Chapter 7 

I was almost out the door when Mrs. Hansen called out my name, "Jaden," I turned to face her, "Yes?" 

"I'd like to talk to you about a program." I looked to the hall then to Mrs. Hansen. I stepped closer to her and I knew that I wouldn't be able to what I needed to do. "Don't worry I'll give you a pass." She patted a chair for me to sit down. I felt like being in kindergarten sent to time out. 

I took a seat and listened, "Jaden I'd like to put you in a program called Green Life Protection. I know the name doesn't sound very great but it's really fun. Students from my previous years have said that it was awesome and would like to try it again. And I thought you might be interested since you've seemed to enjoy science." I just nodded my head not really focusing on what she was talking about, "all you do is experiments, go on trips, and more. It's mostly after school on weekdays. There is a presentation tomorrow in the cafeteria during your science period. All I want you to do is at least to go to the presentation and if you don't like it then you don't have to bring in the enlistment slip in." She handed me a slip for the program, "Here, this is the enlistment slip if you decide to go." 

"Mrs. Hansen I don't think-" 

"C'mon Jaden at least try it." 

"Ehhh-" mrs. Hansen was almost on her knees. I thought that at least I have something to do after school sometimes, besides volleyball, "Fine, but if I don't like it I won't do it." 

"Yes, great!" She grabbed a sticky note from her desk and wrote something. "Here is your pass." She handed me the sticky note, 

Please excuse Jaden for being late Monday 1:35, Hansen Barbra. 

I got up from the chair, "don't forget about your slip!" 

"I won't! I said heading to the hall. I read the sticky note over and over again.

On Wednesday, I turned in my enlistment slip to Mrs. Hansen. 

"Here you go Mrs. Hansen," I handed her the paper. 

"You decided to go?" 

"Yeah, I think it could be fun." 

"Yes, I agree I'm glad you did. Thank you." She grabbed it and put it on her desk. I was almost to my desk, but-, "Jaden wait," I turned around. 

"Yes?" 

"I'd like to show you who else is going." 

She dug into her desk and grabbed a stapled packet and then handed it to me.I scanned the sheet and found my name without a checkmark, "Miss?" 

"Yes?" 

"What does the checkmark mean?" 

"Oh, I put them to know whether they are going or not. Yours doesn't have one because I just got yours." 

"Oh." I continued to scan the rest of the names and saw many I didn't recognize. Jenny. Ramon. Jesse. Hector. Then I found a name I didn't even want to think about or even see again. Wes. He had a check mark next to his name. He's also going!? How did he get into this? 

I had the curiosity to ask, "Umm, Wes is in here, too?" 

"Yeah, he loves science and I asked him if he wanted to go." 

"Hmmm." Mrs. Hansen looked frustrated. She was looking in the piles of papers on her desk looking for something. "Thank you." I managed to make a smile even though in my head I was mad. 

I gave her the paper and walked back to my table. I sat down and opened up my textbook and started working. It was hard for me to concentrate on my work after looking at the list and trying not to look at him even though he's my lab partner. I just wanted to scream out loud, WHY ARE YOU THIS PROGRAM? DO YOU WANT SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT? 

Mrs. Hansen told everyone in Green Life Protection that our first field trip is next week. "Our very first field trip is next week. On Monday." Mrs. Hansen said, "You must bring a supply of clothes for a week. So bring anything you need for a week and you need to report to my room at 9:45 a.m because the bus leaves at 10:00 a.m. Here are the permission slips for the trip," she handed them out, "They are due by Friday." 

"Thank you." I said. 

"Now let's get back to work everyone." I got back to my textbook and wrote down the definitions for chapter 3 section 2. 

"Are you goign on the trip?" Wes asked me. 

"Uhh...yeah. Are you going?" 

"Yes. I saw you at volleyball tryouts." I kept writing. 

"You were really good."  

I stopped and said, "I saw you, too, with Rachel." 

"She was just talking to me." 

"Was she really?" 

"Are you jealous?" 

"No, I'm not. Why would I?" I thought he was going to answer but he just chuckled.

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Sorry it was a short chapter :( but I think you guys are going to like the next chapter. Wes and Jaden start to get along better!!! Gasp!.... :o  

If you guys have any comments or opinions feel free to. 

P.S. jsut one more thing..... I want to ask you guys if you guys have any ideas for the story? 

What do you think should happen towards the end with Jaden and Wes? Dun dun dun......