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the other end. It was just enough to make me sweat. “ Oh, so you mean you called me up so you could make me believe that a girl would actually be interested enough to ask me out just so you could tell me it was all some cruel joke?”
    That sounded terrible. “No, not really. I…” explaining made it sound lame because all of a sudden when he repeated it back to me, it did sound lame, plus everyone was staring at me. I was supposed to look strong and somewhat clever.
    “ How charming of you,” he added.
    I gave a weak laugh. I couldn’t let him turn this on me. “As if you have any problem with girls asking you out!”
    Tory straightened nervously. I wasn’t supposed to compliment the enemy, even if it was backhanded. I felt my face go red for a lot of reasons. Maybe Byron would think this was funny and it would all be okay. I mean, we just wanted him to sweat, not…not—I don’t know— to have feelings . I forced my voice into more teasing tones. “Just admit I got you, Lord Byron.”
    “ Only one person calls me Lord Byron, Suzy Q.” Before I could hang up in sheer panic, the doorbell rang. “Hey, let’s not fight,” he said softly. “In fact, I left a little present on your doorstep just for you…to celebrate the holiday, of course.” My heart made a skydive out of my chest. “Hope you like it, cuz.”
    Cuz? Was that short for cousin or something?
    He hung up, leaving me in stunned silence. I turned to the other girls and we listened to Sandra’s heels catch on the carpet on her way to the door. Nothing would stop her from finding this latest humiliation. The front door creaked open. It was followed by a shrill shriek. I thought I had executed the plan flawlessly, but apparently Lord Byron had been onto me almost from the beginning, but when? He had set a perfect diversion by acting the part of the nice guy. That was usually when guys got the best of me.
    Sandra stormed into our room, her long fingernails digging into a bunch of crumpled flowers. “Why would someone pick my tulips, huh? I just bought these!” She flung them at me. “I can only assume it has to do with your stupid pranks, Madeleine!”
    I picked them off the floor. “I’m sure it doesn’t.” I said it out of habit.
    “There’s a note.” Lizzie pointed out.
    Sandra flung the note at me and she slammed my bedroom door shut behind her. I turned the note over. It was written on the back of some chemistry notes from yesterday’s class. Underneath, Lord Byron had colored in a dark black spot like we were pirates in Treasure Island . He had declared war. He had officially declared war! I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that kind of commitment until I read the note: “In your dreams, Mad Dog.”
    Kali was the first to find her voice. “Mad Dog?” She glanced over at me. I could almost see the rusty batteries working in her brain. “Madeleine Doggett! That’s you!” She giggled. “He’s so very clever, isn’t he?” I cringed at the compliment. “Mad Dog. I’m going to call you Mad Dog from now on! It’s perfect.”
    Tory murmured an excuse and left for her own apartment downstairs. Her red hair shot behind her like a flame. She disliked losing a battle as much as I did.
    Lizzie sighed. “I hope you’re not planning some sort of counterattack, Mad Dog.” It disturbed me how easily my new nickname rolled off her tongue.
    “Are you kidding?” I crumpled the paper in my hand. “Lord Byron is no match for me. He won’t last a day.”

Chapter Four

    Day 103
    2232 hours
     
    “ The night was crisp, deceptively peaceful. My squadron sat on the green shag carpet in their wary positions next to an open window. We listened to the rain tapping softly into the cold ground as we waited for a counterattack from Lord Byron’s men. These scribbles might be my last. But I must tell my story though pen cannot describe the horrors of this last semester.”
     
    —Madeleine’s War Journal Entry (Saturday, May 26th).
     
     
    I