Page 33 of Pretty When She Breaks

“We locked both doors,” Jule said. “You can’t leave until we say so.”

They scowled, finally stilling under him.

“Whatever,” they said. “Get off me, you loser.”

Jule grinned, letting them go. They scrambled up, lifting their chin and folding their arms.

“Who’s the best?” Jule asked.

“You,” I responded, and he high-fived me.

“What do you two even want?” Their hoodie fell off, revealing a head of messy, short hair and pretty, dark eyes. A girl, like I’d thought. Her face was red, and she was ignoring Jule, who was staring at her. His ears had turned a bit pink.

“We know you sneak in here and steal stuff,” I said, rushing over and bouncingon my feet.

She was so cool.

“As if.” She scoffed. “You’re full of it.”

“You’re really bratty,” Jule said, smirking. “For what, an eight-year-old?”

“I’m twelve, asshole,” she hissed, looking at him again and narrowing her eyes. Her blush deepened, and she deliberately looked back at me.

“We’ve seen you stealing things,” I said, getting back to the point. “It’s so cool.”

“Eh, it’s not that impressive.” Jule shrugged.

She snorted. “Is too. I’m the best. I could steal whatever I want from a prissy jerk like you.”

“Yeah, right,” Jule said. “Bet you couldn’t.”

She was the one to smirk this time and held up Jule's key and three bottles of nail polish. “Eat your words.”

I laughed, and she held her hand up for a high five. I didn’t hesitate.

Jule went red, a scowl on his face. “Traitor,” he muttered at me.

“How did you do that?” I asked her, grabbing her arm. “Can you teach us?”

“You, maybe. But not your butt-face brother.”

I sniggered.

“Whatever,” Jule said. “Then Laurel won’t teach you about all the secret passages.”

“I won’t?” I asked.

“Nope.” He pulled me over to his side. “Even she’s not that much of a traitor. You teach us both how to steal stuff, and we teach you how to sneak all over the casino without being seen. Right, Laurel?”

He looked at me, and I wrinkled my nose.

“Yeah…okay.” I shot the girl an apologetic look. He was my BFF, after all.

“Fine.” She shrugged. “Tomorrow. Same time, same place.”

“Yes!” I said, jumping up and down again.

“I’m keeping these, though.” She pocketed the nail polish and Jule’s key. “Finders keepers.”