The Seventh Grade Wars

CHAPTER 10: Cricket

Monday morning, we were welcomed back into school by a really bad smell. Not just any bad smell. On a scale from one to ten, this would have been way up there. 

Peyton, Alexa, and I had walked to school together that morning. As we approached the C Building, Pete and Asia hurried out. Asia was pinching onto her nose. She was clinging onto his elbow, as usual. 

"Don't go in there, you guys," said Pete. 

"Yeah," chimed in Asia. "It smells totally bad."

"Asia," said Peyton, "We told you already. Stop spraying your perfume everywhere."

"No doubt that's why," I agreed. 

Asia glared. "Whatever, you morons. Step in there and see for yourself." She glided off in the direction of the cafeteria. Pete sighed. 

"Asia's hard to handle," he explained. "But she's right. It actually does smell bad." He glided off after his girlfriend, leaving the three of us standing in front of the doors. 

"Should we go someplace else?" Alexa asked. 

"No, duh." Peyton shouldered her sports bag. "We go in, of course." She pushed open the door. "See? It smells fine. Asia just loves to—OH MY GOD." she slammed it shut again. "Jeez, that was disgusting."

Alexa and I were standing close enough to get a good whiff as well. 

"Smells like bug spray," Alexa said. "The brand that nobody will buy anymore 'cause, well, you know."

"How do you know?" I asked, fanning the air in front of my face. 

"My brother pranked us for April Fools," Alexa explained. "He covered the bug spray can with a Febreeze label. You know what happened next."

"Well, I know what it smells like," Peyton said. "Just like farts. On a hot summer's day. Covered with—"

"Peyton."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

So we used our backpacks, which were stuffed full of papers and folders and binders, as cushions to lean back against the outside wall of the school and talk, because we sure were not going back into there. 

A couple minutes away from the bell, seemingly the entire C Side was gathered at the doors. There were even a couple teachers standing with us, not wanting to go inside. The bell rang, but still nobody moved. 

A couple minutes later, Mrs. Henry teetered into the crowd on her super high shoes. Dressed all in black like a raven, that was pretty much what she was. Alana says when she passes by, kids hide their gum under their tongues, teachers pretend to be hard at work, the troublemakers temporarily stay out of trouble. Because if she caught you so much as breathing wrong, you'll suffer detention. Alana told me she usually takes the detention shifts just so she can freak out more of her victims. 

Mrs. Henry looked pretty out-of-order. Stressed out, maybe. 

"What are all you doing out here?" she said loudly. "Go inside!"

"It smells bad in there, Mrs. Henry," someone called, "Like really bad."

The principal took a deep breath. "B Side had the same problem. A Siders, most likely...well, you all go inside. Never mind what it smells like! I'll send the janitor." Then she turned and stride off, heels clicking loudly on the cement. 

"Guess we should go inside now," Alexa said. 

"Yep. Don't want to cross the Raven," I added, referring to Alana's nickname for her. We followed the many people inside and, holding our breaths, forged into our morning classes.