Page 58 of Something Rad
Because Robbie apparently found it.
“I dropped it?” I ask. “And…youpicked it up?”
“Genius, Cooper. Truly,” Robbie replies, crossing his arms and leaning back into the doorframe. “Can’t believe they’re charging you to go to NYU at all.”
All of the muscles in my face instantly tense, my eyes narrowing. “Yeah, well,” I reply. “You’re such a gentleman for returning it to me.” I step forward, placing a hand on his arm and forcing a sweet smile onto my face. “Can’t believe Denise Davis still wants nothing to do with you.”
Robbie tongue slides over his top row of teeth. “Wow. You’re ruthless, Cooper.” He reaches up, removing my hand from my arm and taking it in his, making us handshake. “You’d be great in politics.” He suddenly yanks me forward by my hand, bringing me within inches of him. “Too bad you’re too chickenshit to even put your name in the running for student body president.”
I swallow hard at the dryness in my throat. A wave of embarrassment tries to wash over me, but it’s quickly put out by the fire of my quickly growing rage. “Chickenshit?” I repeat, shaking my head. “Oh, that’s a good one.”
“Yeah?” Robbie asks.
“Yeah,” I confirm, poking a finger into his chest. “Especially coming from you.”
Robbie raises his brows in question.
“Coming from the boy that will put on a dance number in front of the whole school before he’s willing to actually talk about the way he feels to a single girl.”
I don’t give Robbie a chance to respond, continuing.
“Coming from the boy that has everything he could possibly want or need in the world but is too lazy–No, tooscaredto take on the responsibility of it all. So, he hides behind an act. Hides behind his friends and this image he projects to the world. Hides behind humor and charm and attitude and his gorgeous hair and hisgoddamn sunglasses. Because it’ssomuch easier. So much easier than having to try. So much easier than having to show anyone who he really is. Because how can anyone get disappointed by something that isn’t real?”
I take a deep breath, looking directly into Robbie’s blazing brown eyes. “Yeah, who’s the realchickenshitnow?”
We stare back at each other for several moments, both of us breathing deeply. Finally, Robbie breaks the silence.
“I don’t know what to say.”
I feel the crease between my eyebrows smooth out momentarily, my shoulders falling. Guilt starts to seep in. Regret pricks at my chest.You went too far, Sara–
“I just can’t decide if I want to focus on the fact that you just admitted you find me charming, or if we need to talk about howdeeplyobsessed you are with my hair.”
My mouth falls open, and I turn away from him. “Oh my God,” I mutter to myself as I walk over to my desk, dropping my journal onto it. “Oh my God,” I repeat, running my hands through my hair.
“God isn’t here right now, Cooper,” Robbie says from behind me. “Can I take a message?”
I spin back around, walking right up to him.
“I can’t do this.” I shake my head. “I’m going insane.”
“Hate to break it to you, but I think you’re already there, baby,” Robbie states.
I continue to shake my head, dumbfounded. “Everything is a joke to you,” I say to him. “Allthe time. Isn’t it exhausting?”
“Is it exhaustingfor me?” Robbie asks, pointing to himself. “I mean, Cooper, come on. I think you should be more worried about yourself.”
“Yeah? And why is that?”
Robbie takes a step closer, running a hand over the lower half of his face. “Everything with you, Cooper–Everythingis just…so…”
“Sowhat?”
“Serious!” Robbie cries. “You’re so seriousallthe time, Cooper.”
I let out an involuntary chuckle. “Yeah, well, Ihaveto be serious, Robbie. Unfortunately, it’s how you get takenseriously.”
Robbie’s spine steels suddenly, his eyes flicking to the floor.
