Page 246 of Something Rad
“What are you talking about?” I chuckle.
Alice narrows her eyes at me, lifting up her desk and scooting it over so that it’s lined up directly with mine.
“Okay, ever heard of personal space?”
“Sara, what’s the matter with you?”
“What?” I ask at the same moment Mary Ann drops off my exam on top of my desk.
Alice’s eyes trail from my face over to the piece of paper in front of me, leaning in to look at it with me.
“Oh my gosh,” she gasps lightly, covering her mouth. “Sara, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
I look at her with knitted brows. “Um, yes? Why?”
“Your grade!” she exclaims.
“It’s only a B,” I tell her, picking up my binder from the floor and shoving the paper inside.
Alice barks out a laugh. “It’s a B -.Minus.”
“Thank you, Alice. I can actually read, believe it or not.”
Her mouth falls open. “And you’re okay with that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because a B- is a cause for celebration in Alice Quinn’s world,” she says. “But in Sara Cooper’s world, that’s an act of war.”
I stare back at her, blinking.
Alice leans forward, placing the back of her palm against my forehead. “Are you feeling okay?” she asks.
“Yes,” I say, chuckling but getting somewhat irritated. “I don’t get why you’re freaking out so much.”
“Because Sara…” Alice shakes her head. “I’m worried about you.”
“Why?”
“Because you haven’t been yourself lately.”
My spine steels. “What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know,” Alice admits, her voice low. “You just seem…distracted. Unfocused. Like you’re just floating through life. It just seems like….” she trails off, blowing out a breath.
“What?” I push.
“It just seems like…ever since you got back Robbie…you’re–”
“Happy?” I supply.
Alice’s lips press together. “I mean… Yes. Of course you’re happy. But–”
“But what, Alice?”
“I don’t know!” she shrugs. “You’re just not you.”
“And what amI?” I ask. “Quiet? Sad? Lonely? Focused solely on school and work? Doing nothing fun? Just waiting around for you and only you to give me the time of day?”
