Chapter 10: Rick's Point of View

Rick tries to win back Katie.

Chapter 10: Rick’s Point of View

 

                My heart was fluttering nervously as I neared Katie’s table. Just keep yourself calm, Rick. I told myself. What’s the worst she could say?

                I shouldn’t have thought that. My mind flooded with images of all the times she had insulted me or let me down. It’s okay…she won’t say any of that.

                I was at her table now, standing awkwardly while waiting for her to notice me. After a minute, I cleared my throat and she looked up. There was a moment of silence as she stared at me blankly.

                “…What?” She asked after a second.

                “Katie.” I said, trying to maintain eye contact but finding it nearly impossible. “Uh…can we talk?”

                She looked at her friends, who were staring at me too, then looked back at me. “Sure.”

                “Well…can we talk somewhere else?”

                “Why? Anything you want to say, you can say right here.”

                I sighed. This girl was impossible. “Fine. Katie, I miss you. I know you’ve probably moved on to some other guy or whatever, but…I want a second chance.”

                Her eyebrows raised, and the girls beside her “ooo”ed and “aww”ed.  Once they settled down, Katie spoke. “Well, Rick…I’m impressed. I wouldn’t say it’s a definite no, but…you do have some competition.”

                “Competition?”

                She shrugged as if having more than one guy to choose from was nothing more than a pain she was used to. “Darryl, your little friend.”

                “Darryl?!” I couldn’t believe it.

                “And Jake too!” Katie’s friend Paige leaned` in and shrieked. “I heard that from Amy, who’s sister is dating-“

                “Okay Paige, let’s not give him a heart attack.” Katie turned back to me casually. “Obviously, I have some thinking to do now. But I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you…you’re always fair game.”

                I stared at her for a moment, stunned.

                She raised her eyebrows again. “Okay, you can go now. Bye bye.”

                I had no choice but to leave. When I got back to our table, David was waiting anxiously. I sat down at the seat across from him and started eating like nothing had happened.

                David was staring at me. “…Well?”

                I shook my head. “I have competition. And get this…she’s actually considering going out with Darryl or Jake over me.”

                “What?!” He looked disgusted. “You really need to just give up on her, man.”

                “Well, there’s still hope!” I replied, unable to think of anything better to say.

                Shaking his head, he continued to eat his lunch.

                “So.” I continued, trying to change the subject. “Homecoming tickets will be coming out next week. Are you taking anyone?”

                He shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. I want to think about it before actually doing anything. What about you?”

                I shrugged too. “Katie’s my first option. Otherwise…no idea.”

                He nodded and continued eating.

                “So what was up with you today?”

                He looked up from his sandwich. “What do you mean?”

                “Biology, with Darryl. When you like…screamed at him.”

                David rolled his eyes. “I did not scream at him.”

                “You’re not answering my question.”

                He hesitated for a minute, inspecting his sandwich. Then he said, “I don’t really know why I got so mad actually. There’s just something about Darryl than I really don’t like.”

                “Well, why don’t you like him?”

                He shrugged. “I don’t know, actually. I just…don’t like him.” He looked up again. “Why do you like him? Doesn’t he get really annoying to you?”

                I considered this. “I don’t know. I’ve known Darryl since 3^rd grade so I don’t really notice it anymore, I guess. It’s just Darryl being…Darryl.”

                He frowned. “Hm.”

                Just then, a girl who I didn’t recognize came to our table, beaming. “Hi guys, I’m Jane Modano. I’m running for President this year, and you should definitely vote for me. I’ll bring improvement to this school and make these next 3 years the greatest ones you’ll ever experience.”

                Elliot laughed and replied sarcastically, “Wow, that’s not an over exaggeration at all. So tell me Jane, what are you going to do to make this school so spectacular?”

                She looked uncomfortable, like she had never talked to any of the “punks”. “Well, I’ll be having a speech later on this week, so just come to the assembly and find out. Make sure you vote for me!” She passed out green name tags with a picture of her to everyone at our table, then sped away.

                I looked at the people sitting around our table and laughed. “Well, that was interesting!”