Page 70 of Something Rad
“You’re fuming over there, and it’s making it a little difficult to breathe,” Robbie says. “So, why don’t you just spill whatever it is that’s burning a hole in your brain?”
“Has anyone ever told you how charming you are?” I ask.
“Lots of people, actually, yes.”
“I think they all need to seek medical attention.”
“Cooper. What is it?”
I blow a breath out of my nose. “The requirements.”
Robbie raises his brows, clearly confused.
“Of ourarrangement,” I clarify.
“Why do you keep whispering the wordarrangementlike we’re committing government espionage?”
I sit up straight, realizing I had, in fact, leaned in to whisper it. “Espionage?” I repeat. “Wow, big word, Robbie. Would you rather have a gold star or a cookie?”
“Why don’t you shove your gold star up your–”
“Wow,” I exclaim, covering my ears before I can hear him finish that sentence.
Robbie grabs my left hand, pulling it away from my ear and rolling his eyes. “Whataboutthe requirements of ourarrangement, Cooper?”
“Well,” I say, clearing my throat, “I think we need to talk about them.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he agrees. “But not now.”
“Why not?” I ask. But the sudden rocking of the Camaro as we cross over the familiar speed bump answers my question.
Because we’re here.
I turn my head forward, seeing that we are actually pulling into the school parking lot. It occurs to me that it looks different today, and I don’t know why that is. Then I realize, it’s probably not the school that’s different at all.
It’s me. It’sthis. It’s what’s happening.
I gulp involuntarily, sliding down in my seat as far as I can go.
Robbie weaves his way through the parking lot, eventually pulling to a stop in what I know is his typical front row parking spot. “Cooper?”
“Yep,” I respond, not looking at him.
“Are you ready for this?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I breathe.
“Good,” Robbie nods, sliding his sunglasses down his nose and leaning closer to me. I slowly turn my head to meet his gaze. “Because I need you to be ready for this,” he says. “Because once we step out of this car, once everyone sees us, there’s no going back. Things will be different.”
I stare at him for several seconds, not moving, then maintain eye contact with him as I push myself upwards, steeling my spine and flattening out my rumpled skirt. I lick my suddenly dry lips. His eyes flick down once before returning to mine.
“I’m counting on it,” I say.
Robbie’s throat bobs. “Me too.”
Then, time seems to slow down. It slows down as Robbie pulls back, pushing his Ray Bans fully back onto his face. It gets even slower as he reaches over and cranks the stereo to full volume, Pat Benatar vibrating my very brain for the few moments it takes for Robbie to look away from me and to open his car door. He takes his time stepping out of the Camaro, occupying every bit of space and moment of time he’s given, as per usual. When he’s finally standing up straight outside of the car, he lets the engine run and the music continue to blast as he takes his time straightening out his vest and running a hand through his hair. I realize at that moment that my mouth is hanging open, and I snap it back shut, facing forward.
Robbie then makes his way to the trunk of his car, which I see in the rearview mirror. It’s not until he has one strap of his backpack over his shoulder, his Walkman secured on his hip, and his headphones around his neck, that he closes his trunk and makes his way back to the front of the car. I swear he spends a full two seconds on each step he takes. When he leans back down into the car, reaching for the keys in the ignition, reality strikes me, and I move to grab my door handle, remembering I’m actually going to have to leave the car at some point today.
