So Many Boys (The Naughty List #2)(65)

For a second, we both just lay there. Neither of us was really a fighter. It was way too violent. “Ow,” Kira said, rubbing at her forehead, which had smacked the ground next to me. She collapsed on the floor with a sigh, both of us breathing heavy. I turned to look sideways at her.

“I was captain,” she groaned, sounding exhausted. “SOS was mine to fix. I was making it better.”

“No,” I said, wincing as I sat up. I looked at my elbow to see it was skinned, little scratches of blood beginning to show. “You were making it about vengeance. It was supposed to help people, not hurt them. And it’s not your fault you were failing. SOS was a team sport, K. No one Kitten could have pulled it off alone.”

She dropped her arms to her sides, staring up at the beams of the ceiling. “I wanted to stop cheaters. I wanted to make them pay.”

“You were wrong,” I said. “It was never the intent of SOS to exact revenge.” But sitting here now, bruised and bloodied on the gym floor, I realized my part in this mess. I thrust the captainship on her, then abandoned her to figure it out on her own. I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, K. I was wrong.”

I rested my chin on my bare shoulder as I looked back at her. Her eyes snapped to mine, studying me, maybe checking to see if I was sorry. She sat up with a few pained grunts.

“You know, we still have some things to decide,” she murmured. “SOS can’t stop now. And even if you get back on the squad, they’ll never trust you like they used to.”

I nodded. “I have some things to make up for,” I admitted. “And now that people know about SOS, they’ll never stop searching for us. Not unless we can prove we stand for good.”

“Maybe my way is better,” she said, glancing toward me.

“It’s not.” I watched her as she smiled a little, like she was going to challenge everything from here on out.

“I’m still the captain of the Smitten Kittens,” she said.

I couldn’t believe that after everything she’d done, all the lying, she was still adamant about being the captain. I felt anger course through me.

“Oh,” I said. “You’re hereby relieved of captain duty. And possibly off the squad. I’ll let the Smitten Kittens vote on it.”

“Go for it. Some of them will stand with me.”

I considered this. “Not all of them.” But she was right. The squad would be split, and that was no way to cheer. I’d need to figure out a way to bring us back together. Fake friends for the sake of school spirit. At least for a little while.

“Co-captains, then?” I asked, my elbow throbbing.

Kira sneered. “One more thing for us to share.”

“After a mandatory suspension, of course. Let’s say the rest of the football season. We’ll see you during basketball.” It was a harsh sentence, but really, she didn’t have room to complain. She was lucky I wasn’t calling the police.

The gym doors opened with a metal click, and Leona came rushing in followed by Izzie and the rest of the squad. They skidded to a stop when they saw Kira and me sitting on the floor of center court.

“You okay?” Leona called to me. I waved, letting her know I was. At least physically.

Kira smiled, but I knew that smile. It was completely fake—totally inauthentic. It made my heart sink because right then I knew. I knew that things between Kira and me would never be the same.

“Kira’s going to be suspended for the season,” I announced, still sitting down. “She’s admitted fault, and we hope to just move on from here. Repair the squad.”

There was a series of murmurs and quiet patters as the team crossed the gym in their spying outfits.

“But I’ll be back soon,” Kira said, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Co-captain for basketball. You all know I love you and I won’t abandon you.” She looked sideways at me.

Ooh…that really peeved me, but I was trying to keep a brave face. Leona shot Kira a dirty look, then outstretched her hand to mine.

I took it, smiling and blinking back my tears. She was choosing me. She was on my side of the foul line. When I tried to stand up, I was lopsided. I looked down at my foot, noticing that one of my shoes was missing. I glanced around quickly, but it was nowhere in sight. I’d wondered if it had flown under the bleachers when I’d been tackled.

Kira tsked as she slowly climbed up, smoothing back her blonde hair with her hands and avoiding eye contact. “Whatever,” she mumbled.

Izzie stood apart from all of us, looking between Kira and me. She chewed on her lip, switching from foot to foot.

“Izzie—” I started, but she shook her head.

“I’m sorry, Tess,” she whispered, dropping her eyes and crossing the court to stand behind Kira.

My mouth opened, and I was wounded, betrayed. But I didn’t say anything. She’d made her choice.

“She can’t help you get Sam back,” Leona said to her, obviously as bothered by Izzie’s lack of loyalty as I was.

“We’ll see,” Kira answered for her. Looking back over her shoulder to Izzie. “Sam isn’t out of the picture yet.” She smiled at her, then glanced at me. “Unless Tessa wants him, of course.”

“Oh, shove it!” Leona said, and I had to reach out to hold her back. I couldn’t believe that this was what we’d dissolved into. It was tragic. Complete Death of a Salesman tragic.