What If... All Your Friends Turned On You (25 page)

“Go back to fondling bikini babes!” Cecily called. That got a few laughs.

Haley saw Reese look up at them from center court with a determined gleam in his eye.
Uh-oh
. Haley knew that look. He was fired up.

He went into a huddle with Spencer, Johnny and Drew. “What are you doing, planning your next beach vacation?” Coco taunted. “Be sure to bring lots of those cute little umbrellas for your drinks!”

The Hillsdale boys jogged onto the court to start the second quarter. Right away they looked like a different team. Johnny stole the ball from a Ridgewood forward and dribbled down the court for two points. A few minutes later Drew intercepted a
Ridgewood pass and threw an assist to Reese, who launched one for three points. Hillsdale pulled ahead by one.

“That was a lucky shot!” Whitney yelled. “Ridgewood rules! Hillsdale boys are tools!”

The Hillsdale guys glared at them in the opposing team's stands one last time. After that they didn't look at the girls again. But the taunting had done its job. They were fired up, and soon they were playing the best basketball of their lives.

Spencer the ball-hog actually passed to Johnny, who made a beautiful layup for two more points. Reese hit every free throw he was handed—and Ridgewood was so frustrated they were fouling him all over the place. Drew was on fire, speeding down the court and mowing down Ridgewood guards like a freight train. By halftime Hillsdale had taken a commanding ten-point lead, with more to come.

Coco's crew had stopped their taunting. The whole Ridgewood side of the gym grew silent. The Hillsdale Avengers watched their exes in stunned amazement—part admiration, part fury.

“How dare they?” Coco muttered. “How dare they play so well? Last time I saw them play they looked like clumsy toddlers out there! All of a sudden they're practically pros!”

Reese launched another three-point swisher, and Haley had to stop herself from clapping and shouting,
“Yay Reese!” But not before Coco caught the telltale twitch in Haley's hands.

“What are you doing?” Coco said. “Don't cheer for them! Traitor.”

“You have to admit they're looking awesome out there, Coco,” Sasha said. “Even Spencer's playing well.”

“Even Spencer's playing well,” Coco echoed in a mocking tone. Spencer was well known as the weak link on the team, and Haley knew Coco didn't appreciate having that fact thrown in her face, even if they were cheering against the boys.

Coco grumbled as Drew hit another layup, but by the fourth quarter the girls had been stunned into awed silence. Haley found herself containing her excitement as she watched Reese glide down the court and soar into the air. He was really good when he was on, she had to admit it. He was a star.

The game ended on a last-second rebound by Johnny, who dunked the ball as the buzzer sounded. Hillsdale whipped Ridgewood this time, 68–56. The Hillsdale portion of the crowd erupted into cheers of joy, waving signs and tossing confetti onto the victorious players, while Haley and her friends sat, lonely and quiet, on the wrong side of the gym. Even Coco got caught up in the celebration, trying to catch Spencer's eye as the boys jogged off the court. But he wouldn't look at her, and Haley couldn't get Reese's
attention, either. None of the boys even glanced their way.

“They're ignoring us,” Cecily said.

“Jerks,” Coco said. “Just because they finally won a game they think they're the hottest thing since jalapeños.”

“Well, we are sitting with the opposing team,” Haley reminded them. “It's kind of a big insult. I mean, I can see how the boys would see it that way.”

“It was supposed to be an insult,” Coco snapped. “It was supposed to insult them and destroy their confidence so they would lose the game. They were supposed to be on their knees groveling before us by now—not ignoring us.”

“That was the plan,” Sasha said. “But it backfired.”

“We don't need them,” Coco said. “They're just ridiculous high school boys anyway. We're too good for these children. What we need are college boys. Real, sexy, mature, adoring college boys.”

“Sounds fabulous,” Whitney said. “But where are we going to find some?”

“At the college boy store,” Coco said.

“The what?” Whitney asked.

“The most famous purveyor of college boys in the country,” Coco said. “The top luxury brand. Yale.”

“Mmm, Yale boys,” Cecily said. “Yum.”

“Spring break is just around the corner, so I propose a road trip. A little visit to my big sister, Ali. I'm sure she'll love the company.”

Coco's sister, Ali, was a freshman at Yale and already hobnobbing with the jet-set crowd. If anyone could provide hot boys, it was Ali. And luckily, Yale's spring break came two weeks before Hillsdale's, so the boys would all be tan and the campus would be buzzing.

“Sounds perfect,” Haley said. “We'll go in your car, right, Coco?” It seemed logical: Coco had been given a sizeable luxury sedan for her birthday, and it was by far the roomiest and most comfortable car any of the girls had.

“Can't,” Coco said. “It's going back to the dealer for an upgrade that week. I won't get the new car until after our spring break.”

“Okay, so there's always Stallion,” Haley said, glancing at Sasha, whose vintage Mustang wasn't exactly plush but at least had style going for it.

Sasha shook her head. “Stallion's going into the shop again for repairs. I love him but reliable he isn't. We'd be lucky just to make it to New Haven.”

“What about you, Haley?” Coco turned her steely blue eyes on her. “Didn't you get a car for your birthday?”

Haley'd been dreading this moment. Yes, she had gotten a car for her birthday. And no, she never wanted to be seen in public behind the wheel. She knew Coco wouldn't tolerate it either. Nor would anyone else at school. Haley would be teased unmercifully.

