We Crashed An Eighth Grade Party by Maggie Morris, Grace Smith (each kindness read aloud txt) 📕

I slammed my locker shut, and checked my phone for texts from Andie. There weren’t any thirty seconds ago and there aren’t any now. I blow air out of my mouth in exasperation. Andie was supposed to text me what time I needed to come over tonight.

After a month of begging, my mom finally decided to let me spend the night at her house tonight. It always takes at least 5-7 business days to convince them to let me do ANYTHING. Her parents let her do everything. Like that one time when she snuck backstage at a Taylor Swift concert and got the celebrity’s phone number by literally taking Taylor’s phone and looking up the number. Then she proceeded to spill water on her phone  and was never able to get the number back.

And her parents didn’t even care.

That’s Andie for you. But she is super sweet and we’ve been best friends ever since the fourth grade when Andie moved to Springfield from Alaska where her parents were researching the Northern sea otter. After a few days we just clicked.

Ugh. The warning bell just rang so I was going to be late. Which sucks, because my learning strategies teacher is strict.

I really didn’t understand the point of that class. I knew how to learn. I was very good at it or I would not be in all Gifted classes. It just wastes time when I could be learning a new language or studying philosophy.

Finally, breathing hard, I reached the classroom. I plopped into my chair just as the final bell rang. Puffing I got out my crossword puzzle from yesterday. I’m serious. A CROSSWORD. I flip it over and start drawing a picture of my crush Aaron Dacre.

“Kameron!” Mrs. Maurice glared up at me from her 4 feet 6 inches. “Would you like to share with the class what you are doing?” She said as she snatched the paper from my hands. “Kami and Aaron for ever? You teenagers, with your crushes and likes. I’ll be telling the principle about this young lady. Doodling during class. Hmph.” I was mortified that she had read that out loud.

“Oh no, my friend wrote that it isn’t mine at all.” I laughed nervously, trying to blow it off with a joke.

“Really?” She said. “I’m not buying it. Thanks, though. Now I have something interesting to talk about in the teacher's lounge.”

I shook my phone angrily, silently willing for it to turn on. It had fallen out of my pocket and into the toilet, and even though it seemed remotely fine, it wasn’t lighting up.

This was the second time my phone had broken this month, and my parents were NOT going to want to buy me a new one.

But there was no time to try to fix it now. Passing period was only five minutes long, and it started three minutes ago. I rushed off to my next class, which was science. I would have to wait until lunch to tell Kameron about the party.

I hurriedly shuffled down the hall, juggling my books and binder. As I rounded the corner,I glanced down to see if my phone was working.

“Why won’t you turn-” I was airborne for about two seconds. Then I slammed hard on the ground, trying to grasp what had happened.

“Oh my gosh, are you alright?” A boy with greyish-blue eyes was peering over me. “I’m so sorry, Andie!”

“Do I know you?” I asked ignoring his apology.

“Yeah,” he said, a hint of hurt flashing in his eyes, “I’m Jack, from Advanced ELA and Industrial Tech.”

Now it was my turn to apologize. “I’m sorry, I just didn’t recognize you. Did you get a haircut recently?”

“No.” Guilt burned in my stomach, and I swallowed.

“Oh, okay.” The warning bell rang. “Look, I really have to get to class. I’ll see you in Industrial Tech.” I stood up to get my things, but Jack brushed my arm. “What is it?” I snapped. This time his eyes became guarded. I softened.

“I just wanted to ask if you were free this weekend. We could maybe go get a shake or something?” Jack offered. I was taken aback. Ew. No, I thought. I couldn’t think of anything worse.

“Um, no, um, I’m really busy tonight,” I said, improvising.

He frowned. “But what about the rest of the weekend?”

“Yeah, uh, I have, uh, STUFF then, too!” I winced at my own lie.

“ALL weekend?”

