Hanging With The Bad Boys (Edited)

Chapter 28- I Am Never Wrong

I'm at the mall with Arlene; we ditched school after lunch to buy Luke's gift and decorations for his surprise birthday party tomorrow at Justin's house.

Arlene suggests, "Let's buy him some clothes," but I shake my head. Unsure of Luke's tastes, I text Justin.

Me: What does Luke like?

Jerk: Food, sports, girls, naked girls in magazines.

Me: Not you, dumbass.

Jerk: Not sure, but I heard he wanted to go to a water park before his parents died.

Me: Thanks.

I decide on a hoverboard and water park tickets.

"I know what to get him, let's go," I say, pulling Arlene along.

We enter a store where I spot a gold hoverboard. While Arlene texts, I grab it and head to the counter, using my credit card, which my dad reloaded when school started.

"Do you sell gift wrap?" I ask the cashier, who nods. He wraps the hoverboard and adds a bow. I thank him and leave for decorations.

Arlene says, "We have to distract Luke all evening tomorrow." Great.

We search for party balloons, hats, and horns. Arlene adds, "He likes blue and green; Kyle just told me." I nod.

Thirty minutes later, we exit with decorations and head to my car to drop them off. I check my list: gift—check, decorations—check, plan to distract Luke—unchecked.

"We still need a plan," I say.

Arlene suggests, "Just tie him up and put him in your closet until five tomorrow evening."

I shake my head. "We can play in my game room and watch TV."

She nods, "Yeah, I might need to help the boys set up, so I can't help you."

"Ditching me at the last minute?" I tease, plotting my revenge.

We stop at the food court for corn dogs. I spot Trina with Stephanie and her friends; I hadn't seen her since yesterday morning.

"Wow, she's still here? I thought she'd have transferred to slut school by now," Arlene jokes. I laugh loudly, covering my mouth with a newspaper.

I peek over the top and see them ordering. Stephanie frowns at her phone while Trina whispers to her. A guy checks Trina out; she giggles and twirls her hair, then leaves with him to the bathroom. What a slut.

Arlene agrees, "You were right; she's an automatic leg opener."

"I'm never wrong," I reply.

A guy sits next to me and asks, "Did it hurt?"

"Did what hurt?" I frown.

"When you fell from heaven," he smirks. I roll my eyes at his pick-up line.

He continues, "I lost my number; can I have yours?"

Seriously, who falls for that? When I give him the silent treatment, he moves on to one of Stephanie's minions, who blushes and gives him her number. I shouldn't be surprised; she's dumber than she looks.

"Only the dumb ones fall for it," Arlene says, and I nod.

Justin texts me.

Jerk: Hi, we're hanging out at your place tonight.

Me: No problem, we're watching a movie, right?

Jerk: Yeah, and Brandon is coming too.

Me: Yay!

As Trina and her friends leave, I check the time: 2:55 PM.

"What are you getting Luke?" I ask Arlene.

She smirks, "You'll see."

We leave the mall thirty minutes later because someone wanted to shop for party clothes. I drive to Justin's to drop off the decorations.

"I'll put them in the basement until tomorrow," he says. I nod.

On the drive home with Arlene, I think about giving Luke a car for Christmas and asking Dad for a blue SUV. With Trina out, I have the whole house to myself until my dad returns in two weeks.

Arlene smirks, "Let's prank Jordan." I nod.

I walk into the living room, pull out my phone, and use an app to change my voice to a man's, dialing Jordan's number.

"Hello."

"This is the bank; you just won one million dollars!"

"I'm rich, I'm rich, Jacob, I'm rich!" he exclaims.

Arlene and I laugh.

"You need to be at the bank by 8:00 AM and ask for Mr. Joseph."

"Thanks! I really need money right now."

I hear someone shout in the background, "No, you don't! You just got money on your card from Dad!" That's Jacob.

Jordan says, "Don't mind my annoying brother; I'll be at the bank at 8." Then he hangs up.

I laugh so hard I fall off my chair. "Let's follow him tomorrow and see what happens. I think I can get a newspaper with a small camera."

Arlene offers, "I'll videotape, but remember, you have to distract Luke."

I nod.

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