The Seventh Grade Wars

CHAPTER 24: Hayley

More news on the War: C Side had taken a blow at A Side by posting a humiliating picture of A Side's team leader: Jessica Malboy. Harley found it for us on an online blog C Side had started. So far, he said, it had gotten nearly a hundred views. 

"No way, man," said Riley, when Harley reported this news. 

"Of course," said Harley. "Stats don't lie." He shoved his phone, with the blog pulled up, in front of Riley's face. "Plus, not all of them are from seventh grade, probably. Lots of the older grades are probably watching this War."

"Then we should start our own blog, too," said Jordan. "And I nominate Hayley to help write it."

I was totally taken aback. I quickly swallowed the bite of tortilla wrap I had in my mouth.

"Me?" I squeaked. 

"Of course," said Jordan, smiling at me. "You love to read, don't you? You're probably the best one here at writing, too. And I could help you with the technology."

"You'd be awesome at that," Chelsea said. 

I grinned. "Okay." I honestly loved to write, almost as much as I loved reading. Last Christmas my parents had gotten me a brand-new laptop, since I was always hogging my father's in his study room. Most kids played Minecraft. I just wrote all the time. I was currently working on a historical fiction piece, which takes place during the time of the Titanic, 1912. But I never share my writing with anybody, except occasionally my dad when I need writing tips. 

I want to become a published author someday. And hopefully, that day comes very soon. 

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Diane leaning over the table at me. 

"Nerd," she whispered nastily, and I didn't have a reply. 

Maybe that I'd have to work on next. 

Jordan called me up after school that day, when I had just happened to have finished my homework. When my phone buzzed, I immediately picked it up.

"Hey," he said. "What are you up to now?"

"Nothing much," I said. "Reading."

"Oh," he said. "Well, do you want to come over to my house now and work on the blog?"

"Now?" I asked. 

"Yeah. Um, I think it would be good. We'd have to get it up and running as soon as possible."

I agreed. "Sure," I said. "I'll be over in a second. Just let me finish this chapter first. I'm almost at the end."

"Okay," said Jordan. "Which book are you reading?"

I smiled. I liked how I could be a total nerd around Jordan and he wouldn't care. He was actually kind of a nerd too. 

"The Book Thief," I informed him. 

"Oh. I haven't read that. Is it good?"

"Very," I said. 

He said he'd try to read it, then left me to finish my chapter. Once I did, I got up, put on my shoes, and walked over to his house. 

I rang the doorbell, and Jordan answered only a couple seconds after. 

"Hi," I said. 

"Hey," he replied. "Come on in."

He lead me in and through the hallway, leading to a small but cozy living room. His house wasn't big, but I liked how neat and tidy it was. 

There was a tall, muscular teenager sitting on the couch, Beats headphones in his ears. When he saw us, the first thing he asked was, "Who's the chick?"

"I'm not a chick," I said. 

"Ace, shut up," said Jordan, but he was trying not to laugh. "This is my friend Hayley. Hayley, this is my brother Ace. I told you we were going to work on a webpage together, right? Ace?"

"Oh, yeah." Ace reached out his hand, and I took it. "Nice to meet you, Hayley. You seem much better than Jordan's other girls. Those ones decided to come to our house at eleven at night and throw pebbles at his window."

"Diane and Jackie," said Jordan. To me, he explained, "they messed up. They thought Ace's bedroom was mine and decided to wake him up instead."

I nodded. That was exactly what those twins would do. 

"Hey, if you need the living room, it's yours," said Ace quickly. "I'll go upstairs."

"Oh. Thanks," said Jordan. 

"Thank you," I said. 

Once Ace left, we sat down on the worn-out couch. Jordan pulled out a computer and opened it to a window. 

"First to create the blog," he said. "What should we call it—?"