn’t have heard her right.
“Savannah invited the whole squad, and I told them I needed to bring my entourage. You know, for security or whatever.” She put down the glasses. “You can thank me later. Or now.”
“Say that again?” Lena looked at her cousin like she was crazy.
Ridley seemed confused. “You’re my entourage?”
Lena shook her head. “The other part.”
“Security?”
“Before that.”
Rid thought for a second. “Squad?”
“That.” Lena said it like it was a four-letter word.
It had to be a joke. I looked at Link, who was purposely not looking at me.
Ridley shrugged. “Yeah, whatever. Team thingy. I forget the name. I like the skirts. Besides, this gig is the closest I can get to being a Siren, as long as I’m trapped in this lame Mortal body.” She gave us her best fake smile. “Go, Wildcats.”
Lena was speechless. I could feel the windows of the Dar-ee Keen begin to rattle as if a gale force wind was hitting them. Which it probably was.
I crumpled up my napkin. “Are you kidding? You’re one of them now?”
“What?”
“The Savannah Snows and Emily Ashers—the kind of girls who harassed us all the time in school,” Lena snapped. “The ones we hate.”
“I don’t see what you’re getting so worked up about.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you joined the same squad that started a club to get me kicked out of school last year. You know, the Jackson High cheer-slash-death squad?”
Ridley yawned. “Whatever. Tell me something that has to do with me.”
I looked at the windows out of the corner of my eye. They were still rattling. A tree branch flew against one, as if it had been tossed up out of the ground like a weed. I pulled one of Lena’s curls straight between my fingers.
Calm down, L.
I’m calm.
She doesn’t mean to hurt you.
No. Because she doesn’t notice, or care.
I turned to Link, who was sitting with his arms behind his head, enjoying our reactions. “Did you know about this?”
Link grinned. “Haven’t missed a practice.” I stared him down.