The Seventh Grade Wars

CHAPTER 12: Hayley

The past week had pretty much been great, especially since I had Chelsea. We were like real friends. I hadn't actually had any good friends, just people I knew and occasionally talked to. We hung out during lunch. We talked about everything. It was nice. 

On Wednesday, we had another team meeting. The team meetings were okay. We just basically brainstormed lots of pranks in case we ever needed to use some—according to Jordan, we didn't need one quite yet—and it was nice to sit with a group. I learned soon enough who everybody was. 

Riley and Victoria—I just think of them as one person even though they're obviously two. They're dating, and I've pretty much never seen them without each other. Victoria is very pretty and Riley looks cool too. I guess they look good together. 

Diane and Jackie, the twins. They never seem to leave Jordan's side. It's obvious they definitely like him but it's not really evident the other way. But if they annoy him, Jordan doesn't let on.

Hudson Garcia. He's in a couple of my classes, and he's really good in Science. But when he's with his friends, he turns into a spitball-churning machine. Once they blew a bunch onto the ceiling and I'm pretty sure they're still there. 

Then there's Jordan. You never would have known he read Shakespeare just by looking at him. If you didn't know Jordan and you just passed by him in the hall, you would probably think he was a sports jock. A hottie. It was a little unusual mixed with this slightly nerdy side of him, but I liked that. 

Finally, there's Chelsea and I, of course. I didn't really say much, mainly because Diane and Jackie would always be waiting to poke and prod me about, well, pretty much anything. If I spoke, they'd whisper, "Nerd" or just simply snort under their breaths. It didn't feel good. 

That day, we talked about football, of all things. It was Riley who brought it up. 

"Hey, man," he said. "I'd like to know something. Why do only the A Siders get access to the football field?"

"Uh, nobody really gets access to the football field," Jordan said. "Except for sports activities and pep rallies."

"Uh, then why were they there?" Riley said. 

"Huh. We should totally go, too. Challenge 'em to a game," Hudson said. 

Diane made that sound in her throat again. "I thought we were going to play pranks," she said, "not participate in lame sporting events."

"You wouldn't be invited to play anyway," said Riley. 

"Think they'll play again today?" asked Jordan. 

"Maybe." Riley chomped on his burrito. "I walk by the field every day after school to get home. They're not always there, but they might be today."

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Victoria scolded. 

"We should all go and check tomorrow after school," said Jordan. "If they're there, we'll play. That's a good idea, Riley."

"Football is the most popular sport in America," agreed Chelsea. "If we win against A Side, we'll prove our power."

"Power?" I burst out. "This is junior high. Nobody needs power."

Jackie rolled her eyes. "Sure. Nobody needs you either, Hayley. Yet you're still here."

Jordan frowned. "Knock it off, Jackie."

Still, I bent my head down and studied my sandwich. Chelsea nudged me. "Hayley," she whispered. "Don't listen to them. Ever."

What happened after lunch kind of took my mind off of the nasty twins. Because as soon as the next period began, I realized the sounds in my head weren't actually in my head. It was chirping. And it was everywhere. 

"What the heck is that sound?" shouted a boy in the back.

Instead of the teacher telling him off for interrupting, she looked up at the ceiling and knit her eyebrows. "I think it's coming from the air vents."

"Are those crickets?" I asked aloud. 

The chirping sounds got louder. "How strange," Jordan said. He was sitting at the desk next to me. One of his eyebrows was raised, as if he was pondering upon something very important. 

Suddenly, the announcements crackled on. It sounded like Mrs. Henry. 

"Sorry for the interruption," she said, "but I have gotten several complaints about crickets in the A and B Buildings. Please remain calm and continue with your lessons. The school day will continue and an exterminator will be sent today to get rid of the insects. Thank you." The intercom turned off with a high-pitched sound.

The teacher turned back to the board. "As I was saying," she said loudly, over the sound of the crickets. 

A note landed on the edge of my desk, and I unfolded it. In perfectly neat, round handwriting, it said: You know what this means, don't you? -J

I'd never passed notes in class. It wasn't allowed. But...after a quick glance to see if the teacher was looking, I took my pencil and scribbled a message back. 

Uh, that C Side is responsible?

I pushed the note towards him and he grabbed it. A second later: 

Yep. How do you think they got the crickets in the air vents?

There are lots of removable tiles in the ceiling, Jordan wrote. It would have been all too easy. 

I ran my tongue along the roof of my mouth and answered. Is it time for the mega prank? The one we were discussing at our team meeting?

His message came back to me. One word: Yes.