53 Impudence - Part 2 (1/2)
Coming through these halls in the morning has been a nerve-wracking experience ever since those rumors began, but today might just be the worst of it all.
There's a chance that, thanks to that interview, people will look at the both of us as liars trying to defame Jennifer Swift for the election. If that's how it turns out, then we might just be worse off than when we started.
But I think Scarlet took that risk because she had faith in my speech.
If we combine it with the interview, then we might just be able to convince enough people.
It's a huge gamble, but so was running in the first place.
Playing it safe stopped being an option a long time ago.
”Gosh, walking through these halls is so nerve-wracking…”
Scarlet echoes my thoughts as she rubs her arms while walking alongside me.
The weather report did say it'd be kind of chilly today so it's no surprise, but it must be extra hard on her since her clothes don't cover up her arms or shoulders at all. Thankfully I decided to wear a windbreaker so I don't really have to worry about all of that.
”You too, huh?”
”Of course me too! Walking through crowds when you're popular is really scary, especially for me. I mean, I'm the kind of girl who gets anxious about falling over when I look up at the sky and realize that the earth is moving.”
That's oddly specific. Does that actually happen to her?
”If it's any consolation, they'll probably be laughing at me too hard to even remember you.”
”No way, it's been a hot minute since you hit rock bottom. I still have a ways to go.”
”Ouch, dude.”
”'The Hero Sunchester High Deserves.' Pfft…”
”Oh shut up…”
”Ahahaha. I'll let you have it, it's pretty funny.”
”Speak for yourself. You're not the one on the poster.”
Her laughter continues as we walk through the hall.
Strangely enough, it's hard for me to tell how other people are reacting to us.
I don't know if it's because I'm trying to ignore them or if the conversation is just that fun.
Still, just walking like this and talking to her…
Who knew that something this small could feel so good?
”So, what'd you think of my mom's car? Pretty cool huh?”
”Well, I'm not much of a car guy.”
”Huh, thought all guys were into that stuff.”
”Well I am, but… unless you're driving a Tesla or something they all pollute the earth the same, right?”
”You're such a loser…”
What? I'm right aren't I?!
Ah great, looks like that turned her off from the conversation.
Great going Chase. Real smooth stuff there.
”Ah geez, why is it so cold today…?”
She starts rubbing her arms a bit more forcefully.
Looking at her like this makes me feel kinda bad.
”Uh, are you okay? You don't look too good. Here, I'll give you my jacket.”
”You'll give me your…? H-huh?! No way! W-why would I…”
”Here.”
I already took it off long before her complaints began.
My shirt on its own covers more skin than what she's wearing right now so it should be fine.
”Uugh…”
She looks away and reluctantly accepts it.
”T-thanks…”
”Geez, you should be more honest about stuff like this. If you get sick then who am I gonna copy notes from when I skip class?”
”What kind of class president skips classes?!”
”Ah, right…”
It was only a joke, but I guess if I win this election then I can't very well just do that kind of stuff anymore.
The responsibilities of a class president…
To think that something like that might be on my shoulders after first period.
Haaa, I'm getting nervous again…
”Wow Sig, get a load of these two lovebirds.”
”Tch… Kimochi warui…”
On our way to the classroom, we run into the two guys who made Friday's operation such a huge success.
Actually, I have no idea where Sig ran off to when it began but…
”Hey you guys. Go on Scarlet, say hello.”
”W-w-w-w-we're not lovebirds!”
”Uwaaaah, Scarlet-chan's tsundere meter is off the charts today, Nick-kun.”
”Heh, don't say that so loudly. Bitches can get real grumpy when they're in heat.”
”…”
Uh…
”Youuuuu stupidddddd…”
”Nick-kun, I think you should make a run for it.”
”Oh relax dude. There's nothing she could do that'd make me want to…”
”COCKROOOOOOAAAAACH!”
”OUUUUCHHHHHHHHH!!! GODDAMMIT!!!!”
This is the second time I've seen her get violent with Nick, but it's still as terrifying as the first.
”Why'd you hit me?!”
”Who's the bitch in heat here? You're the one acting like a middle-schooler in love whenever Leyla walks by!”
”L-love?! I-I am not! Not with that thot!”
”Hmmmm? Oh really? Then why don't you prove it and reject her then?”
”T-that's…”
”Hmph. Yeah I thought so.”
”Tch… I knew I shouldn't have opened up to you. I'm never trusting a thot like you again.”
”Oh whatever, you deserved it.”
Are they on good or bad terms? I can't tell anymore.
That aside…
”Hey Nick, is that…?”
I point to the box he's carrying, and he nods.
”Yep. It's Monday so I brought donuts for the four of us.”
”Donuts? That is sooo unhealthy! I can't eat anything with that much sugar so early in the morning!”
”You're such a drama queen. Don't worry about it, you don't have to eat a whole donut. Just share half of it with your boyf-”
”Huh?!”
”N-nevermind.”
Wow, that punch must've hurt. Nick of all people is actually beginning to respect her now.
The four of us continue walking on our way to the classroom.
”Hey Chase-dono, do you think you're ready?”
”As ready as I'll ever be.”
Actually, can we just call this off? My nerves are killing me.
I'd been worried about the car ride the entire time, but it just dawned on me that I'll be giving that speech to a bunch of kids who want nothing more than to see me fail.
Ahahahaha, high school sucks…
”Don't worry about Chase, man. Dude's like Light Yagami right now. When he's done, Thotifer won't even know what hit her. Right Chase?”
”Y-yeah…”
Not that I even know who ”Light Yagami” is, but I'll just play along for now.
”I was just wondering… what if we do win? What happens then?”
”What happens? Well…”
Nick ponders for a moment.
”I've got it! We can install a video game console in the classroom!”
”W-what?”
Scarlet looks completely lost.
”No dude. Think bigger desu. We could get a giant plasma TV and broadcast anime in between classes! And maybe we could use it for presentations sometimes…”
”That's actually a pretty good idea dude.”
Is it…?
”What do you think, Scarlet-san?”
”Huh?”
The two of them look back at her.
”Uhm…”
Apparently she's taking their question somewhat seriously because she's thinking kind of hard about it.
”I'm fine with the TV if we can watch Clint Eastwood movies after school.”
”Ahhh, Scarlet's a Clint Eastwood fan huh? You've got some heavy competition there, Chase.”
”Competition?”
”Nick, I swear to god…”
”R-relax! It's just a joke! A joke!”
”Haaa, honestly…”
Scarlet sighs.
I don't know much about Clint Eastwood, but if we're just going off what I saw of him in ”The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”, I don't think I'd have much on him if we were comparing ourselves directly.
That aside…
”I can't afford a Plasma TV, you guys. Hell I can't even afford an Uber to the city from home. Scarlet's the one who got me to school today.”
”O-oh, right… My bad, Chase-dono.”
Sig's apology signals the end of our walk as we finally arrive through the doors of our destination.
”…”
Our arrival hushes the entire room.
The moment we made our appearances known, everyone in the classroom went quiet.
They're all looking at us from the corners of their eyes.
It's such a creepy, surreal experience, and it's happening in my homeroom of all places…
”I'll just walk Scarlet to her seat, okay?”
”Sure man. If she changes her mind about the donuts, she knows where to find us.”
”I won't…”
She mutters those words and begins walking over to her seat with myself at her side.
Despite her desk only being a couple feet away from the door, the walk felt like an eternity.
The fact that everyone's eyes were on us just made every small action feel that much more meaningful.
Like we're both being judged on our every move.
”…”