Page 121 of Something Rad
I drop the camera from my face, leaving it to hang around my neck as I reach into my back pocket for my journal. I turn away, grabbing the pencil from behind my ear and scribbling down the thought onto a page. Once I’m done, I close the journal, and the moment I look up, I spot Robbie walking into the gym. He’s with Brad and a couple of junior basketball players named Michael and Billy, but he doesn't look too engaged in their conversation, his head swiveling around like he’s looking for something.
Or someone.
It’s Denise, obviously.
I turn my head, looking around the gym, but find the cheerleaders all gathered in the far corner. Nowhere near where Robbie keeps looking. My gaze flicks between him and his line of sight, and I realize he keeps looking around the little stage riser set up in the middle of the gym.
The one that Jesse is standing off to the side of, chatting with Principal Whileyman.
The one I probably should’ve been standing by about ten minutes ago. I swallow hard.
Just a few more minutes. It’ll be fine.
I raise my camera once again.
Click. Click.
A few minutes later, Principal Whileyman steps up on stage to open up the Homecoming pep rally, welcoming the cheerleaders to the floor.
Click. Click.Click.
I try to take pictures of every cheerleaderbutDenise, but my camera just keeps finding her.
Click. Cli–
My camera is suddenly ripped away from my face.
“Hey, what the–”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I look up with wide eyes at the voice that cut me off, finding Alice standing in front of me.
“Oh, hi, Al,” I say, forcing a tight smile to my face.
“Sara, why are you taking photos right now?” she demands, her dark brows furrowed.
“Well, it’s kind of my job.”
“Not today, it isn’t. Your only job today is to get your ass on that stage and deliver your kickass speech.”
“I… I will,” I stammer. “I’m going to. But I need to take photos first. The newspaper. The yearbook–”
“Mr. Hughes will understand,” Alice interrupts me. “He’s rooting for you more than anyone. You know it’s more important to him that you’re the editor of the yearbook than it is to have a hundred photos of this pep rally to choose from to include in it.”
My lips press together, because I fully know that she’s right. But if I stop taking pictures, then that makes this real. Then I really have to walk over to that stage. I’ll have nothing else to occupy my mind other than the speech I’m about to give in front of the whole school. The speech I have to give to try to convince them to vote formeover Jesse Lamonte for student body president. The speech that will be my ticket to the yearbook editor position I’ve always wanted and very possibly to the future beyond high school that I’ve always dreamed of.
“But…” I mutter, my voice weak.
“Here,” Alice says, gently pulling the camera strap from around my neck and placing it around her own. “I’ll take pictures for you.”
“What–Really?But I–”
“I got it, Sara,” Alice insists. “Now get over to that stage and be ready to knock ‘em dead.”
I slowly nod. “Okay.”
“You’ve got this, girl,” Alice smiles, rubbing her hand softly over the side of my arm. “You deserve it.”
