Page 130 of Something Rad
I reach out for Robbie, not able to look at him. “I– I need to go to the bathroom,” I say, turning away. “I’ll be right back–”
“Robbie Summers!”
The gym goes nuts, and a few people nearby clap Robbie on the shoulder, shoving me closer into him. I feel like the air has been stolen from my lungs. I manage to pull back just slightly, spinning away as I mutter under my breath, “I’m just gonna go–”
“And Sara Cooper!”
I freeze in place, feeling like a deer caught in headlights.
Wha–what?
I don’t move on my own, but suddenly I’m twirling around. It’s not until I’m facing forward that I realize Robbie’s hand is on my waist, controlling my body. “That’s our cue, Cooper.”
“I–Um–What?” I stutter.
Robbie ducks down so his mouth is next to my ear. “To the stage, baby,” he says, then plasters a grin on his face, nodding at the hoard of people around us cheering for and congratulating us. He gives my waist a little pinch, pushing me to move forward.
Everything is a blur as we make our way onto the stage and somebody places a plastic sparkly crown on my head. Principal Whileyman places a larger king’s crown on Robbie’s head, and I vaguely register him patting Robbie’s shoulder, a look of something like pride on his face as he nods at him. I don’t get much time to process it, however, my attention turning out toward the gym, the lights completely blinding me as I stare into the crowd. The crowd of people that apparently voted for us. Not just for Robbie, but forme. I shake my head in pure disbelief. I try to force myself to smile, but I feel like the look on my face probably just makes me appear like I’m nauseous. I suppose that makes sense though, since I am.
I spot Alice barrelling her way through the crowd to stand at the front. She jumps up and down cheering for me as if I’m Whitney Houston herself and she has a front row seat to her concert. I let out a laugh, a true smile coming to my face for the first time as I look down at her. She throws her hands in the air, mouthingOh my Godat me. I shrug my shoulders, laughing, since I don’t know how else to respond. I’m completely dumbfounded. But it makes me so happy to see my best friend so happy. So happy forme.
I feel my smile waver for a second as the realization hits me. The realization that this isn’t real. I mean, not really. I didn’tearnthis. If Homecoming Queen is even something that you can earn. It’s not like I didn’t already know this, but it really hits me at this moment that people only voted for me because I’m dating Robbie. Or becausethey thinkI’m dating him. I wonder if I should feel guilty. If I shouldn’t be standing up here in awe right now. But the deeper I dig into what I’m feeling in my gut right now, the more I find myself just wanting to enjoy the moment. This absolutely crazy, once-in-a-lifetime moment. I don’t know how I ended up here, but I decide, for now, to just go with it.
“Now, if everybody could please spread out and leave some space,” Principal Whileyman says, motioning with his hand, “I’d like to open the dance floor for our Homecoming King and Queen’s first dance.”
My spine steels asOoosandAhhssound from around the gym, everyone immediately falling in line to leave a circle open in the middle of the dance floor. My mouth falls open as I stare at the scene with wide eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Our…what?”
Cyndi Lauper’sTime After Timestarts playing through the speakers as I hear Robbie chuckle at my side. “C’mon, Cooper,” he says, reaching for my hand. “I’ve got you.”
Robbie gently pulls me behind him as we make our way down the couple of steps off the stage. The gym lights lower further, showing the disco ball off in all its glory. A spotlight comes on, shining right in the spot we are headed for, instantly sending a shiver of nerves down my spine. Robbie spins me as we reach the middle of the open circle, and, somehow, I don’t fall down. I swallow hard, glancing around at all the eyes on us as I place my hands on Robbie’s shoulder.
“Hey,” Robbie whispers, his finger pushing my chin up lightly to force me to look at him. “They’re not even here, Cooper.”
I swallow again, with more force this time, as Robbie’s hands move to my hips and we start swaying side to side. “Just you and me?” I ask.
“Unfortunately.” He frowns in disgust for just a second before he breaks, the frown turning into a grin.
I scoff out a laugh, shaking my head at him. “What a lucky girl I am.”
Robbie chuckles, eventually fading into a sigh. “I do just have to point something out,” he says.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“The fact that this is yet another thing I was right about.”
I tilt my head at him.
Robbie smirks. “I told you that you’d be a shoo-in for Homecoming Queen.”
My lips part, the memory coming back to me, the conversation that feels like it was a million years ago. “You did, didn’t you?”
“Can’t say this has turned out to be too bad of a deal for you, has it, Cooper?”
“No, I guess I can’t,” I answer honestly. “So far, you’ve managed to give me everything you promised. Well, except the election. We don’t know about that yet–”
“Wedoknow about it,” Robbie cuts me off. “You won it, no doubt. But, regardless, I didn’t give you that, Cooper. That was all you.”
