Page 16 of Something Rad
“Can we please talk about something else?” I ask Alice, dropping my shoulders. “Just for a little bit?”
I know she is only coming from a place of love, but I just need a breather from the love for a little bit. I need to process. And to come up with a plan B for my resume.
I suddenly register that my arrangement with Ms. Rosewasmy plan B, and I’m already doing that.
It also registers that it’s not going to be enough.
“Okay,” Alice mumbles. I’m busy looking through the camera viewfinder, but I can hear the frown in her voice.
As the flood of students coming into the gym begins to trickle to a stop, I let the camera’s focus trail to the side. When my view reaches the far side of the gym, I spot Brad Marshall, Jesse Lamonte, Billy Montgomery, and a few other basketball players huddled to the side of the bleachers. I can’t place my finger on what exactly it is, but something just seems off about the scene. My brows pinch together as I pull the camera away from my face. I find myself glancing around the gym and back to the group of boys.
I feel Alice step closer to me, peering over my shoulder. “Where’s their fearless leader?” she asks.
“Great question,” I reply, thinking to myself how odd it is that he’s missing.
Robbie Summers would never miss a pep rally.
Wait.
Why do I care?
“Robbie Summers never misses a pep rally,” Alice says, echoing my thoughts.
Ah, right. Of course we care.
Because Robbie is a boy with eyes on him at all times. A boy who is always thought of. Always noticed.
Though Robbie might be completely unaware of what’s going on around him, every person around himalwaysknows exactly what’s going on with Robbie.
Lucky us.
“You’re right,” I say. “He’d never pass up on a chance to make himself the center of attention.”
Alice scoffs out a laugh. “Well, to be fair, this pep rally is focused on the football team, not the basketball team.”
“I’m sure he’d still find a way,” I mutter.
Alice shakes her head, chuckling as Principal Whileyman walks to the middle of the gym floor, the long cord of his handheld microphone trailing behind him. I glance back towards the group of boys. They all have an air of suspicion to them, but Jesse looks especially guilty for some reason.
My gaze is forced away again as Principal Whileyman taps the top of the microphone a few times to get everyone’s attention before he starts his usual welcome back spiel.
“How are we doing out there, Bears?!” he begins.
Back to work.
Click. Click. Click.
“Okay,” Alice says, turning to me. “I’m going to find and sit with Daniel. Will you be okay over here in the corner?”
“Of course. Iownthis corner,” I joke, smirking.
“Oh, right. I always forget,” Alice says, rolling her eyes sarcastically. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Because it’s already Sara’s. She owns all the corners.”
“Right,” I deadpan. “That actually was the full line, but Patrick Swayze just got choked up on the last part.”
“Right,” Alice nods, playing along like a true best friend. “I suppose we forgive him?”
“Maybe someday,” I shrug.
