Page 66 of Until We Burn
I snap my eyes away, hoping Sadie didn’t see me checking out her editor. But the young journalist is readying herself for the next question.
“With the stress of being a student athlete, what unexpected obstacles have you had to overcome beyond the game?”
This time, Diana and I lock eyes.
After traveling for away games these last two weeks, it’s been a while since we’ve stood in the same room together. But it doesn’t matter how many hours and seconds go by. Memories from September still race through my head, vivid as the day they happened: Seeing her again in Mellonbaum’s class the first week, our spat at the partnership dinner, making up at the arena, kissing and tongue fucking her against the wall at my apartment, becoming friends with benefits at the Wing and Flame.
I clear my throat, licking my lips nervously. “Well…it’s nothing crazy. It’s stuff you normally stress out about like keeping up your grades and making sure your performance on the ice stays sharp.”
“How do you end up dealing with your stress?”
My mouth parts. “Well, I?—”
Diana gulps. Her eyes widen.
“I-I work out,” I stammer, “A lot. Uh…I doa tonof cardio?—”
“We have thirty seconds left!”Diana cuts in.
“Well!” Sadie grins. “That’s all the time we have for today! Thank you for joining us on the Howler Radio News, Kai!”
“No problem. Thanks for having me.”
I stick my fist out. Sadie happily bumps it back. When the soundbooth lights flick off, the reporters listening in on the other side of the window clap and cheer.
“Let’s go, Sadie!”
“Aww!” Sadie’s eyes light up as she takes it all in. “That’s so nice.”
My smile slightly falls. I hate the twinge of envy that rips into me. I should be happy that people are rooting for her. Instead, I wish I could be in her place instead of being trapped in mine where I need to work so hard just to keep a scrap of people’s respect.
When we step out of the sound booth, Diana waits for us in the control room, holding a clipboard.
“Great job you two!”
“Was I talking too fast?” Sadie panics.
Diana smiles at her and chuckles a little. “No, your cadence was fine. I do have some notes, though. You can take a bit of time to laugh and acknowledge what was said before moving on to the next question. It creates a more comfortable and conversational atmosphere between you and the source…”
I lean against the wall, quietly watching them interact. The young journalist nods while her eyes gleam up at Diana with so much wonder and respect. Diana told me Sadie is one of the few journalists at the Howler who refuses to believe the rumors about her. I can understand why. Instead of treating Sadie like a naïve first year, Diana speaks to her like another newsroom reporter capable of achieving whatever she puts her mind to.
“Other than that, it was a great interview, Sadie.” Diana pats her arm. “You can go and join the others out in the newsroom for tea, coffee, and cookies. I’ll start the meeting soon.”
“Thanks, Diana!” Sadie waves at me. “Bye, Kai!”
I smile and nod at her. “See you later.”
The door closes, leaving us alone in the control room. I unhitch myself from the wall and approach Diana with my hands in my pockets. “Got any notes for me?”
“Hmm…” Diana glances down at her clipboard with furrowing brows. “It says here that you need to improve on your social etiquette. You were terrorizing poor Sadie in there with your menacing charm and corny witticisms.”
“Oh, was I?”
“Mhm.”
“I’ll just have to work on that then.” I raise a brow. “Maybe you can help me?”
“I don’t know,” Diana winces. “I think you’re beyond helping at this point.”
