Page 120 of Something Rad
He exhales, his jaw tight. “Don’t you think it’s time to give it a rest?”
I scoff. “I’m sure I don’t have a damn clue what you’re talking about, man.”
“This is getting ridiculous. Why don’t you just tell little Sara Beth she can call off the charade?”
My shoulders stiffen, anger flowing through my blood like boiling water. “Two things, Lamonte.” I hold up two fingers. “One, I don’t know who the hell you think you are, talking to me likethisand calling my girlfriendthat.” Jesse’s throat bobs roughly as I take a step closer. “Andtwo,” I drop my second finger, “whatcharade?”
Jesse looks away, flexing his jaw. “Look, man, I get it.”
“And what exactly do you get?”
“You’re pissed,” he says, flicking his eyes back to mine with fire in his gaze. “You’re pissed about Denise. Pissed that, foroncein your life, you lost.”
My mouth falls open, my brows knitting together.
“You’ve made your point,” he continues. “I hear you, loud and clear. Now tell Sara to drop out of the student body president race already.”
A choked laugh comes out of me. “Excuse me?”
“I get that you’re butthurt that I stole your girl,alright?” Jesse says, throwing his hands in the air. “Yeah, it was a dick move of me. But, if you haven’t noticed, you’re kind of a dickall the time. And I’ve still been your friend all these years.”
“Some friend,” I mutter under my breath, incredulous.
“But this is my future we’re talking about here,” Jesses continues. “Ineedthis.”
“And you think shedoesn’t?” I practically growl, getting in his face. “You think she’s just running for student body president becauseIwant her to? To get back atyou?”
I shake my head in disbelief, my rage blurring the edges of my vision. I don’t even know what’s going through my head right now. I’m caught between staggering relief that thecharadeJesse was referring to was this ridiculous concept and not my and Cooper’s relationship and dumbfounding anger that he thinks of Cooper as someone who could be so easily manipulated. As someone without their own hopes and dreams. Someone he can justtakethis away from.
“What aboutherfuture?” I demand.
“Dude,” Jesse shakes his head, a humorless smile pulling at his lips. “Who evenisshe?”
My eyes narrow at him. I stay calm, slowly standing up to my full height. I slip my sunglasses back on, rolling my lips into my mouth. “She’s the girl that’s gonna kick your ass in this election.” I step back, pulling open the door to outside.
I take a step, then pause in the doorway, looking back. “And Jesse?”
His dark eyes snap up to meet mine, his nostrils flaring. I immediately smile in response, cracking open my Pepsi and taking a sip.
“I didn’t lose a damn thing. I never do. Don’t forget that.”
twenty-five
SARA
Click.
I feel like I’m gonna be sick.
Click. Click.
My head feels so foggy. Between the lack of sleep and non-stop nerves I’ve been experiencing over the last week, my mind is in overdrive. I can’t even think clearly.
Click.
Every time I try to, it feels like my brain is a swamp and I’m having to wade knee-deep through the deepest, murkiest, swirling pools of thoughts to find just one that makes any logical sense.
Huh.That’s pretty good.
