HughTube

Chapter 9

That afternoon, Simon and I were back at our folding table in the hallway, once again handing out the tree-shaped air fresheners. It was all I really had, and I still knew it wasn't enough because now Trey had upped his own game – he was handing out flash drives with the latest Ed Sheeran album on them! Now that was going too far!

Just then, Principal Townsend jumped in with one of his trademark HughTube 'show biz' poses. "Baby, 'Hugh' are born to ruuuun!" He laughed at his own 'joke'. "How's my favorite candidate doing?"

"I'm making a new start," I said, "and I'm hoping for the best."

"Great attitude!" he exclaimed. And then came the inevitable singing and dancing:

"We're having an election!

"It's gonna be perfection!

"Who will win, no one really knows,

"Could be you or you or Hugh, I suppose!"

And with another hearty laugh, he finally headed off, once again oblivious to the stares of all the horrified students around him.

It was a shame Mr. Townsend couldn't vote in the election since he would've been the one vote I could be sure of. He may have forgiven me for the day-old fries incident, but I don't think anybody else did. So I wasn't sure anybody would vote for me at all.

Just then, I spotted Molly MacLaine coming our way. I immediately tensed-up as she did one of her patented hair flips. I nudged Simon, and then I narrated for HughTube: "Molly MacLaine heads this way. Is she coming to get a locker air freshener? Or will she just pass by without even a glance?" But she kept coming. We even made eye contact. I bit my tongue, trying not to panic.

Molly walked right up to my table and said, "Hi. You're Hugh, right?"

"Yeah!" I said, way too enthusiastically. Down boy! "I mean yeah, that's me."

"Your HughTube blog thing – that's cool."

"Thanks! I mean thanks." Okay, let's break this down: A) She'd actually seen HughTube. B) She thought it was cool. C) Did I mention, she thought it was cool?!

"You put it all out there. I like that. It takes guts."

"Yeah... that's me. I'm... gutsy," I said, trying to be cool – and not succeeding. But she wasn't exactly right. I didn't invent HughTube because I had guts. Remember, I was just desperate. But I wasn't about to tell her that.

Simon chimed in: "And he's running for President! That takes guts too!"

"So what's your platform?" Molly said as she leaned on the table. She was kind of leaning over me now, and her face was getting closer. I could actually smell her, a beautiful, soft smell, delicate but strong enough to overpower the tree things' pine scent (which I was starting to get sick of). Thinking back, I'm not sure how I maintained consciousness.

"M-my platform?" I stuttered.

"Yeah, your campaign pitch. What do you think you can do as Student Council President?"

"Uh... make things better?? I was thinking I'd just... kinda... wing it?" Yep, I was on a roll.

"Hmm. I expected more," Molly said thoughtfully.

My heart sank. My world collapsed. Again, I'm not sure how I maintained consciousness, but this time for different reasons.

"I mean, you're the HughTube guy," she continued. "You know how to be – "

" – gusty," Simon offered. Thanks, Simon.

"Yeah," Molly said.

I tried to defend myself. "Well, yeah, I'm gonna... be gutsy! Make bold choices. Make the hard choices other people aren't gutsy enough to make."

"Hmm. We'll have to work on that," Molly said.

"W-We?" I fumbled.

"If you want me to help you with your campaign."

Simon's eyes nearly popped out of his head, but he tried hard to remain calm. But I was skeptical. "Well, I don't know if – "

"Sure!!" Simon interrupted. "We need all the help we can get. Literally." He handed Molly a handful of air fresheners. "Why don't you start by handing these out, maybe over by the door?"

Molly took them happily. "You bet! But later, we gotta strategize." She walked off towards the front doors in the atrium.

Simon turned to me. "Dude, are you nuts?"

"But I don't even know her that well," I said, still not getting it.

"So get to know her! She came to you, man! She's obviously interested!"

"She's into politics," I said, trying to figure out an explanation.

"She's into you!" Simon shook his head. "Jeez. How come you're the guy with the camera on all the time, but you're always the last person to see things?"

I looked over at Molly handing out the air fresheners. I narrated quietly: "Molly looks beautiful in the light coming through the front doors." I noticed a lot of students were happily taking the tree things from her. "Her natural appeal just draws people in, makes them feel like they're her friends. I hope against hope that I don't disappoint her."

Then she flipped the hair out of her eyes again... and I finally passed out.