Page 116 of Something Rad
My eyes flutter open slightly, and I catch a flash of movement behind me.
Then I register that I am, in fact,notcrazy.
Because Robbieisleaning up against a bookshelf, with his arms crossed, grinning at me.
I throw my headphones off of my head so fast that it nearly rips a wad of hair out of my scalp. I don’t know what to do with my hands, alternating between trying to casually hang them at my sides and grappling for the book cart and attempting to nonchalantly grab onto the bookshelf behind me. I eventually settle for one hand on the book cart and one on my hip.
“Hi,” I say, blowing a strand of hair out of my face.
Robbie’s brows raise, his smile spreading. “Hi.”
“You’re here,” I state, not knowing what else to say. Then I become aware of the faint sounds of music still playing and glance down, stabbing the stop button on my Walkman far more aggressively than necessary.
Robbie’s eyes flick down to follow my movement, then settle back on my face, his smile never wavering. “I am,” he nods.
“But you don’t have to be,” I say.
He tilts his head, his tongue pressing into his bottom lip. “Whatcha listening to, Cooper?”
“Music,” I blurt. I have to refrain from smacking my palm against my forehead, instead deciding to look very enthralled with one of the books on the cart.
“Oh, okay,” Robbie nods. “Because I totally thought it was the Gettysburg Address.”
My head snaps up, my brows raising. “‘No taxation without representation’andthe Gettysburg Address? Are you sure you don’t come from a family of historians? Truly, I’m impressed.”
Robbie winces, but quickly plays it off. If I didn’t realize after our visit to Summers Optometry, I definitely know now that Robbie’s family is a sore subject for him. I open my mouth to try to apologize, but Robbie cuts me off, glazing over the subject completely.
“Excuse me for asking,” he says, pushing off the bookshelf and taking a few steps closer to me. “It’s just that you seemed really into whatevermusicyou were listening to.”
I feel heat rush to my cheeks and look away from him. “It was alright, I guess,” I mutter.
“Soalrightthat it made you,” Robbie holds up a finger, spinning it around in a circle, “do a little twirl?”
I drop the book in my hands back onto the cart. “I did nottwirl.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Cooper,” Robbie says, holding up his hands and leaning in closer. “It was the cutest little twirl I’ve ever seen.”
I turn to fully face him, putting my hand on my hip. “Sorry, why did you say you were here? You just couldn’t stay away from me?”
Robbie shakes his head, suppressing a grin. And after all the time I’ve spent with him, I know, for now, that he’ll let this go. I let out a subtle sigh of relief as Robbie says, “Coach Parsons called a meeting with the senior basketball players after school today to plan for try-outs.”
“Oh,” I say. “I guess the season is coming up.”
“Try-outs are in two weeks,” he nods.
A silence settles between us for a few moments as I’m pretty sure we’re both thinking the same thing. There won’t be any moreusby that time. Suddenly, two weeks seems like both one second and an entire lifetime away.
“It’s too bad. I guess you’re gonna miss out on being my Bleacher Babe, huh?” Robbie says, breaking the trance we’ve found ourselves in.
“Yourwhat?” I ask, rearing back.
Robbie lets out a chuckle. “You know, myBleacher Babe. One of the girlfriends that sits on the sideline wearing a t-shirt with their boyfriend’s name and number on the back and does little cheers.” He holds up his hands, making a cheerleading type motion.
“That’s a real thing?”
“Afraid it is,” Robbie confirms. “You know, some even consider it anhonor, Cooper.”
“Well I guess that’s a good thing. You’ll have a whole line of girls ready to take my place.”
