Page 37 of The Executioners Three
“No,”Freddie grumbled, hoping he didn’t press any harder. The truth was she’d rather swim in the lake during winter than invite her new Prank Squad friends to this.
“Alright, then. The show must go on.” With a little shake, he changed from the guy who was a family friend into the guy who always told Freddie her jazz hands weren’t good enough.Sparklier, Freddie! Make them sparklier!
After hopping the stage steps, Mr. Binder pulled a rolled-up stack of paper from his vest. “I tweaked the script a little this year, if you want to have a look.”
“I’m sure it’s fine, Jim.” Mom didn’t even glance at the pages he handed her. She was chewing her lip and staring at the empty Village. Outdoor heaters stood sentry at the end of each bench.
They looked defeated with no one at all to keep warm.
“I just don’t understand,” Mom murmured. “I put up flyers in all the usual places. And it’s a small town! People talk!”
“There’s still five minutes.” Freddie patted her mom’s shoulder. “People will come—I’msurethey’ll come.”
People did not come. Literally no one showed up, and five minutes later, after ascending the clattery stairs onto the stage, Freddie found herself standing all alone at the center and staring mournfully down at her mom and Mr. Binder. Her fingers were cold, so she shoved them into her peacoat pockets.
And she couldn’t stop dreaming of her lost scarf. It would be so welcome right about now.
“You’re such a good sport,” Mr. Binder called from the front row. “I’ll get Greg and Principal Tamura to come to our next practice, but for now, why don’t you go ahead and get…” He trailed off. “Wait, Patty—do you hear that? I think people are coming!”
Sure enough, Freddie heard it too: car engines. Lots of car engines.
At first, Freddie thought,OH MY GOD, THANK YOU, JESUS.Until the engines cut and voices followed. Voices that—weirdly—sounded like teenagers. Moments later, she could see the people reaching the gate, and although they were very clearly her own age, she didn’t know any of them.
Except for the figure at the fore—a lanky, sauntering person with his hands in his pockets and a smirk that bordered on evil.
Freddie darted for the stage steps. “No, no, no.” She leaped down two at a time. Gone were any thoughts of missing scarves or torturous pageants. Instead, she suddenly understood exactly how Tybalt had felt when he’d learned Romeo had crashed his party. She flew over the dirt and reached Theo Porter before her mom could.
He grinned at Freddie like she imagined the Big Bad Wolf might: hungry andverypleased with himself.
“What,” she spat, “are you doing here?”
“What does it look like?” He bobbed his shoulders innocently. “We’re volunteering.”
“No you’re not—”
“Freddie!” Mom cried. “Stop that!” She shoved in close and thrust out a hand. Her eyes glowed with excitement; her cheeks glowed with cold. “I’m Patricia Gellar. Thank you so much for coming. And so many of you, too!”
Theo—curse him—bared a smile that oozed Romeo charm. The effect was only enhanced by his perfectly combed hair, his fitted gray sweater, and his flattering navy fleece jacket.
Boys didn’t dress that nicely outside of catalogs. Andohhow Freddie wanted to destroy him.
“You must be Freddie’s mom.” Theo shook her hand. “I’m Theo Porter, ma’am. And can I just say how much weloveyour daughter over at Fortin Prep?”
“You do?” Mom’s eyebrows popped high. “I mean, of course you do!” She giggled before twisting to Freddie and whispering, “You are officially the best daughter ever. What a surprise!”
Freddie held her tongue. Because what else could she do? She wasnotthe best daughter ever, and Theo was obviously up to no good.
Well, over her dead body would he ruin this pageant.
“Oh, Freddie, this means you won’t have to play all the roles!”
“Yay,” Freddie said flatly, her focus never leaving Theo. To think that only yesterday she’d thought he might be an okay guy.
“And Greg won’t have to perform either!” Mom’s elated gaze swept over the benches—which now had more than enough bodies to fill the pageant.
Freddie hoped they all got beard hairs stuck to their chins.
“Yay,” Freddie repeated. Theo was staring back at her, but instead of murder in his eyes, there was only delight.
