Page 134 of Something Rad
“I can’t believeyou, man!” Billy exclaims. “Is a beautiful woman nothing but a body to you?”
“So, without further ado,” Principal Whileyman continues, making me slide my headphones fully off my head, “I’d like to announce the winner of our student body president race.”
“I’m just saying, dude,” Brad scoffs. “I think you’re priorities are seriously messed up when it comes to whatbunsyou’re concerned with–”
“Holy Christ, would you twoshut up?” I huff, spinning around. I only intended for Billy and Brad to hear me, but, judging by every set of eyes in the classroom being turned on me, I think I may have been a little more aggressive than I thought in my request.
“Shit, sorry, man,” Brad mumbles, giving Billy a look that says I’ve gone insane, but I’m too preoccupied to care right now.
“I’d like to thank our two candidates for their dedication to our student body and willingness to serve it. I also appreciate everyone that took the time to vote after the pep rally on Friday. Your voice really does matter at Bay View.”
“Yeah, yeah, blah, blah. Get to it, bud,” I mutter under my breath.
“So, here we go. Drumroll, please.”
A handful of people around the classroom drum their hands against the top of their desk, probably to poke fun at me about how invested I seem to be in this announcement.
Screw them.
“Your student body president for the 1987-88 school year is…”
My teeth grind together as my fist clenches at my side. My foot starts tapping on its own. I pull my shirt collar away from my neck, trying to get some air. I think I’m sweating.
Why am I sweating?
Principal Whileyman clears his throat.
My head is going to explode.
“Sara Cooper!”
I slump against my chair, letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Congratulations to Ms. Cooper! Again, thank you to all who entered. If you see your new president and yearbook editor in the halls today, make sure to give her your congrats. Sara, when you have a few minutes, come see me in my office.”
Oh. My. God.
Principal Whileyman continues droning on with the rest of the regular announcements, but I tune them all out. I slide my headphones back on my head, not even trying to hide my smirk. I hit the play button to start the Bon JoviSlippery When Wettape in my Walkman, my brain suddenly completely clear.
You freaking did it, Cooper.
* * *
I practically break down the door the minute the bell dismisses us to head to second period, making a beeline for Ms. Cage’s class. My head is on a swivel looking for her. A few people try to say hi to me on the way, but I pretend I don’t notice them. Hopefully they’ll think I couldn’t hear them through my headphones. Realistically though, I don’t really care what they think. Not right now.
Within a minute, I’m turning the corner at the end of the hall, still no sight of her.
But then, there she is, rounding her corner at the exact same time.
We both skid to a stop, and Cooper looks like she’s seen a ghost. Her eyes are wide, her shoulders stiff, her lips slowly parting. We continue to stare at each other from ten feet away, neither of us speaking. The tension from before is still there, but I can feel it thinning, slowly whittling away.
Looking at Cooper right now, it’s as if she’s frozen, and the heat of my gaze is slowly melting her from the outside in. I watch as her shoulders slowly relax, as the rise and fall of her chest gradually deepens, and as her look of shock gently fades into a smile.
“Cooper.” I break the silence, shaking my head..
“I…I don’t…” she stammers, blinking rapidly. “…I can’t…I…”
“Yeah?” I smirk.
