Don't Drink the Punch! Read Online Free

classmates.
    â€œWe’re just hanging out,” said Alice, sounding oh so casual.
    â€œI got into way too much trouble at Ozzie’s,” Pria said to Scott Mallory with a giggle. “My dad is going to be mad when he gets the bill.”
    Scott’s mouth turned up in a little smile, but Kaylacould see that he was not a bit interested in stories about shopping.
    â€œYeah, so, we were thinking about going to a movie in a little while,” said Alice. “That new horror flick that got such good reviews? It’s playing right upstairs at the Cineplex.”
    This was news to Kayla. She mentally tallied up how much money she had with her. Maybe if she didn’t get any popcorn or soda, she could swing a ticket.
    Nick looked at Scott and Anthony, who both shrugged noncommittally. “Yeah, sorry, we’re supposed to go to the basketball game over at Fairbridge Academy,” said Nick. “My older brother’s playing against them, and it’s the semifinals.”
    â€œNo biggie,” said Alice, stretching back in her chair and extending her long, lovely legs out in front of her. “All the more popcorn for us!”
    Jess and Pria giggled. Kayla remembered now. Pria liked Scott, and Jess liked Anthony Schmidt. No wonder they were giggling like silly hyenas.
    â€œHey, have you guys seen my cousin around?” asked Scott.
    Kayla’s heart thumped inside her chest. Was he talking about Tom?
    The girls shook their heads.
    â€œHe is such a dork sometimes,” said Scott, shaking his head. “He said he wanted to check out some book at the bookstore and, like, ditched us.”
    Pria giggled like that was the funniest thing anyone had ever said.
    Kayla was now sitting forward, perking up her ears. She had had a secret crush on Tom Butler for months now, but hadn’t dared mention it to her friends. For one thing, he was at least two inches shorter than she was, although his feet were gigantic. He cheerfully referred to himself as a human L. She liked his self-deprecating humor, his goofy sideways grin, and his spot-on impersonations of all the seventh-grade teachers and school administrators. But Alice had made several disparaging comments about him, and he was obviously not part of the cool crowd.
    â€œHey, do you think it was your cousin Tom who let those bugs go in Talbert’s classroom yesterday?” asked Anthony.
    Scott shrugged. “I doubt it. He’s not really the practical joker kind of dude. I could see him taking one out and studying it under a microscope, but I don’t think he’d just have let them go.”
    â€œWell, whoever did it should be arrested,” said Alice. “Those disgusting bugs. They could be anywhere now. One of them could crawl inside my locker or something!” She shuddered. “But I guess I should invite your cousin to my party, huh,” Alice said to Scott.
    â€œThat would be good,” said Scott. “Avoid a little awkwardness with my mom and aunt.”
    â€œWhen is it again?” asked Nick.
    Alice slumped, exasperation written across her face. “Hel-lo? Next Saturday ? Which is, in case you forgot, Valentine’s Day?”
    Nick grinned sheepishly. “Oh yeah.”
    Anthony checked his phone. “That’s my dad,” he said. “We better roll if we want to make it for the tip-off.”
    â€œI’ll tell Tom to meet us in front,” said Scott, pulling out his own phone.
    â€œSee you,” said Nick, loping away. The other boys followed.
    As soon as they’d been swallowed up in the crowds of shoppers, Alice sighed deeply and slumped down in her chair. “He just doesn’t seem all that into me,” she said, looking puzzled. “I mean, okay, I guess I see why Scott and Anthony haven’t made up their minds aboutliking you two”—she waved a hand in the direction of Jess and Pria—“but why is it that all the guys in school