Page 4 of Something Rad
“Yeah, he sure knows how to be an ass, alright,” I mutter, turning away just as I see Robbie slip his headphones over his ears.
“Yeah, totally–Wait. I don’t think that’s what I said,” Alice calls after me, following in my path.
We make our way up the steps and through the front door of the school, immediately being greeted with a large blue and yellow hand painted banner hanging from the ceiling readingWelcome Back Bears!
Our bus is one of the later ones to arrive, so the hallways are already bustling with students. We hop in the short line in front of the office to pick up our class schedules and, by the time we have them, Alice spots Daniel walking through the front door.
“Go meet him,” I tell Alice, nodding in Daniel’s direction. “I’ll catch you at lunch.”
“Are you sure? Alice asks.
“Definitely,” I insist. “I wanted to run to the library before first period to check in with Ms. Rose anyways.”
“Aw, well okay. If you insist,” Alice says sarcastically, leaning in to hug me. “I will definitely see you at lunch though. Let’s meet on the steps?”
“You got it.”
Alice pulls back from our hug, keeping her hands on my shoulders. “And I expect a full report on your conversation with Mr. Hughes.”
Her eyes flick down to the class schedule in my hands and I quickly shove it behind my back, sighing. She obviously sneaked a look at it and saw that I have journalism third period.
“You’ve got this, Sara,” Alice says.
“Yeah, okay.”
“No, no,” Alice shakes her head. “Say it with me.You’ve got this.”
I blow a breath out of my nose. “I’ve got this,” I quickly mutter.
“Louder!” Alice nearly yells, causing several heads to turn in our direction.
“I’ve got this!” I whisper-shout back, chuckling as I remove her hands from my shoulders. “Now, go harass your boyfriend please.”
“As you wish,” Alice says, raising her hand to her forehead, saluting me. “And, even though you’re trying to hide your schedule from me, I also noticed we have physics together sixth period. So you’ll be blessed with even more harassment from me this afternoon.”
She taps the end of my nose with her finger and starts to turn away, but then spins back suddenly. “Oh! I almost forgot,” she says, pulling her backpack from off her shoulder and digging into the back pocket. “I brought you some liquid courage.”
She pulls a bright red can out and tosses it to me, a smile coming to my lips before the soda even reaches my hands. Once I have hold of it, I quickly spin it around, seeing the familiar logo containing a yellow lightning bolt.
“You brought me a Jolt Cola?” I ask, referring to the extra caffeinated soda in my hands that I consume entirely too many of in any given week.
Alice shrugs. “We all need a vice in life. I’m happy to support your singular one.”
I glance back down at the can.All the sugar and twice the caffeine. I pop the tab, taking a large gulp. “Tastes like rebellion,” I smile. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” she replies, waving as she walks away. “Maybe we’ll find you a few more vices this year while we’re at it,” she calls over her shoulder.
“Don’t count on it,” I call back.
I don’t have time for vices. Not this year. There’s too much on the line.
Daniel breaks out in a grin as Alice approaches him, slinging his arm around her shoulder and planting a kiss on her cheek. “This year’s going to be different,” she mouths silently at me as he does so.
I chuckle, shaking my head. Daniel spots me and waves. I wave back, smiling at the both of them as I turn and walk away. I take another drink from my Jolt, lifting my schedule towards my face to double check what room my first period class is in as I head towards the library. Once I confirm it, I fold my schedule in half, moving to slip the paper in my back pocket as I take another sip of my soda. I don’t manage to do so, however, before I slam into what feels like a brick wall.
My Jolt can goes flying, spilling all down my front. Brown liquid splatters me from my pale striped sweater, down my jeans, and to my white Keds. One hand lands on my shoulder as my body ricochets off of what is apparently another body rather than a brick wall like I originally thought. I register that even the entire left side of my hair and the white collar of my under shirt are completely drenched in soda.
“Hey, Denise, sweetheart,wait up!” a loud voice booms from directly in front of me.
