How Not to Spend Your Senior Year by Cameron Dokey

Author:Cameron Dokey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Sixteen

You may as well stop wondering how I made it through the next few minutes. I can explain it in four words.

I do not know.

To this day it’s all some bizarre and slightly painful blur, like swimming in a heavily chlorinated pool with your eyes open but without your goggles.

I’m pretty sure the obvious must have happened. I introduced Mark to Alex, and Alex to Mark. Then, promising to meet me in front of the school later that afternoon, Mark headed back to Royer. I have a vague recollection of him gunning the engine and of tires squealing as he pulled out of the parking lot. But by then I was well on my way to being in the grip of déjà vu. Once again I was arriving at Beacon as a “new” student, and Alex was showing me around.

The weekly student council meeting would be our first stop, Alex informed me as we made our way through campus gathering more than our fair share of stares as we went along. Though it could hardly be considered a part of every student’s curriculum, the editor of the Beacon paper had thought the council meeting might be an event that I would like to cover.

The purpose of the meeting was to consider the various memorials proposed for recently deceased Beacon student Jo O’Connor.

“Before the meeting starts, there’s something I think you should know, Claire,” Alex said as we approached the classroom where, unbeknownst to Alex, I knew perfectly well the student council meetings were always held. He hesitated a moment, as if uncertain how to continue.

He’s trying to figure out how to tell me I look just like his dead almost-girlfriend, I thought.

“You may have noticed we got some strange looks as we came across campus,” Alex went on.

“Yes, I did. Look, Alex,” I said quickly. His name felt strange inside my mouth. “In all fairness, I think you should know that I’m aware that I . . . somewhat resemble Jo O’Connor. My editor at Royer pointed it out.

“I’m hoping nobody here will find the fact that I look like Jo too disturbing. I don’t want to make anyone more upset than they already are. And I . . . ”

Just say it, I thought.

“I know the two of you were close. Before we go any further, I want to say I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” Alex said simply. “And I’m glad you already know. I was trying to figure out how to break it to you gently, I admit.”

He gave me a somewhat ragged smile.

All of a sudden I felt like a total creep. I probably would have come clean right then and there if it hadn’t been for the fact that doing so would have endangered my father.

“Thanks for being so nice about it,” I said. At this, Alex seemed to relax. He actually gave a chuckle.

“It’s not as if you can help it,” he said. He opened the door to the student council room. “After you.”

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