In fact, it was for this very reason that Haley had
yet to drive Gam Polly's ancient sedan. The corny bumper stickers alone made her nauseated. Haley had tried everything, but they wouldn't come off. Perhaps some future generation would find these bumper stickers charming, but Haley found them absolutely cringeworthy.

But the worst thing about the car was the violent way it backfired. It sounded like Texas on the first day of hunting season and sent anyone within earshot running for cover. It was as if the car wanted to draw extra attention to its ugly self.

“Why don't we take the train?” Haley suggested. “We can go into the city, grab some coffee in Grand Central … it'll be romantic.”

“No,” Coco said firmly. “We need wheels. Haley, I could swear I heard you mention getting a car at some point.”

“Well, I do kind of sort of have a car,” Haley said. “But you're not going to like it.”

“How bad could it be? A car's a car,” Cecily said.

“What is it, like maroon or something?” Whitney asked. Of course that was the worst possible thing she could imagine.

But Haley knew better. There were far worse things a car could be beyond maroon.

Haley's going to have to bust out her grandma car sometime. And meeting some college boys might be the fresh
start she needs on the romantic front. If you think she should go through with this road trip and drive the girls to Yale, turn to,
SPRING BREAK AT YALE
.

Alternately, if you think the girls should stay home and try to repair what's left of their relationships with their old boyfriends, go to,
REESE ON HIS KNEES
.

“H
aley, please! Don't leave me here alone. Do you really have to go to class right now?”

Haley stared at the new Devon, slumped against his locker with a bouquet of flowers—the fourth one that week—crushed against his leather jacket. He hadn't changed his style—his hair and his clothes were the same—but somehow, to Haley, he just didn't look cool anymore. Maybe it was the way he followed her everywhere like a whipped puppy, whining for her attention.

“Sorry, Devon, but I've got a Spanish test,” she lied. She actually didn't even have class then. She just needed to get away from her new shadow for a while.

“Good luck on the test! I'll wait for you here!”

She couldn't even bear to turn around and wave to him as she walked away. She knew what she'd see if she did: Devon with his adorable mop of hair and big sad eyes pleading
Love me love me love me, but don't ever leave
.

She had thought she did love him, once. And for a while she was thrilled with all the attention. But Irene's plan had worked a little too well, and now she saw Devon in a completely different light. An unflattering light that showed every crack and fault in his personality.

Once he'd been cool. Now he was just a pathetic, lovesick dog.

She went back to her locker three hours later, figuring the coast had to be clear by then. But he was still there waiting for her, the sad flowers wilted and dying, petals littering the floor. He brightened at the sight of her.

“You're back! Look—I bought you a chocolate bar. You like chocolate, right? Everybody likes chocolate.”

Who was this lovebot? She hardly even recognized him anymore.

She took the chocolate bar and opened it. At
this point she needed something to give her extra energy—carrying the weight of Devon's devotion was hard work. Or it felt like work, anyway. Was that how love was supposed to feel? Haley didn't think so.

“Do you need anything?” Devon asked. “More flowers, maybe?”

“Enough with the flowers,” Haley snapped. “I never thought I could get so sick of flowers.”

“They are sickening. You're right.” Devon sneered at the flowers he was holding and tossed them into a nearby trash can. “What was I thinking?”

Haley opened her locker to get her things and go home for the day. Devon crept up behind her and started rubbing her shoulders. “How was the Spanish test? I bet you aced it.”

She shrugged him off. “Get your hands off me. I didn't ask for a back rub.”

“Sorry. Sorry sorry.” He shrank back like a chastened puppy—which was even more infuriating.

“What are you doing tonight?” Devon asked. “Want to see a movie?”

“I can't,” Haley said. “I'm busy.”

“What about tomorrow night?”

“I'm busy tomorrow night too. I'm busy for the rest of my life.”

He laughed in a panicky way. “You're so funny! That's hilarious.”

Haley rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Hilarious. See you.”

“Sure you don't want a ride?”

“Positive.”

“Okay. I'll call you in an hour to make sure you got home okay.”

“Don't bother.”

“It's no bother!”

Ugh
. Haley went straight to Drip to meet Irene for a powwow. School wasn't safe—Devon might find them there.

“We've created a monster,” Haley said. “Your plan was brilliant. I'm just starting to wish I hadn't gotten what I asked for. Devon used to be so cool! Now he's unbearable.”

“I couldn't agree more,” Irene said. “It's disgusting the way he follows you around, begging you to give him an order. I miss the old Devon. I'm worried about him, actually.”

“I wish the old Devon would come back too,” Haley said. “I liked our friendship a lot better before it was all about me. I can't take the pressure! Irene, what should I do?”

“The answer is obvious, dummy,” Irene said. “Just start being nice to him again. Quit playing ice queen and give a little to the relationship. You literally have to kill his puppy love with kindness. Maybe that will even things out a bit.”

“I don't know if I want to,” Haley said. “I can hardly look at the guy.”

“You have to,” Irene warned. “If you care about
his feelings at all, even as a friend, you've got to stop ignoring him and start being nice again. Unless you hate to give up the one man fan club.”

“I'm sick of the fan club,” Haley said. “The fan club is stalking me!”

“Haley, I'm serious,” Irene said. “Don't take this game too far or you'll ruin your friendship with Devon. And then I'll be mad. And Shaun will be pissed that you hurt his friend's feelings. And you might find yourself without any friends at all. Any interesting friends, anyway.”

Haley absorbed Irene's words.
She's been right about everything so far
, Haley thought.
Maybe I should listen to her
.