The Seventh Grade Wars

CHAPTER 7: Cricket

A couple days passed by. It was exciting at first, finally being in high school, but after a little while that excitement seemed to die off. The teachers were no longer afraid to give us more than a little homework, and they weren't as lenient when we were late to class. 

Chelsea and I also hadn't spoken in a while, not through the phone nor in person. In fact, I never really saw her anymore, not even in the cafeteria. I supposed she'd taken Hayley somewhere else. 

On Saturday, my mom asked if I was planning to do something with Chelsea. 

"I don't know," I said. "I haven't asked."

"You and Chelsea hang out every weekend, almost," Alana added. (She'd taken to wearing leggings and a T-shirt to school every day, then would change into her shorts and tank top once she got there. Then to keep our parents from knowing, she'd have to switch back into her old clothes on the way home. To me, it seemed like too much of a hassle. But I was willing to keep my mouth shut because Alana had given me ten bucks if I did.)

"Yeah, I know," I said. "I'll call her, okay?"

I actually did want to do something with Chelsea, but I wondered if she was still going to be upset with me. She should have cooled down by now, right?

Upstairs in my room, I dialed her number and waited while the phone rang. She picked up on the second ring. 

"Hey," I said. 

"Hi," Chelsea said. 

"D'you wanna go to the mall or something today? We can go to Starbucks or something. Or Abercrombie & Fitch."

"Uh, I'm already going with somebody else," Chelsea said. 

I frowned. "That Hayley person?"

"I wish you wouldn't talk about Hayley like that."

"But is it Hayley?"

"Yes. We were just heading out."

I was stung. We always did things together. Sometimes we'd have someone else go with us too, but it was always still us. 

"Cricket, don't be like that," Chelsea said, after I was quiet for a while. "You can totally come along too. We'd love that.  You could even apologize to Hayley."

"Apologize?" I asked. "For what?"

"For you and your friends, treating Hayley like that. It was her first day here and quiet frankly, you didn't make her feel too welcome."

"That's ridiculous," I said, although I knew it was a little bit true. 

"No, it's not. She's still upset about it." Chelsea took a deep breath. "But we could put that behind us. Do you want to come with us?" she asked again. 

"Nah," I said. "I have plans anyway."

"Cricket—" Chelsea began, but I hung up. Then I texted Peyton and Alexa and asked them if they wanted to go to the mall with me. 

Sure, Peyton typed back. Heard about this new skateboard shop opening there. We can go check it out!

OK, Alexa replied. I'm supposed to go to my sister's violin recital, but I'll find a way to get out of it. I hate going to the recitals anyway. 

Cool, I said. See you there. 

I logged off the computer feeling satisfied. If Chelsea was going to ditch me, I wanted her to know that I was not alone. I had other friends. True, she didn't seem to like Alexa and Peyton very much, but that just made the revenge even sweeter. 

Peyton, Alexa, and I strolled around the mall. We bought chewing gum, went to check out the skateboard shop Peyton had told us about. 

"I'd really love to have a skateboard," Peyton said wistfully as we browsed the many boards inside. 

Alexa laughed. "What do you mean? You do have one."

"Yeah, but that was my brother's old skateboard," Peyton responded. "He didn't like it 'cause the wheels got all dented after he fell off the pavement one day. Plus it's so plain. Look at this one! I love that." She was holding up a big black skateboard with bright white skulls painted onto it. 

Suddenly, I saw somebody walk past the outside of the shop. Chelsea...and Hayley. Of course. These days Hayley seemed like the was superglued to Chelsea's side. 

Alexa saw me looking. "That Hayley?"

"And Chelsea," I said. "She completely blew me off to go to the mall today."

"I'm sorry, Cricket," said Peyton. "But if she's gonna do that...does that mean she's a real friend of yours?"

I shrugged and turned away. "I guess not."

"Hey. Don't worry about that. You got us!"

"Yeah," I said. "You guys wanna get some frozen yogurt?"