The Seventh Grade Wars

CHAPTER 15: Hayley

If we'd had any doubts about crashing the football game, they all disappeared after the crickets-in-the-air-vent prank. This made us even more determined to win. 

"Where will we get the football gear?" asked Hudson. 

"Sports closet, I think," Riley said. "We're not actually supposed to break into there, but if A Side did it, we can too."

They launched into a discussion about football positions and last year's Super Bowl, and and Chelsea rolled her eyes besides me. 

"Um, you girls can come and watch the game too," Hudson said, partly because Victoria was giving him the dagger stare. 

"Cool. Thanks," Chelsea said. 

The bell rang, and I got up to leave. 

"He's pretty cute, isn't he?" Chelsea said on the way to class. 

"Please don't be talking about Jordan Walker," I said. 

"No. I've moved on," she replied. 

"Oh. How come? You seemed so interested in him before." 

"You can totally have him, that's why. You two are so perfect for each other."

I blushed, which is something I hate because my face is always so pale in comparison. "Stop it. We are not. I'll bet he never even notices me."

"Then you've got to make him notice you."

"What?"

The late bell rang. "I gotta go, Hayley. I'll see you at the field."

Chelsea's remark left me wondering all day. If somebody isn't interested in you, you can't exactly force them to be. Or maybe this was just another girly thing I was so clueless about. 

I called my father after school to tell him I was going to a football game. 

"I didn't see anything about a game after school," my dad said. He's the kind of parent who's maybe too aware of everything going on at my school. He checks the school webpage on a regular basis. 

"It's just a small game with some kids from seventh grade," I said. "It's not a big deal, so they didn't advertise it. It's more for fun than competition." The last part was a lie. This was of course going to be a really big competition. 

"Okay," my dad said finally. "Walk home when it's over. I'll let your mother know."

I left my things in my locker and went over to the football field. I got lost once, but after pulling out the school map I kept in my pocket, I was finally able to get there. 

Diane and Jackie Reynold were there, of course, and so was Riley and Victoria. 

"Hayley," said Diane, as I climbed the bleachers. "Why are you here? Trying to steal Jordan all for yourself?"

"Well, it won't work," Jackie added on. "Don't you know boys want somebody pretty?"

"Hayley!" Chelsea called. "Don't listen to those wannabes. Come over!"

I gratefully picked my way across the narrow aisle of bleachers and over to Chelsea. She handed me a short green can of Sprite. 

"I've never heard of this drink before," I said.

"It's soda," she said. "I stopped by the vending machine. Try it."

I never really drink soda, because I know it's filled with so much sugar, but I popped open the tab and took a sip. It was so carbonated it stung the inside of my mouth, but I kind of liked it. I drank some more. 

"Those boys are taking so long to get started," Chelsea said, motioning to the gaggle of seventh grade boys at the end of the field. "Wonder when they'll get started."

Just then, three girls came and sat down two rows ahead of us. I only saw their faces for a second, but I knew who it was. Cricket, Alexa, and Peyton. Peyton muttered something to Cricket, and she turned.

"Oh," said Chelsea. "Um. Hi, Cricket."

Cricket nodded curtly. 

"What are you doing here?" Alexa craned her neck towards us. 

"We're here to watch the, uh, the game," I said. 

"And," Chelsea added, "One of the boys who's taken a fancy to her. He's playing for B Side."

Cricket squinted. "You have a boyfriend?" she asked me. 

"He's not her boyfriend yet," Chelsea said. She grinned at me. "Don't fight it, okay?"

"Who is he?" Alexa said, suddenly interested. 

"Jordan."

Peyton's eyebrows raised. "Walker?"

"That's the one."

"He's amazing at sports!"

"And other things, too," I murmured, thinking about how he was so completely smart. I wished he wouldn't keep that hidden.

Alexa and Peyton chattered among themselves, but Cricket snorted. "I don't believe for a second he's got a crush on Hayley." She said my name like something bitter was on her tongue. 

"Yeah," Alexa chimed in. "I don't either. Why would he look at her?" 

I felt my face getting hot, and not just because of the summer heat. 

"Chelsea's probably just said that to get us jealous," said Cricket. She was speaking to Alexa and Peyton, but talked loudly so we could hear. 

Chelsea sighed. "Don't listen," she said. "Wait until they see about you and Jordan Walker. Cricket's going to blow a fuse."

I picked up my Sprite can from where I'd left it on the seat besides me. It had gone warm, and it didn't taste nearly as good. 

When I looked back at Cricket's group, they'd disappeared. 

"Where'd they go?" I asked, worried that Cricket would be standing behind me with a dagger. 

"They said something about a boy on the side of the field, and left."

The game had already began, but C and A Side was playing first. 

I said, "So today you said I should get Jordan to notice me. How would I do that?"

"I don't know," she said. "Maybe you could think of something, but I take it back. He's plenty interested in you anyway."

I paused. "Could you give me a makeover?"

She smiled. "Gosh, don't ask me. I'm terrible at makeup and all that."

"But you wear some."

"Well, that's only for parties and picture day. And even then I only put on the usual. Mascara. Concealer. But hey, maybe it would be fun if we did it together. I bet Savannah can help us."

"Savannah?"

"My sister. I wouldn't expect you to know her. She doesn't come out of her room much, especially when you come over."

"Oh," I said. "But I would kind of like a change."

"Sure. We can do hair and makeup and go shopping for new clothes," she said, and grabbed my arm. "But you can't go around thinking you're not pretty, okay? Because you are. You're amazing. You sure you still want to go for a new look?"

I glanced out at the field. It was B Side's turn to play. Jordan was in the center, looking strong and tall and powerful. 

"Yes," I said. "I'm sure."