Free Access Denied (and other eighth grade error messages) by Denise Vega

to get in trouble?”
    We all laughed.
    “Thank you, Steven,” Ms. Moreno said, “but I’ve already chosen the leaders.”
    Steve pretended to pout while she had one of the seventh graders hand out the papers.
    “I’ve divided up the categories for each group,” she said. “Group leaders, when I call your name, raise your hand so people
     know who you are. Erin Swift, home page and look and feel of the site, and some miscellaneous pages. Erin’s group will be
     Reede Harper, Scott Jensen, Joe Monahan, and Serena Worthington. Next leader is Mark Sacks, faculty and staff pages plus—”
    I stopped listening. I had Reede “Silicon Valley Hot Makeover” Harper AND Serena in my group? I was feeling more comfortable
     around Reede, but what if she knew way more than I did and thought I was a total idiot? She grew up with a techno guru. She
     probably had a memory card embedded in her brain and wireless capabilities through her earlobe. And Serena? Well, even though
     things seemed okay between us, I still wasn’t sure about her.
    I scowled before turning back to my circle of computers where Reede, Scott, Joe, and Serena were gathering.
    “So, Team Leader.” Serena plopped down next to Reede, leaning her face around the monitor. “What will it be this year? Baring
     your butt instead of your soul?”
    Scott shifted in his seat, staring down at his keyboard. He was an eighth grader and knew what Serena was talking about. Joe
     was a seventh grader so he just looked clueless. Reede smirked at me and I raised my eyebrows in response.
    “Funny, Serena,” I said, but she was looking at Reede and suddenly I got it. She wanted Reede to like her. She was using the
     YOHE to get in good with Reede. I had an odd wave of pity for her. “I don’t think anyone wants to see my bare butt,” I said,
     and everyone laughed. “And I’ll try to keep my soul to myself this year.”
    “Except when you want to give it to a high school guy,” Reede said, jiggling her shoulders in an ooh-la-la gesture.
    Serena whipped her head in my direction. “What high school guy?”
    “It’s nothing,” I mumbled, wondering how Reede had found out about Blake.
    “That’s not what I heard,” Reede said.
    Serena was about to say something else when Ms. Moreno called us to attention.
    “Let’s go over the handouts first,” she said, holding up a copy of the stapled papers we all had in front of us. We spent
     the rest of the meeting discussing our game plan and making lists of the things we needed to do to get the website up and
     running.
    After the meeting, Mark, Tyler, and Rosie hung back while I got my stuff together.
    “Some group you’ve got, Swift,” Mark said.
    “Tell me about it.” I said. “I need to talk to Ms. Moreno.”
    “Don’t worry,” Tyler said, “You’re Erin Swift, Webmaster of the Universe.”
    I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is it Opposite Day?”
    He smiled. “It’s actually opposite of opposite day,” Tyler said, pointing at me. “You rule, Erin P. Swift.” He grinned wide.
    Huh. Where did that cute dimple in his right cheek come from? How come I never noticed it when I had a crush on him at computer
     camp?
    I smiled and pointed back at him. “Thanks, Ty. I’ll catch you guys later.”
    The room emptied, leaving Ms. Moreno and I alone. “Before you say anything, may I say something first?” she asked. Obviously
     she knew why I’d stayed after everyone else was gone.
    “I guess,” I said.
    “I put Serena in your group because I think she—well, I think you could be a positive influence on her.”
    I sighed. I just wanted to design the coolest school website ever. I didn’t want to have to be a positive influence on anyone.
     It would be hard enough trying to be cool and competent in front of Reede.
    And why do adults always do that anyway? Just when you’re brave enough to say what you really feel, they force you to do what
     they want by giving you a compliment. It was some kind of twisted