Access Denied (and other eighth grade error messages) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Kara but I do think he likes you.”
    I almost fell over backward off the step ladder. “Would you stop that?”
    Mr. F laughed, rinsing one of the brushes. “So, what’s the problem with this situation?”
    I put the Tootsie Pop in my mouth. “I don’t know,” I said, the round sucker pushing my cheek out. “I guess it’s just, well,
     weird.”
    “Because of last year?” he said. “How you liked Mark and he liked Jilly but you stopped liking him and didn’t think you liked
     him that way anymore. Only now that you’ve found out he might be interested in you, you may be taking a second look?”
    I shook my head in amazement. “Are you sure you aren’t a middle school girl under that gray hair?”
    Mr. F chuckled. “I listen and observe, that’s all.”
    Sighing, I folded the wrapper into a tiny square and tossed it into the garbage can next to the door. “So, I don’t know what
     to do.”
    “Why do you need to do anything?” Setting the brushes carefully on the shelf above the sink, Mr F adjusted them in a neat
     row. “Nothing’s happened yet. Why don’t you let things go the way they will and then decide what to do.”
    I frowned. “But I want to be prepared.”
    “For what?”
    “If they break up,” I said. “If Mark likes me and asks me out. If Kara hates my guts.”
    Mr. F laughed. “That’s a lot of ifs. I think you’re much better off living right here, right now, and not preparing for things
     that may never happen.”
    “But what if they do?”
    Mr. F put some cleaning supplies in the bucket. “Then you’ll handle them with your usual good sense, Erin P. Swift.” He lifted
     the bucket and turned to face me. “Lunch is almost over so if you want to eat, you’d better get going. And I’ve got to get
     to work.”
    “Thanks for nothing, Mr. F,” I said as we knocked fists.
    He laughed. “You’re welcome.”
    Thursday, August 21
    QUESTIONS TO PONDER
    If Mark sent me an energy surge w/o me knowing, did I accidentally send 1 back 2 him? Does he think I like him?
    Why is it that when u find out someone might like u, u start paying more attn 2 them?
    Mr. F doesn’t think we should be prepared for what-ifs. Why not? Isn’t it good 2 be prepared? I don’t get that @ all.
    Is Kara really jealous of me? Her “Hi, Erin” did seem kind of fake.
    HOT——METER
    #1 Mark Sacks —the hair, the butt in shorts—need I say more?
    #2 Mr. Perkins
Other cute guys will go here as I spot them…
    THINGS THAT MAKE ME WONDER
    Why do I wish I’d let Reede finish telling me about her Erin Makeover?
    Why did I try dark eyeliner & more eyeshadow when I got home from school?
    Why did I scrub it off the minute Mom called me down 2 help w/ dinner?
    Why am I looking @ myself in practically every reflective surface I pass 2 c what Reede meant by “really cute”?
    I’m starting 2 wonder if this athlete could really be hot. Is that ok?

CHAPTER 7
LOST AND FOUND
    WHEN ROSIE AND I WALKED into the computer lab for our computers and technology elective the next day, Reede was talking to
     our teacher, Ms. Moreno.
    “My dad’s a pretty big dude in the Internet world,” Reede was saying. “I might be able to get the class some free software
     and stuff.”
    “That would be very nice,” Ms. Moreno said. “Maybe he’d like to speak to the class, too?”
    Reede shifted. “He travels a lot but I can ask him.”
    As I passed by, Reede smiled at me and I smiled back. But I felt a little twinge.
I
was the web expert here. Couldn’t Reede just stay in her popular zone and let me be here?
    When the bell rang, we all settled down. “Before we get started with class,” Ms. Moreno said, “I wanted to mention the Intranet/Internet
     after-school club.” She explained how we were going to work on both the MBMS Intranet and the website. “There are only twenty-five
     spots available for the club. Those of you who were in it last year will have priority. If there are more people who want
     to join than