“I wrote it myself.” Charlotte beamed.
The routine had some complicated parts but nothing too difficult. Olivia got it in no time. After a few run-throughs, she even tried some new lines, shouting, “You know you’re a Devil when you raise the noise level!” instead of Charlotte’s words.
“Sorry, Olivia,” Charlotte said, running over from where she was working with Katie and Allison on the handclaps. “I think you got the words wrong. We’d better do it again.” Which was fine. After all, it was Charlotte’s cheer.
Olivia was just relieved to feel that she fit in. In fact, at the end of class, she was on her way to the locker room when Ms. Barnett actually smiled at her.
“Nice cheering, Olivia,” said the gym teacher. Olivia could have done a flip on the spot!
“Ms. Barnett says that to everyone,” Charlotte said, as she pushed open the door to the locker room.
Olivia shrugged. “Hey, this morning I was no one. ‘Everyone’ is a step up!”
It sure didn’t feel that way at lunch, though. Looking out at the cafeteria, Olivia felt like no one again. She had no idea where to sit. She wished she were back at her old school, with Kara and Mimi waving at her from their table by the window.
Finally, Olivia spotted Camilla sitting by herself in the corner, devouring her sci-fi epic along with her lunch. Olivia almost took off running, she was so happy to see her.
She was almost at Camilla’s table when Charlotte Brown appeared, wearing a pink sweater. Behind her stood Katie and Allison, their smiles shining like white billboards above their trays.
“Come sit with us!” Charlotte said. Olivia glanced over at Camilla, whose nose was still buried in her book. For some reason, Olivia’s stomach sank. “Okay.”
“This is the popular table,” Katie told her as they sat down.
“We sit here every day,” said Allison.
“Great.” Olivia smiled, silently noting that they were the only people at the table.
“Girls,” Charlotte said. “First things first. I think it’s our duty to tell Olivia the rules.”
“Which rules?” Olivia asked.
“Duh.” Katie rolled her eyes. “Charlotte’s rules.”
“No, Katie.” Charlotte looked annoyed. “The rules of Franklin Grove Middle School.” She straightened her back and took a deep breath. “Rule number one,” Charlotte announced. She reached over to Olivia’s tray and gingerly picked up a piece of garlic bread with two fingers. She looked completely grossed out, as if she were holding a dead bird. “Never order garlic bread. It totally kills . . .”
Vampires? Olivia wondered.
“...your social life,” Charlotte finished, dropping the bread so that it landed back on Olivia’s tray with a thud.
“Rule number two,” Charlotte went on, wiping her hands on her napkin. “Pink is in. Black”—she shot a cold look at another table, where Olivia saw Ivy Vega sitting with some friends—“is so last season. But you already knew that, right?” Charlotte added and winked.
“I so can’t wait to borrow that dress,” Katie said, looking Olivia up and down approvingly.
“Anyway,” said Charlotte, “rule number two is: Pink is perfect!”
Olivia shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
“But rule number three,” Charlotte continued, “is the most important rule of all.”
Charlotte looked at Katie and Allison, who nodded solemnly. Then Charlotte did a double clap, and all three spoke in unison: “The squad is everything, and the captain makes the calls!”
It was as if they’d practiced it—which, Olivia realized, they probably had. “Cool,” she said, not wanting to be mean. “Who’s the captain?”
Katie and Allison looked at Olivia like she’d just popped a zit right at the table.
“It’s all right,” Charlotte said. “She’s new. That’s a perfectly good question, Olivia. I’m the captain.”
Olivia couldn’t help it; she was shocked. She had to eat a forkful of fruit salad just to cover her reaction. Finally she swallowed. “I, um, talked to Ms. Barnett in gym, and she said that the captainship won’t be decided until tryouts.”
“I know,” said Charlotte, nodding sympathetically. “She actually has to say that or else she’ll be fired. Like, to be fair. But everyone knows it’s going to be me.”
“It’s just like everyone on the squad has to try out again every year, so it at least looks like new people have a chance,” Katie said.
“Like you!” Allison chimed. Then she realized what she’d just said and added quickly, “Although I’m sure you’ll make it if you stick with us.”
Olivia forced herself to smile and nod. I should have sat with Camilla, she thought. And then, out of the corner of her eye, Olivia saw Ivy and her friends about to pass by, carrying their trays.
Charlotte cleared her throat. “It’s such a shame,” she said ultraloud, “when people can’t afford to buy clothes from this century. We should totally set up a charity.”
Oh, my gosh. Charlotte did not just say that! Olivia thought. She stared down at her tray as Ivy brushed past with her friends. Luckily, they didn’t say anything.
When the Goths had gone, Olivia sat up straight. “Charlotte, what was all that about?”
“Excuse me?” Charlotte said haughtily.
“That girl, Ivy, saved my butt this morning. And even if she didn’t, I don’t really think that entitles you to smash her feelings.”