The Classy Crooks Club by Alison Cherry

Author:Alison Cherry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

12

Grandma Jo agrees to let me sleep over at Maddie’s house on Thursday night as long as I spend all my afternoons practicing my lock picking in preparation for Friday’s bear heist. On Thursday morning, she sits me down and gives me a talk about how I am not to mention the heists to my friends under any circumstances, no matter how tired I get, but she’s not nearly as snippy about it as usual. I can’t believe I’ve actually started to prove to Grandma Jo that I’m a responsible person, but shockingly enough, it seems like I’m on the right track.

Before I go, I cut three big pieces of the leftover chocolate cake in the kitchen, wrap them in aluminum foil, and sneak them into my bag as a peace offering for Maddie. It’s only fair that my friends should get to taste Debbie’s baking even though they’re not allowed in my grandmother’s house.

I avoid Brianna all through soccer practice, and I’m pretty sure Maddie notices, because things between us don’t feel awkward at all. I wonder if maybe I imagined the weirdness between us the other day. As we run our laps, she and Amy and I talk about nothing—whether Skittles or M&M’S are better, how Maddie’s sister wants to audition for a reality show, whether or not my parents have killed any anacondas in the Amazon. When Amy wants to know how to kill an anaconda, Maddie and I tag-team, explaining what my dad taught us, talking over each other and making wild hand gestures like we always used to do. Is it possible things have gone back to normal without me even having to try?

I’m changing out of my cleats at the end of practice, feeling pretty relaxed about the evening ahead, when Brianna jogs over. She doesn’t say hi to Amy or Maddie; it’s like she doesn’t even see them. “Here,” she says as she holds out a thick silver envelope to me.

On the front, my name is written in calligraphy—not AJ, but full-blown Annemarie. The paper is thick and expensive, and I feel bad for touching it with my sweaty hand. “What is this?” I ask.

“It’s for my birthday party next week,” Brianna says. I can feel Maddie and Amy exchanging a look behind my back, but I say, “Okay, cool,” because what else am I supposed to do? It’s not like I can refuse to take the invitation.

“Let me know if you can come as soon as possible, okay? We need to know how many cosmetologists to hire and how many lobsters to order.” Brianna spins around and stalks off, and Maddie shoots her a look of such pure hatred that I’m surprised Brianna’s head doesn’t explode, showering brains and diamond earrings and clumps of perfect hair everywhere.

“That was really rude of her,” I say; maybe the damage won’t be so bad if I get that out in the open right away. “I’m sorry she did that in front of you guys.”

Maddie snorts. “As if I’d actually want to go to her party.

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