Read Online Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder - Free Book Online Page A

Don’t come over here. Not now.
    She frowned at Lakshmi and shook her head subtly—almost imperceptibly—hoping she would get the hint.
    Lakshmi stopped, confused. Then realization dawned. She changed course and made her way to the register to order her drink.
    Whew, Hazel thought. That was close.
    â€œAnd now, Haze, it’s time for your final present,” Sylvia announced. She pulled out a small, rectangular package in purple wrapping and placed it in front of Hazel.
    â€œYou guys know you didn’t have to do this,” Hazel gushed. “All the gifts were so unexpected.”
    â€œJust open it,” Sylvia commanded. “This one is the most important of all.”
    Hazel unwrapped the package and found that it contained a small purple notebook. It had been carefully decorated with stickers, mostly of purple flowers. The center of the cover read:
    Â 
    PURPLEHAZE
    PLD HANDBOOK
    Â 
    Hazel opened it. There was a sparkly pen topped with a purple feather lying on the first page, which read, RULES .
    â€œIt looks silly, but we wrote these up in middle school, so we tried to make yours look like a little replica of the originals,” Sylvia explained. “We’ve made a few amendments, but the rules are basically the same ones we started out with.”
    The others nodded, Carolyn chuckling as if at a private joke.
    Sylvia held up a finger. “Rule number one?” She looked at the three PLDs.
    â€œPLD loyalty,” Ellen quickly replied. “Before guys and anyone else.”
    â€œThat’s our most basic rule,” Sylvia said. She looked back at Hazel and leaned forward on her elbows. “Think about a herd of animals. Gazelles. Predators pick off the weak ones, the ones on the outside. The ones who stay close together survive.”
    â€œWe’ve been through a lot,” Megan elaborated. “We’ve tried to have outside friends, and it just doesn’t work. We stick together, and it makes us solid.” The others nodded.
    â€œThat means you’re free of those hangers-on,” Sylvia whispered, “from this point forward.”
    She didn’t need to explain. Hazel knew she was referring to Lakshmi, who was now seated a few feet away, pretending to read a gossip magazine.
    â€œThe second rule is, you have to uphold the PLD standards,” Sylvia went on. “We have to look good, be united. Support each other. There are people who would like nothing better than to see us fall flat on our faces. Which is why we need to let each other know if we’re slipping.”
    She placed a hand on Ellen’s shoulder. Ellen’s cheeks colored.
    It was a harsh rule, Hazel knew, but it was true. Here at the top of the food chain, it was survival of the coolest.
    â€œHere’s some important info,” Sylvia explained, flipping toward the center of the notebook. “Basic info. Our phone numbers, birthdays, locker combinations, stuff like that.”
    â€œLocker combinations?” Hazel echoed, a little uneasy.
    â€œSure. We leave things for each other,” Ellen replied. “Like, when one of us is down, we surprise her with a little something to cheer her up.”
    â€œOh. Um, that’s nice.” Nice, Hazel thought, until the PLDs get you busted by vice principal Clancy.
    â€œNeedless to say, you cannot lose this notebook,” Carolyn pointed out. “If you do, people who are jealous of us could use it against us.”
    â€œAnd while we’re on that subject,” Sylvia continued, “I know you had a class with Breona. She’s gone, but all her little friends are still around. You cannot speak to any of them under any circumstances, all right?” She gave Hazel a hard stare.
    â€œNo problem,” Hazel said.
    â€œGood. Moving onward.” Sylvia turned a page to show an elaborate spreadsheet. Each of the PLDs’ names was printed there, in a column. Sylvia’s first, then Megan,