The Seventh Grade Wars

CHAPTER 13: Cricket

Tess showed up that morning in homeroom and muttered in Pete's ear. 

"Operation Sparkles in order," she said. 

Pete squinted. "What do you mean?"

"I'm speaking in code," she said. 

"But you never told us what any code meant," I told her. 

"Yeah. So what's up?" said Pete. 

Tess sighed. "I brought the crickets. They're in cages in my locker."

"Oh. Is that why you're carrying all the books you need for the entire day?"

"Well, yes. But that's okay." 

Tess may have been an airhead, but I appreciated everything she was willing to go through for the team. 

"Great," Pete said. "We'll meet in the cafeteria at our usual lunch table, then head over to Tess' locker to get the crickets. Spread the news, okay, guys?"

That was the plan. Once everybody arrived at the table, we snuck out of the cafeteria and over to the C Building. Tess opened her locker in the corner, and we saw that it was full of plastic cages, stacked on top of each other. Each cage was stuffed full of crickets. It made me feel claustrophobic. 

"Tess, don't you think you overstuffed the cages a little?" Alexa asked, reading my mind. 

"It was the only way I could fit in seven dozen of them," Tess said. 

"I can't believe your uncle had so many crickets on hand," Pete said. 

"He has a lot of snakes to feed," Tess replied. 

"Okay. Well, let's go. We'll need people to go in the girls' and boys' bathrooms in each Side. Um, I'll go with Marcus."

Asia grabbed my wrist. "I'll go with Cricket," she said. 

I blinked. Asia had a look on her face like she was up to something. I didn't like it, but I couldn't argue. 

We split up, and everybody got two cages of crickets. 

"Let's go into the B Side bathroom," Asia said. 

"Why?"

"Because I said so. Come on." 

Nobody was in the B Building. Asia and I snuck into the girls' bathroom and looked around.

"There, above the sink," Asia said. "Climb up."

"Why don't you do it?"

Asia squinted, so I decided it was best not to argue and do what she said. I climbed up on the sides of the sink and took down the grid, which was surprisingly easy. I passed it down to Asia, who set it on the floor. 

"So," she said. 

"Pass me the crickets," I said. 

"So," she said again. "You have a thing for Pete."

Oh boy. How did she know that? It wasn't that obvious, was it?

I could think of nothing else to say than to ask her to pass me the crickets again. 

"I know he has a thing for you too. I can see it," Asia said. "So knock off whatever act you're playing. Pete is mine."

"Asia," I said. "I can't help who Pete is looking at. Or attracted to."

"Keep thinking that, and you'll have to watch out." The sides of Asia's mouth quirked up. "Although, I don't see why Pete would be falling for you. You're basically a mess."