Access Denied (and other eighth grade error messages) (14 page)

“
I
do.” I flipped through the flow charts I’d pulled out of my backpack. “But Ms. Moreno wants me to get Reede involved in the
design, too.”

“Ms. Moreno sure is asking you to do a lot of extra stuff.”

“Tell me about it,” I said. “But maybe Reede will have some good ideas.” It was easier to be nice about Reede with Jilly so
clearly on my side.

“Yeah, like how to wear too much makeup and still have all the guys drooling over you,” Jilly said. I heard her bed squeak
and then her cell ringtone. “Jon’s texting. Can’t wait for Saturday!”

After we’d hung up and I’d finished my homework, I went downstairs and got online. Mark sent me an IM right away.

Slamdunk12:
E, u there?

Webqueen429:
Yep.

Slamdunk12:
So r we hooping this wkend or what?

Webqueen429:
Sun @ 11?

Slamdunk12:
Be there or be a puppet.

Webqueen429:

My computer dinged.

BoardMan218:
Erin?

Webqueen429:
Hey, Blake.

BoardMan218:
Wassup?

Webqueen429:
Not much. U?

Slamdunk12:
E? E? U on w/ some1 else?

Webqueen429:
NOYB.

Slamdunk12:
Is it that Bloke? How’s he doing?

Webqueen429:
How’s Kara doing?

Slamdunk12:
Ok. Ok. So how’d it go w/ Moreno?

Webqueen429:
I’m still stuck w/ SW. My parents said that Ms. Moreno wouldn’t have done it if she didn’t think I was the right person,
blah, blah, blah. But sometimes I don’t want 2 be that person, u

I waited. I wondered what he was thinking as he stared at the screen, reading my words. Did he understand? Did he think I
was stupid? Or maybe he was IMing Kara separately. Or watching ESPN.

Webqueen429:
U there?

Slamdunk12:
Yeah. Just—lotsa words 4 IM.

Webqueen429:

Slamdunk12:
What u said makes sense. I no what u mean. Did you do the history homework yet?

I smiled. Mark was still Mark, no matter what.

Webqueen429:
Yep. U?

BoardMan218:
Erin? Where’d you go? Wassup?

Webqueen429:
Sorry. Not much. U?

BoardMan218:
Same. You IM’ing some1 else?

Slamdunk12:
E? Get off w/ Loverboy & talk 2 me. I need homewk help.

Webqueen429:
Don’t call him that.

Slamdunk12:
Ah ha! u R talking 2 Bland.

Webqueen429:
Shut up.

Slamdunk12:
A little touchy, aren’t u?

I furrowed my brow. I wasn’t touchy. I just didn’t want to talk about it.

Webqueen429:
Is there a reason for this convo or what?

Slamdunk12:
Fine. Yes. I’m wondering if u’ll help a struggling student?

Webqueen429:
Maybe u’re not struggling, just lazy?

BoardMan218:
Erin? What r u talking about?

Oops. How did Blake’s window pop up over Mark’s?

Webqueen429:
Sorry. Someone needed homework help & I got mixed up.

BoardMan218:
Who is it?

Slamdunk12:
E? Come on. Quit leavin me hangin.

Webqueen429:
Just a friend.

BoardMan218:
That’s wat they all say. What’s his name?

Slamdunk12:
I’m logging off. Call me when u r not so busy w/ your BF.

I waited but Mark didn’t say anything else. I clicked on Blake’s window.

Webqueen429:
They logged off. Can’t wait 4 Sat!

BoardMan218:
Me either. & we need that foosball rematch.

Webqueen429:
U like 2 suffer.

BoardMan218:
U wish—Gtg

Webqueen429:
c u

I was sweating and my breath was coming fast when I logged off. Whew. That was close.