Top Secret

Jenna clutched the little black notebook tight to her chest and held on while that awful Stevie tried to pry it loose.

"Come on Jenna, give it here!" He yanked with both hands.

"We wanna see what you've got written in there. All your secrets?"

"Stevie, no! Leave me alone!" She tried to twist away.

Tears of frustration stung her eyes. She could not lose this fight. She would sooner die than let him get it. Anger flooded through her body. She kicked out and got him in the shin. Hard.

"Aye!" He fell to the floor grabbing his leg. Tim and Phil looked at each other, but stood frozen in place.

Tim said to Phil, "I'm not gonna get killed, you do it."

"Steven Morris, what are you doing on the floor?"

Miss Evans appeared from down the hall. Now there was a crowd. Jenna wanted to run and hide. The entire 8th grade class was there, staring at her.

"She kicked me!" he pointed and faked an anguished groan.

"Both of you can go to the principal's office. Right now."

Jenna pushed through the crowd, arms tight across her notebook. She could hardly get away fast enough. Mr. Martin would surely straighten this whole thing out and that rat, Stevie, would get in big trouble.

Mr. Martin was at his desk when she walked in, followed by Stevie and Miss Evans.

"Principal Martin, I found these two engaged in a scuffle in the hallway; seems to involve that notebook Jenna is holding."

Mr. Martin held out his hand to Jenna in a silent demand for her notebook. She was loathe to part with it, but timidly handed it over. His eyes gazed over the pages of her sketched flowers and hearts. She was mortified he might read it out loud and then Stevie would whoop with glee. But he drew in a quiet breath and looked at both of them. Stevie was craning his neck to see if he could spy any of her words, but the look from Mr. Martin had him sitting back in his chair.

"What's all this about, Mr. Morris?"

Stevie pursed his lips tight.

"Miss Adams, is this your notebook?"

"Yes. And Stevie was trying to steal it from me."

"I see." Mr. Martin looked like he had lasers shooting from his eyes. "Steven, this is not yours and you know it. Your intention to take it from Miss Adams was wrong and ill-conceived. We like to promote good behavior and proper conduct in our school. So I'm going to ask Miss Evans to keep you after class today, and you can talk to her about your actions and a way to improve your behavior."

"Miss Adams, you may return to class." He handed her notebook across the desk and she took it as she rose.

Out in the hall, she drew in a deep breath as the class change bell rang. Then BAM, there he was, walking toward her with a crowd of kids.

Stunned, she tripped and dropped her notebook. OMG! It fell open to the page; "I love Max" with a heart and his name and hers drawn together inside.

He stooped and picked it up. He had to have seen it. The heart. Their names. She flushed hot. She stood like a statue, holding her breath. He closed it with a quick flip and handed it back to her with a smile, "Here ya' go." And he kept walking down the hall.

As she watched him walk away, he turned and smiled at her. She gasped. He had seen it! And it was all good.