Page 27 of Something Rad
Oh.
The pen falls from my hand, clanking against the clipboard.
By the time I’m facing forward again, Robbie’s arm is slung around Denise’s shoulder and they are walking away down the hall.
I shake my head, feeling stupid. Then stop myself from shaking it, not even knowing why I’m feeling stupid.Why would he have been looking at me?Much less saying hi? We aren’t even friends. He didn’t even remember my existence until yesterday.
Part of me thinks I honestly liked it better when he didn’t.
“Sara?” Alice speaks up.
I snap out of whatever weird trance I let myself slip into, turning to face her. “Hey, I just remembered. I have to run a quick errand before class.” I straighten the stack of books in my hands, taking a few steps down the hall. “See you at lunch?”
“Okay,” she says, eyeing me suspiciously. “See you at lunch, busy bee.”
Before she can question me further, I spin on my heel and bolt down the hallway.
I shake my head, not even allowing myself to wonder what the hell any of that just was. I’m not sure which of the two things that just occurred makes me question my sanity more: me almost actually signing up for the student body president race or me thinking that Robbie Summers was actually paying me mind.
I was so sure he was looking right at me.
I shake my head, pushing the absurd thought away.
We spent one very heated hour and a half in the library together. That doesn’t make us friends.
Not that I’d even want us to be.
I return to consciousness as I finish my unnecessary lap around the school to complete my imaginary errand, bringing me to the door that was around the corner from where I was just standing with Alice, leading outside and to my second period class. History with Ms. Cage.
And Robbie.
I roll my eyes at the realization as I move to push open the heavy metal door, it creaking the moment I do so.
“God, you’re so tan, sweetheart. How did Hawaii make you even more beautiful?”
“Oh, stop it, Robbie.”
I stop dead in tracks, my hand freezing on the door. I glance down, seeing the three inch crack of open space between the door and the frame allowing this conversation outside to float through and into my earshot.
I feel my heart pounding in my ears. Robbie and Denise are clearly right outside the door.
Right between me and the class I am definitely on the verge of being late for.
The only other option is to go out the front of the school and all the way around to the back, but the front office ladies will definitely question me, and there’s no way I’d make it on time.
“Denise, come on. I don’t understand. You said you loved the show.”
“I did love it, but I’m sorry, Robbie. It doesn’t change anything.”
I can’t do this. I’ll just have to run to the front and sprint right past the front office ladies. I’ll choose to ask for forgiveness rather than permission if they decide to chase after me. I start to let the door close but stop immediately, gritting my teeth together as it lets out a loud squeak.
“How could it not change anything?”
“Because, Robbie. I’m still me. And…you’re still you.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
I blow a breath out of my nose. This definitely is not a conversation I should be overhearing. And not one I should even want to.
