But she had an evil glint in her eyes. Which meant it was probably something way bigger. Maybe she’d get expelled and the kissing booth would be postponed.

Chapter 23 – The Kiss Thief Strikes Again

Wednesday

“Seriously, Soph, just tell me what you’re about to do.” Yes, I didn’t want to take part in Operation Kissing Booth. But I didn’t really want her to get expelled. There were other ways to get out of kissing a bunch of football players.

“I have to take advantage of the situation I was handed,” Sophie said.

“What situation?”

“Mr. Halifax being out of his room.”

I just stared at her. Was I supposed to understand what was happening here? “I’m so confused.”

“Just be outside his room in 19 minutes and you’ll see everything.”

I didn’t like the way she’d emphasized those last two words. But I didn’t have time to argue with her, because she hurried off in the opposite direction of our lockers.

I shook my head. I guess I had 19 minutes to figure out another solution to getting out of the kissing booth. And I already had an idea in my head. I hurried to RJ’s locker.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey, baby doll.”

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

I rolled my eyes. It was probably a bad idea to complain about the nickname when I was here for a favor. “Did you have any luck tracking that phone number?”

“Nah. It was a burner like we thought.”

“Crap.” I sighed. I’d figured that. “Do you think you could help me with something else?”

“Anything for you.”

I was glad I knew that my kiss thief was a senior, or I’d still be very concerned it was RJ right now. “Do you have access to the latest Hunter Tech cameras? The ones that are barely visible?”

“The V22s?”

“Um...yes?” I didn’t realize they were already on version 22.

He laughed. “You really should be more up to date with our latest innovations, baby doll.”

“I’m not running the company.”

“But one of us will be one day. What do you need the cameras for?”

“I...um...just need them.”

“Right. For what?”

“For private stuff.”

He laughed. “They’re still prototypes. I can’t just go into the Hunter Tech vault, steal them, and give them out all willy nilly.”

“Then give me the V21s instead.”

He gasped. “Those exploded, don’t you remember?”

“Oh, right. Yeah. Not that version then.”

“Just tell me what you need them for. And they’re all yours.”

I sighed. “Can this stay between us?”

“Of course, baby doll.”

I shook my head. “I need to figure out who the Empire High mascot is.”

“It’s an eagle,” Liam said as he opened his locker next to RJ’s.

“Ha. Ha. You’re hilarious. I need to know who wears the mascot costume, genius.”