The Cow Ate My Homework

20. Cage Fighting Solves Everything (Kind Of)

Rodney leaves me alone throughout the school day, probably because he feels assured that he will have his vengeance in just a short while. I try not to think about it, because I don't know how to get out of my impending date with doom—and I'll probably puke if I think about it too extensively.

For now, I need to focus on explaining to Sarah. I need her to know that I didn't hook up with Missy and deeply regret going to the party with her. And honestly I wouldn't mind Sarah's help in the upcoming cage-fight escape plan, whatever that plan might be.

At lunch, I am absolutely determined to end this silence between the two of us, no matter the cost. And I have to think it shouldn't be a high cost. Theoretically, she'll have nowhere to go, no excuse to avoid me here in the cafeteria. If she is able to avoid me all through our classes, this should be the one time when she can't.

I zoom through the crowd, searching for her. But then I see her way up ahead of me, carrying her tray into the kitchen. I speed after her, and I reach the kitchen door just as she shuts it behind herself.

I try to push it open and enter after her, knowing in my gut somehow that it's not gonna work. And, sure enough, Marline the grandmotherly lunchroom worker peeks out to tell me, "Sorry hun, no students allowed in the kitchen right now."

Bite me. "What about her?" I ask with more brusqueness than this nice little old lady deserves.

"Oh Sarah—well I make an exception for Sarah."

Of course you do. Marline disappears back inside the kitchen. I stare at the stupid closed door. But I am not defeated. She will hear me out, I am determined.

#

But by the time last period gym rolls around, I have gotten no closer to my goal of Sarah listening to me. I try not to think about my impending execution preliminarily scheduled for the end of the period and instead to focus on the task at hand. But unfortunately, Coach has not facilitated my talking to Sarah now, either. We're playing dodge ball, and the two of us have been put on opposite teams.

Like most gym class activities, this dodge ball game is not particularly competitive. It's probably pretty boring for Coach; and yet, this doesn't quite get him off the hook for how loud he cheers as a nerdy kid takes a huge hit: "Atta way to take him down! Let's have some fun, come on guys." Not a lot of fun for the poor nerdy kid. But I've got more important things to worry about.

Sarah across the gym from me is still pretending I don't exist to her. She doesn't look pissed or hurt, just completely indifferent to the fact that her best friend betrayed her and is trying to explain. It's like she has taken all four years' experience of acting like the feud with Missy is no big deal and is applying it all here, on me.

But I am not about to let her lack of emotion get to me. I set out to take her down via bouncy red ball.

I throw balls only at her, over and over again. Yet somehow, she manages to avoid my throws without even looking at me.

Until finally, bam! My ball makes contact hard with her arm. Coach blows his whistle. "Sarah, out."

She leaves the court, rubbing her arm where my ball hit but still not acknowledging the existence of the ball's thrower.

I have to get taken out, and quick, if I want a chance to talk to her. Not even looking at who's throwing, I dive in front of a ball. I could make a pretense of trying to catch it so I don't look so dumb, but who even cares about that at this point.