The Seventh Grade Wars

CHAPTER 46: CRICKET

After we'd successfully chased away A Side, Pete and I went downstairs. Our post as the lookout was to be taken over by Harley and Peyton. Marcus took guard duty on the porch.

"I'm going to go get us some sodas," said Pete, and dodged into the crowd.

A second later, Asia showed up behind me.

"Tess just told me," she said.

"Told you...what?" I said.

"You were kissing Pete," Asia said. She looked maddeningly furious. Her hands were on her hips and her dark eyes glowed dangerously.

"I—was not," I answered.

"Oh, really? Tess says she saw you two kissing upstairs on the balcony. Were you not?"

Pete came over and handed me a can of cherry Coke. "Hi, Asia."

"Don't you hey, Asia me," she snarled, and turned and stormed away.

"Cricket? What's going on?" he asked.

I groaned. "Apparently Tess saw us on the balcony during our lookout duty, and now she's gone and told Asia about it."

"Oh, god," he said. "I'm never going to get over this."

Suddenly, his eyes widened at something behind me. "What..."

I turned around. Past the crowd, I could see the A Siders. Dressed all in black, and each holding a string of firecrackers.

Asia was talking to them, but suddenly one of the boys pushed her aside. They lit their firecrackers and started to throw them through the room.

Boom. One landed on the food and drinks table. Another popped harmlessly on the floor.

"Cricket! Look out!" I heard Pete yell, but it was too late. I screamed and fell to the floor, and the last thing I remember was an intense burning sensation on my side.

I woke up later on, and found myself at home in bed. It was daytime. I tried to move, but pain seared through my left arm. I looked over and saw that it was wrapped in bandages from my wrist to past my elbow.

"Hello?" I called. "Anybody here?"

Almost immediately, all three of my family members rushed into my room, nearly colliding in the doorway.

"Cricket! Are you okay?" my mom said urgently.

"Um, not really. What happened?"

"You got burned. By firecrackers," my dad said. "Some kids last night were playing with them at the Halloween party you went to."

"That explains it," I said.

"The kids ran away before they could be caught," my mom said. "Do—do you know who they are, Cricket? Were they older? In your grade?"

"N-no," I stammered. "I don't know who they are."

That was only partly a lie. I did know that Jessica Malboy was the leader of the group, but I honestly had no idea who else was on the A Side team.

"We took you to the doctor's," my dad said. "You need to stay home for a few days, and rest. He says you're very lucky, honey. It could have been a lot worse."

The only person not saying anything was Alana. She was standing quietly in the corner, her lips pressed together.

"Cricket, you really don't know anything about this?" fussed my mother. "We need to report this, and—"

"Mom. I don't know who these kids are," I said.

Alana stepped forwards. "Mom, Dad, this is about the War."