Page 93 of Something Rad
Alice puts her hands on her hips. “See, I told you this year was going to be different.”
twenty
ROBBIE
I finally find the shelf I’m looking for, feeling a tinge of accomplishment as I slip the book in its rightful place. I glance back to the cart behind me, seeing about fifty more to go and groan, no longer feeling so accomplished.
I run a hand through my hair and steal a look at my watch, smiling when I realize that it’s 4:59 p.m. I look back at the cart and shrug. “Guess there’s always tomorrow,” I tell the books.
Yes, I’ve been working in a library for two whole weeks, and I’m talking to books now.
What can I say? It gets lonely in here when Cooper is giving me the cold shoulder half the time.
Speak of the devil…
I see a flash of red across the library and look up to see Cooper making her way into Ms. Rose’s office, book cart entirely empty, of course. I shake my head, abandoning my own pathetic cart and following after her.
Though we’ve certainly had our moments, Cooper and I managed to settle into somewhat of a steady routine this week. We’d still argue during most of our car rides to school and barely spoke to one another during our library shifts, but during the day, we were golden. Cooper would bat her eyes at me during lunch and I would hold her hand in the hallways. We always made a point to interact with each of our friend groups– well, really justmy friend groupandAlice, and sometimes her boyfriend, Daniel, I guess– at least once a day to save face. We’ve packed on enough subtle PDA to make it believable, but I haven’t fake-kissed her again.
She tore me a new one after the incident in the janitor's closet on Monday, and I can’t say I blame her. I also can’t say I regret it either. That shit was genius. And just seeing the fire crackling behind her eyes and the heated blush in her cheeks was enough to entertain me for the whole day.
Regardless, we made it through the week. But now it’s Friday. And there’s no way we can afford to be off the hook the entire weekend.
I lean against the door frame, watching Cooper grab her journal and books from Ms. Rose’s desk and drop them into her backpack. I tap my knuckle against the metal frame twice, making her look up at me. “Hey,” I say.
“Hola, Roberto,” she replies, returning to gathering her things.
My brows pull together, and after a few seconds of silence, she glances back up at me. “Hello, Robbie?” she translates, a look of exasperation on her face.
“I know what you said,” I tell her. “You’re just weird.”
“Gee, thanks, honey” she deadpans. “Well, have a great weekend.” She comes around the desk, heading for the door.
“Wait,” I say, holding a hand up, stopping her. “What are you doing tonight?”
She holds up her hand, showing me her orange Groovy Movie vest I didn’t realize she was holding. “Going to a soirée,” she says, straightfaced. “Do you think my outfit will impress?”
I give her a pointed look, annoyed, though admittedly impressed, by her sarcasm.
“I’m working,” she says, dropping the act. “Why?” she asks after a few seconds, suspicion in her tone.
“Lisa McDaniel is having a party tonight,” I tell her.
“Okay?” she says. “And?”
“We need to go.”
Cooper lets out a groan. “You’re joking, right?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “Is it funny?”
“Not at all.”
“Then, no, obviously.”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t want to go.”
“Well that’s too bad, Cooper,” I retort. “Because I want to go.”