“Well, the thing is my parents, they are, uh, very sick, and in the hospital, yeah,” I said getting into the story. “They both got mono or cancer yesterday, we don’t really know.  to take care of my newborn twins who were BORN yesterday. And I am starting to get sick, too. I think I may be contagious.” I coughed for an extra measure.

“Sure,” Jack glared, sarcasm coating his voice. “Well, thanks for blowing, me off. You could’ve just said you weren’t interested.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but then closed it. I wasn’t going to be immature like him. Without another word, I spun on my heel and headed to science.

I was about to open the door when the bell rang. I sighed and shoved the door open, my head held high.

“Late again, Coxx. Your excuse this time?” Mr. Griffin asked, checking his papers.

“A guy was asking me out.” I smiled when I saw my teacher’s eyebrows raise slightly.

“Right. Well, open your notebook and get some goggles. We’re starting a new experiment.” He stood up and started passing out papers. When he got to my desk, he dropped a test with a huge letter “F” marked in red. So cliche.

I’ve never been good at science. It’s really strange, because both my parents are biologists for Animal Planet. I’ve just never had the knack for conducting experiments and understanding physics. I was more interested in reading and writing, which I spent my time doing daily.

I grabbed a pair of goggles and hunkered down for a boring class. I actually liked Mr. Griffin, because he was good-looking for a thirty-year-old man and had a sense of humor.

“Today, guys, we’re going to start a partner project. We’re going to do the classic Mentos and soda experiment, but every group has to put a special twist on it. Add in an independent variable. You’ll have until Friday NEXT week to finish these, and the best project will be entered into the state science fair. I’ll pass out two-liters and Mentos when you show me your plan. Now, partner up and get started.”

I glanced around the room, looking for someone to partner with. If only Kameron were in this class. Finally spotting my friend Regan, I scooted over to her desk and started planning.

~~~

The bell rang, dismissing us. I waved goodbye to Regan and headed off to lunch with Kameron.

“Andie, why in the world haven’t you been answering my texts?” Kameron said as soon as she saw me.

I held up my phone and replied, “Dropped it in the toilet.”

“But you did that last month!”

“I can’t help it that my pockets aren’t deep enough,” I shrugged.

I had to get away from this. All the pulsing lights and pounding music were giving me a headache. Coming here was a mistake. A big one.

I pushed through groups of people, one goal in my mind-find Kameron. I shakily walked forward, just as a guy holding a solo cup bumped into me spilling his drink all over me.

"Sorry," he slurred. I made a disgusted face and opened the nearest door, stepping into the room. I shut the door behind me and smiled as the sounds became muffled. Surprisingly, the bedroom was empty. I would just take a minute to catch my breath, then I would go search for Kameron.

I walked over to the bed and sat down on the pillows. I screamed. The pillows weren't pillows, it was a body. I pulled the comforter back and there was a guy, laying on the bed, smiling up at me.

Astonished, I glanced around the room, spotting the pillows lying on the ground.

"E-excuse me," I said, "I didn't know you were in here." I started to stand up to leave, but the guy grabbed my arm.

"No. Stay awhile." I shook my head rapidly, just as he yanked me onto the bed. He grabbed at my shirt and simotaneously buried his fingers in my hair.

"Let me go!" I brought my knee up hard into his stomach, flinching as my knee collided with his abs. He groaned, but kept a tight hold on my shirt. "No!" I shrieked.

He pulled down onto him, forcing my lips against his. I struggled, but he won. My vision suddenly blurred, and blackness seeped into my mind.

* * * * *

I woke up in darkness, and struggled to remember what had happened, but my mind failed me. I didn't know what the guy had done.

I tried to move, and realized that my hands and feet were bound tightly, and there was a gag around my mouth. Using my tongue and chin, I worked it down to my neck.

"Hello?" I called. At that, I noticed the humming sound and the shaking back in forth. I must've been in a vehicle.

Publication Date: 11-02-2016

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
This book is dedicated to Alaina Fulkerson for always being there for us.