Shawnie
"Katie Shannon, there you are!"
Katie turned quickly away from the newspaper rack in the Media Center, her long red hair whipping across her back. She looked at me with wide eyes and I could tell she was startled at the anger in my voice.
"Hey, Shawnie, what's the matter?"
"As if you didn't know!" I nearly shouted, taking another step closer.
Eric Silverman, also in our class and the only other person in the room, had been reading a magazine at one of the tables but took one look at the two of us faced off and left in a hurry.
"Shawnie, would you just calm down and tell me what's wrong?" Katie sighed impatiently. She really didn't look as if she had any idea what I was upset about and that made me even madder. How dare she take something like this so lightly!
"I'll tell you what's wrong- I just got finished talking to Laura McCall, that's what. She said Tammy overheard you and Jana this morning at your locker discussing your campaign to help that- that Kelsey person become class president instead of me!"
Katie frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Shawnie, you know Tammy's the biggest gossip in school. And you know she loves to twist things around so that they sound more exciting. I tell you, I am- as of this time- not a part of Kelsey Talbot's campaign. I don't care what Tammy said she heard, but that's not it. You can even ask Jana if you'd like."
We were both silent a moment and the only noise was the buzzing of the overhead lights and kids slamming locker doors down the hall. I took a deep breath. "So, you're not campaigning for Kelsey?"
"No," She paused a moment, then added in a clear voice, "but I did sign her nomination petition yesterday. And... and if she asks me to help her with her campaign, I probably will."
I felt liked someone had just hit me. Hurt and mad.
"But- but... Katie! How could you? I thought you were on my side? You barely even know this Kelsey whatever-her-last-name is!"
Katie looked a little embarressed and she shrugged, then softly replied, "It's not that I don't like you as a person, Shawnie, it's I just feel that Kelsey stands for more issues I believe in. And she doesn't have very many friends here like you do. She needs help. That's all."
I couldn't remember being so mad. Katie was practically telling me that I would make a rotton class president and that other girl was perfect for it. And she was supposed to be my friend! Supposed to be helping me!
"Shawnie?"
I looked up coldly at Katie's pleading face as she continued.
"Shawnie, please. It's nothing personal, okay? Please- can't you try to understand?"
I glared at her. "Oh, I understand perfectly. Good bye, Katie Shannon. I wish you luck on your new venture- because you're going to need it." With that, I whirled around and stalked out of the room.
I didn't care if I never spoke to that girl again.