Page 101 of Something Rad
“Mine,” she says. “I like spring.”
“Of course you do.”
She smells like spring, I think to myself and don’t know why.
“And what’s your favorite movie?” Cooper asks. I open my mouth to answer, but she cuts me off. “Wait, no. Let me guess.Star Wars?Back to the Future?”
“What’s wrong with those movies?” I question her.
“I never said there was anything wrong with them,” she says. “They’re fantastic movies. Just…obvious, I suppose.”
“Huh. Well, that’s interesting, considering you’re wrong.”
“Really?” she questions me. “What, is itTerminator?Raiders of the Lost Ark?”
“I guess you have me pegged as an action boy, Miss Groovy Movie?”
“Well, MisterMonth of Detention,” she retorts, “I think you’ve made it clear you don’t shy away from a thrill. And that you don’t mind living in a fantasy world.”
That statement hits me right between the eyebrows and somewhere deep in my stomach, a pain settling there. “Right,” I mutter.
I think Cooper senses the shift in mood. She throws a Scrabble piece at me in what I think is her attempt at easing it.
Weirdo.
“So, what is it then?” she asks.
I toss the Scrabble piece right back at her. I’m pretty sure it bounces off her head based on theoofnoise she lets out. “The Outsiders,” I tell her.
“Oh…” she says, sounding completely shocked and trailing off.
“Not what you expected?” I ask.
“Yeah…not at all.”
“In a good way?”
“Yeah,” she confirms. “In a good way. Interesting choice.”
If I’ve learned anything about Cooper thus far, her saying something isinterestingcould mean about a million different things. “Yeah, well,” I say, clearing my throat. “I guess Tom Cruise was a lot dreamier by the timeTop Guncame out.” She doesn’t say anything in response to that. “Or is it Goose you’re sweet on?” I ask.
“Yeah, because that’s the only possible explanation for why that’s my favorite movie,” she says, her voice low.
“Well, humor me then, Cooper.”
“No.”
The grin on my face falls slightly. I don’t know why, but she seems genuinely annoyed. Even upset. “Hey, Cooper,” I say, softening my tone. “I’m just yanking your chain.”
She stays silent. I squint in the darkness, but I can’t make out a damn thing other than the vague outline of her form across from me. I push off the wall behind me, scooting a little closer to her. “C’mon,” I insist. “Tell me. Why’s it your favorite movie?”
“It’s just good,” she says quickly. Way too quickly.
“No.” I shake my head. “It’s more than that. Good isn’t good enough for you.”
She clicks her tongue. “I…”
I find myself reaching for her. My fingers just graze the top of her hand, but then I pull back, feeling her stiffen. “What?” I ask, too invested now to let this go. “What is it, Cooper?”
