Freak Week

My Name Is...

Normally being trapped in a room with Crush would be favorable, but right now it wasn't. Not when we were so close to figuring out who LoudMouth was. Once we caught him or her, maybe Freak Week would be explained and my life wouldn't be in danger anymore.

But I couldn't do anything trapped in a room with Crush.

Fortunately, it seemed Freak Week was on my side for once. Everything material— and I mean everything— was made of cheese. Even the shirt I was wearing now stank of provolone.

"We have to eat through this door and save my Banana!" I cried, moving to the door cheese. "Hurry!"

"I can't help, Lace."

"Why not?"

He ducked his head. "I'm lactose intolerant."

"Then I guess I'm doing this alone."

"Why don't we wait for someone to save us?" Crush asked.

I turned to him, placing my hands on my hips. "I'm not a damsel in distress. I'm the main female lead who protects her friends. I'll protect you too."

Crush's eyes widened, then his expression became sad. "Actually, Lace. I have something to tell you—"

"CHEESE BALL!" a loud voice suddenly shouted and then the Parmesan door exploded into little flakes. "MAN I wish I had some spaghetti," Harry announced, appearing in the food mess, cheese covering his oily face.

"Harry!" I cried. "I'm actually happy to see you!"

"Let's take down these curds of prey and save Banana!" Marmie said, appearing next to Harry. "Let's put an end to Freak Week once and for all!"

"Thanks for the help, I was about to eat that wall all by myself," I told the pair. "Let's not waste any time though. Operation Rescue Banana is a go."

The four of us tore out of the room Crush and I were locked in. I didn't know where we were going, but my Banana senses were telling me to go to the PA room. Somehow I felt LoudMouth might like to be in areas where he could well... literally have a loud mouth.

As we ran Harry kept grabbing fistfuls of cheese from the walls and lockers. "Gotta get some food in us before we fight," he enlightened us. "Make sure you all eat something."

Beep, beep. My phone went off in my pocket. I pulled it out, seeing a text message from Jim.

Sorry for the delayed response, Lace... But there's something you should know. Crush knows about me and LoudMouth Internet-dating because he used to be a member of the same online science forum. There's a lot we don't know about that kid. Be careful, Lace.

I stared at my phone. What? Crush knew LoudMouth? What did this mean? Was Crush a part of this? Was Crush the one trying to destroy me?

When I opened my mouth to reveal this new information, the words wouldn't come out. How could it be Crush? Someone I loved? How could he be the enemy? How could I make all our friends turn on him? What if it wasn't true?

"You should eat something, Crush," Harry said. "You're so skinny. LoudMouth might break you."

"He can't eat. He's lactose intolerant," I told Harry.

Harry did a double take. "What?"

"Not hungry," Crush said quickly. "Let's quickly save Banana— oof!"

"Mr. Kevin!" Harry cried.

Mr. Kevin patted Crush on the head and apologized for bumping into him. "Hi all—"