Slugfest

After learning the truth about Mrs. Finnerty, Arabella withdraws her project in investigative journalism, ashamed that she made such a rookie mistake. The teacher tries to get Arabella to turn in something, but Arabella refuses, willing to take a zero for the project. The other slugs are still mad at her, and the only person Arabella can talk to is Nate, though she also keeps secrets from him. She wants to tell him that she flattened his bike tire and that she’s playing in the football tournament, but she can’t because “what if [she’s] honest with Nate and he hates [her] for it?” (216).

Hammond is one of Yash’s football friends. When the football tournament schedule is posted, he and his friend Amir notice the Slugfest team and head over to the middle school to check it out. They find the slugs practicing, tripping all over themselves, while Yash and Cleo talk strategy. Hammond insults the slugs, asking Yash where his pride is because he’s a better player than this. Yash counters that the slugs are better friends because they aren’t good players but still support him, adding, “I’m proud to be on a team with them” (222).