Page 75 of Woke Up Like This
We have to barricade the outside of the gym with stacked chairs and leftover Halloween caution tape from the drama club’s haunted house in October. No one is permitted to leave the gym, unless it’s to use the restroom. Of course, not half an hour into the night, a group of band kids already managed to hot-box the bathroom.
After completing most of our tasks, Nori and I finally get to relax and find a quiet corner to set up our sleeping bags.
“We need to make a space for Kassie,” I say, moving slightly closer to Nori to make room.
Nori gives me a look. “Um, I dunno if that’s necessary.” She points over my shoulder, and that’s when I see her.
Kassie is here, on the far side of the gym. She looks effortlessly cool in a pair of pink mirrored aviators and a distressed denim jacket. Her blonde hair is tied back with a retro headband, and her sleeping bag is tucked under her arm. She’s laughing with Andie and some of the girls from cheer squad, and I see them make room in the middle of their pack for her sleeping bag.
“Isn’t she supposed to hang with us?” Nori asks.
“Yup.” Kassie eagerly plunks down and tosses Andie a candy bar. Something stirs in my gut and it’s not shock, despite our conversation at lunch about hanging out tonight. Kassie said it would be like old times, Funyuns and all.
Everyone gets up when the pizzas arrive. Kassie waltzes right up to Nori and me and grabs a box for the squad. She’s casual, friendly, as though she has no idea she’s ditched our plans.
Nori darts me a side-eye, annoyed on my behalf.
Eventually, Renner and Ollie help us in the pizza assembly line. Nori gives out plates, I’m on napkins, Ollie opens the pizza boxes, and Renner doles out soda and water. Once we finally get into a groove, Kassie comes sauntering back, distracting Ollie with a dramatic hug. Clearly, they’ve made up and then some. I’m guessing she can see that I’m stressed because she says, “Hey, what can I do?”
“Nothing, everything’s already taken care of,” I respond bluntly, handing Reggie Wilson a napkin. Technically, Kassie could be on garbage duty, or running the empty boxes to recycling. But the four of us already have a good system going, and frankly, I don’t need her pity help.
“I’m sorry I got here late,” Kassie says. “But everything is all good now.”
“All good with what? Did you make up with Ollie?” I ask, unable to hide the bitter undercurrent in my tone.
She flinches, uncomfortable that I’ve mentioned their fight. I regret it when Ollie shoots her a betrayed look.
This is uncomfortable. Send help.
She twists her glossed lips. “Why do I feel like you’re shooting me daggers? Are you mad at me or something?”
It’s tempting to yell,Yes, I’m mad at you!This is certainly not how I imagined our girls’ night. I’ve been looking forward to spending time with Kassie, the way we used to, before we leave high school. We’re supposed to do all the Senior Week activities together. But I can’t explain all this to her in front of the entire senior class.
“It’s fine, Kassie,” I snap, turning my attention to the next person in line.
“It’s not fine,” Renner cuts in, his voice terse and sharp. He sets down a new box of pizza and shoots her a look.
“Dude, what’s your problem?” Ollie eyes him suspiciously. In his defense, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard Renner use this tone.
Renner huffs. “Char and I got to the gym yesterday morning at 6:00 a.m. to set up for prom. We also got here an hour and a half ago. And you haven’t even lifted a finger. As a member of the student council, it would be nice if you showed up to do your job.”
A hush falls, everyone stunned at Renner’s serious tone.
Kassie blinks, taken aback. “Chill, J. T. I’m here now, offering to help. Char literally just said there’s nothing for me to do. Why are you freaking out?”
I expect Renner to smile and apologize, but he doesn’t back down. “Because you always do this. You always leave all the heavy lifting to Char and then swoop in at the end and take credit for things.”
Her jaw falls open. She hitches her shoulders, arms crossed, well aware that everyone in line is overhearing the argument. “Maybe I would do more if Char didn’t boss everyone around. You said it yourself, J. T., she’s not a team player.”
Nori gasps.
“Someone has to organize all the logistics, Kass. I can’t take care of everything. I have to delegate things,” I shoot back.
But she doesn’t back down. “I signed up to be on student council as amember. We all did. We’re supposed to be a team. And you treateveryone like some minion, ordering us around, expecting us to do everything your way. It’s like no one else is allowed to have an opinion.”
That’s it. I’m done. I slap the napkin bundle on the table and turn to her. “This isn’t just about student council. We were supposed to spend the night like old times, and you’ve spent the entire time with the cheer squad.”
“You’re really that mad that I’m spending the night with the cheer girls? Seriously?”
