Page 5 of Something Rad
I feel my blood run cold as I slowly raise my eyes to see Robbie Summers standing before me. He’s waving at someone over my shoulder. Denise Davis, it sounds like. His girlfriend, last I heard. But that can change by the week. Clearly he’s caught her attention, because I see his brown eyes light up, his lips pulling into a grin.
He slides his headphones off his ears, leaving them to rest around his neck. I can hear the loud rock music blaring out of the foam ear pads from here. It’s a good thing he comes from a long line of eye doctors and not ear doctors, or I’m pretty sure he’d be committing a cardinal sin right now.
“Yeah, that’s right,” he nods towards her. “Where do you think you’re going without me?”
I audibly scoff, throwing my hands in the air.
Robbie’s eyes flick down to me and back up towards Denise so fast that I’m not sure they even really moved. “Hey, sorry about that,” he says, bringing his other hand up so he can quickly pat both of my shoulders before sidestepping me and heading for Denise.
I spin, watching him with lasers in my eyes as he walks all the way over to her, smoothing his hand over her bouncy blonde hair before sliding his arm around her waist, both of them continuing down the hallway like nothing even happened.
I shake my head in disbelief, scooping up my now almost entirely empty soda can and completely ruined schedule before bolting to the nearest bathroom.
“Son of a–" I mutter, gritting my teeth, when I catch sight of myself in the mirror. I grab a wad of paper towels, trying in vain to salvage my ruined outfit, shaking my head the entire time.
Robbie Summers did this. And he didn’t even have the decency to look me in the eye while he apologized.
Yep, sounds about right.
People like me don’t exist to people like Robbie Summers.
I let out a sigh, shoving the paper towels into the trash and digging into my backpack for my journal. I furiously scribble down a few lines of notes until I am satisfied, then return the journal to my backpack. I push out of the bathroom door and back into the hallway, trying my best to pretend like I don’t know my clothes look like they were dragged through a sewer this morning. I force a smile to my face.
Robbie Summers may have ruined my outfit, but he willnotruin my mood.
I just reach the door to the library when I’m forced to pause, hearing snickering coming from my side. I turn my head to see Jesse Lamonte and Paul Strothers pointing towards me, their faces alternating between looks of confusion and chuckles.
Great.
I roll my eyes, secretly flipping them the bird as I push by way into the library.
Sorry, Alice. If this is any indication of the start we’re off to, I’m not sure this year will be so different after all.
two
ROBBIE
There’s just something about it.
Every new day is a new opportunity for a kick ass time, but this day is like no other. I breathe deeply. It’s as if I can smell it in the air.
Potential.
Or maybe it’s just the culmination of the raging hormones from the upperclassmen and the anxious fear from the underclassmen.
Either way, it’s like the nectar of the gods. And like music to my ears.
I sigh, stopping the tape on my Walkman and pulling my headphones down to my neck. “God, I love the first day of school,” I say.
“Yeah, you’ve mentioned it,” Paul says, rolling his eyes in my direction.
“Only every year,” Jesse chimes in, slamming his locker closed next to me.
“Hey, well at least it’s our last first day of school ever,” Paul points out. “Well, high school, that is.”
“Thank the sweet heavens above,” Jesse nods in agreement, his dark shaggy hair falling in his face.
“Then,” Paul starts, but then Jesse joins in, helping him finish his train of thought.
