Page 4 of Woke Up Like This
Served him right. Suffice it to say, we haven’t gotten along since.
Kassie mindlessly fluffs her thick, waist-length Blake Lively hair for volume, something she does approximately forty times an hour. “Since we’re a month out, we should see about setting up the prom ticket booths at lunchtime,” she suggests, unaware that I’ve already arranged it. I don’t say anything, though. She gets pouty when I do things without consulting anyone. “Prom committee is a team effort, not a solo mission,” she likes to say.
Renner lifts a lazy hand. “Wait, wait, wait. Did we decide if dinner is included yet?”
I let out a maddening sigh, grip tightening around my mechanical pencil. I see he’s stolen one of my three backups. “No, dinner is not included. For the tenth time. You’d know this if you cared to show up to the last two meetings.”
“It’s not my fault it’s track season. Sorry, I actually have a life. I highly recommend it.” He throws me one of his smug looks.
Did he really just insinuate I don’t have a life? I mean—he’s not entirely wrong. I have friends, even if I don’t get to hang out with them as often as I’d like. When I’m not scooping ice cream at Two Cows ’N’a Cone or studying, I’m usually in my natural habitat, scrolling through the Netflix home screen, unable to decide betweenTo All the BoysI, II, or III for the five hundredth time, only to end up on TikTok for hours. But I’d rather wear my contacts for a week straight than admit that to Renner.
“My sincerest regrets. Between doing your job as president in addition to my own as VP, getting a life slipped my mind. I’ll happily take yours, though.” I flash a smile.
Ollie, always the referee, waves his notebook like a flag. “Did we settle on the theme yet?”
I take this as my cue to whip out my tablet, which contains all seventeen slides of prom magic. Time to blow some minds.
Technically, Renner and I were supposed to propose a theme jointly to Principal Proulx. But since Renner’s been living his best life, I went ahead without him. It probably sounds like I’m a control freak. Maybe I am, but I can’t leave prom in the hands of this self-proclaimed “big-picture guy” and his bare-minimum approach to life.
Renner muffles a snicker with his elbow when the projector screen fills with vibrant stock photos of iconic landmarks.
I do my best to blur him out, zeroing in on everyone else’s comparatively comforting faces. “Picture this. Guests need a passport to enter prom. We’ll get to travel the entire globe in just one magical night. Instead of a sit-down plated dinner, we’ll have stations with all kinds of tiny appetizers. Chinese. Mexican. Ethiopian. Italian. And don’t even get me started on the possibilities for decor. I’m thinking gigantic cardboard cutouts of all the most famous landmarks, twinkling string lights, shimmery tulle drapery ...”
When my presentation ends fifteen minutes later, everyone slow claps—except Renner. Kassie is seconds from nodding off on Ollie’s shoulder, while Nori has taken to doodling on her wrist.
Renner twirlsmypencil like a baton. He looks like he’s trying to solve a complex algebraic equation, on the cusp of breaking his poorlittle pea brain. Our eyes snag for a disturbing moment before he simply says, “Nah.”
I blink.“Nah?”
Nori, Kassie, and Ollie resettle in their seats, like they’re audience members at a UFC match, eagerly awaiting a gory bloodbath.
Renner shrugs and leans farther back in his chair. He’s practically horizontal, exuding serious dirtbag energy. “I think we can do better than Around the World.” He saysaround the worldlike it’s tired and juvenile, as if he’s heard it all before. He punctuates it with a half eye roll; he can’t be bothered to complete the three sixty.
“And what’s wrong with Around the World?” I ask, keeping my tone even.
“How are we supposed to choose what food to order? Which landmarks? I’m Polish and German. I want pierogies and sausages. If we didn’t have them, I’d feel jilted.”
“Love when white boys get flustered when things aren’t all about them,” Nori teases.
Renner nods respectfully. “Touché, but my point still stands.”
“We won’t leave anyone out,” I assure. “We’ll poll everyone on their backgrounds and—”
Ollie raises his hand. “J. T. makes a good point, Char. It’s kinda ... invasive to go around asking people their ethnicities.”
“True,” Kassie reluctantly agrees. “I love the idea, but I think it’s too broad of a theme. Let’s think of something a little more laid-back and fun.”
Renner raises his brow in a silentI told you so, pleased that he’s stolen my thunder. It’s one of his favorite pastimes, after worshipping his own reflection and leaving people high and dry on special occasions.
I fold my arms, miffed. They do have a point. I overlooked the glaring privacy bit. But I can’t help but feel they’ve tossed my proposal prematurely without considering ways around it. Traitors. “Then what does Mr.President propose?”
He shrugs. “What about ...” He looks to the ceiling, as if the answer is up there. “Under the Sea?”
I want to keel over at the thought. Under the Sea means tacky seaweed, bubble machines, anchors, and ... fish decor. For the most magical night of teenage-hood? Someone hold me. “No. Absolutely not. Over my dead body.”
He meets my stare in a challenge. “Let’s vote on it.”
THREE
