Page 133 of Something Rad
ROBBIE
I’m on edge.
I’ve tried cycling through four different tapes in my Walkman to distract myself, hoping that music would drown out my thoughts like it has for me so many times before, but it’s done nothing for me this morning.
Cooper and I didn’t say much of anything to each other on the ride to school this morning, pretty much mirroring our ride home from the dance on Saturday. There’s a tension between us that’s different than what’s been there before. Something shifted when I danced with Denise. Or maybe it really happened when she danced with Paul.
Fucking Paul.
I’ve never really had an issue with Paul. Not until recently. He was always kind of a bonehead, but he was my buddy. We had a comfortable friendship. We played basketball, we partied, end of story. Things were simple between us.
I guess leave it up to Cooper to find another way to un-simplify my life.
I know I chose to dance with Denise. I know that that was maybe a crappy thing to do five minutes after me and Cooper won Homecoming King and Queen. But Cooper said it was fine. I’d even venture to say she encouraged it.
I’m not saying that I mind, I’m just saying that… I think that matters.
It also matters that Denise was always a part of the deal. She was a factor Cooper could expect in the screwed up equation of our fake relationship.
Paul, on the other hand…
That prick came out of nowhere. I’m not sure what he’s playing at. But him making a joke out of Cooper in front of our friends at the Homecoming game and then having theaudacityto ask her to dance just a few hours later…
It made me want to do things that would probably undo every ounce of progress I’ve made with Principal Whileyman over the last month.
Or would probably land me a spot in the back of Paul’s dad’s cop car.
I don’t care what his motives are. I don’t care what he wants. I don’t care if he secretly really likes Cooper.Hell, I can’t even say I would blame him–
Wait, what?
I clear my throat, shaking the odd thought away.
Regardless, he can’t have her. Not on my watch. We have rules. If Cooper decides she wants him, I can’t stop her. That’s her call to make. But until she utters those words, there’s not a chance in hell I’m even going to give Paul the pleasure ofdaydreamingthat she’ll ever be his.
Because she deserves so much better.
I slide into my regular desk in my homeroom class. I might not be listening to any music, but my headphones are still on. I needed the barrier from the outside world this morning. But since I’m not listening to anything, that means I can hear every word of Brad and Billy’s heated debate behind me about which Star Wars movie Princess Leia was the hottest in.
I rub my hand over my face as I shake my head, honestly welcoming the distraction but not wanting them to know I can hear them.
“Dude, how is this even a discussion right now?” Brad questions Billy.
“I think it’s a very valid discussion, thank you very much,” Billy shoots back.
“Bro, youknowit’s Return of the Jedi,” Brad insists. “I mean, the gold bikini. Come on!”
“I dunno man, I can see a bikini any day of the week,” Billy retorts. “But those little hair buns really did something for me in the first movie.”
The ridiculous conversation behind me suddenly gets drowned out by the staticky sound of the intercom coming over the classroom speakers.
“Good morning, Bay View Bears! Happy Monday,” Principal Whileyman’s voice begins.
“I can’t believe you right now,” Brad says to Billy.
My back straightens as I slide one side of my headphones off my ear.
“We have a few regular announcements to get to this morning, but I believe it’s best we get our most exciting announcement out of the way first.”
