CHAPTER 17

Jack was up in his room, doing his algebra homework. Well, actually, that's what he was supposed to be doing. The radio was turned up and he was dancing and singing…loudly. He didn't notice the door slowly open…

"Hey!"

"Whooahhh!" He stopped his fancy routine and turned to see who had entered. "Robin! Knock first, why don't ya…I could have been naked or something!"

"Ugh, spare me the thought, Jack! I just wanted to give back some CD's Riley lent me, but she's not around. Where is she?"

Jack stepped down from the bed and sat down. "I don't know…about half an hour ago I saw her go out the front door. She looked furious."

Robin sat down on the bed next to him. "It's Riley. She's always mad about something…especially when it comes to writing songs…"

"Speaking of songs…have you guys written anything yet? Sorry to say…but that rubber-glue-stew one really sucked."

"Tell me something I don't know," she said as she gave him a shove. "Well, we've come up with some stuff, bits and pieces…but I've started writing one on my own…Riley doesn't know about it yet, though."

"Well, can I hear it?"

"Um…I don't know…it's kind of personal, and-"

Jack got down on his knees. "Please," he begged, "If it sucks, I'll lie and say I liked it. Please."

She hesitated for a moment, then sighed and reached for her backpack.

"Ok, ok, you can hear it. But promise you won't laugh."

"I won't, I won't."

From her bag Robin pulled out a very crumpled piece of paper. She smoothed it out and took a deep breath.

You're all I think about

You're all I'll ever need

I don't know how I'll live

If you're not beside me

I love the way you smile

I love the way you laugh

Without you in my life

My heart is torn in half

It feels like I can fly

When you say my name

All I want to know is

Do you feel the same?

Robin felt her cheeks flush.

"That's all I have right now…It's not very good-"

"Don't be crazy. Those lyrics…they were pretty deep…this—this person, you must really care about them."

She stared into his dark eyes.

Just tell him.

"I-I've got to go…someplace," she stammered as she stuffed the paper into her bag. "I'll see you later…bye."

"Wait, don't—"

"Bye."

Robin quickly stepped into the hallway and shut the door behind her. Tears were making their way to her eyes.

If I love him so much, then why is it so hard to tell him how I feel?

CHAPTER 18

Riley walked out of the photocopy shop carrying a thick stack of papers, each one bearing the same message:

BOYCOTT COUGAR RADIO!

Janice Gervais, go away! There's more to school than football and cheerleading. Let's end this conformity and tune out the Cougar!

"Riley Maria Brennan," she chuckled as she pasted a poster onto a lamppost, "you are a genius. This'll show Waller and that little snot, Janice!"

Unfortunately, who happened to be walking down the sidewalk at that very moment, but Janice Gervais herself.

Riley rolled her eyes as Janice made her way closer to herself and the lamppost.

Crap. Here we go.

Janice stopped in front of the post and read the paper. Without skipping a beat, she tore the paper down. Riley had expected her to be furious and scream until her face turned purple, but instead, Janice looked…disappointed.

"Riley, why did you do this? Why did you make these posters?"

Riley snatched the paper from Janice and shoved it into her backpack.

"There's more where that came from, Janice. You know very well why I made them. Cougar radio is so biased. You shun everyone and everything that isn't popular enough for you."

Now Janice looked angry. "Popular enough for me? Riley, you don't understand. I read whatever I'm told to read. I don't choose what gets aired on Cougar Radio and what doesn't!"

Riley was very confused now. What was she talking about?

"You don't? I always thought you—you're not the one behind it?"

"No, I'm not. There's a group of students that meet everyday after school to discuss what the next day's broadcast is going to be about. They decide what gets aired by going through a list of all the school events, then choosing the ones they think will appeal to the public."

Riley couldn't believe her ears. Janice Gervais had nothing to do with the discrimination on Cougar Radio?

Janice continued on. "You may not believe this, Riley, but I'm against Cougar Radio almost as much as you are. Do you think I like announcing things like…like that stupid cheerleader car wash, when everyone knows that they already got new uniforms 5 months ago? Do you think I like announcing that stupid annual sports banquet, when everyone knows that the school band's funding was cut to be able to cover the catering expenses? I protest to Principal Waller nearly everyday, and he just tells me to stop complaining and 'respect the position of being the voice of Cougar Radio!'"

Riley fell silent. She felt terrible. How could she judge Janice like that, when she didn't know the whole story?

"Janice, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I didn't know…"

Janice took a tissue out of her pocket and wiped the tears making their way down her cheeks.

"Oh, don't be sorry, Riley. It's not your fault. Everyone thinks the same thing about me, that I'm a snob. I'm the one who takes the blame when I read other people's words."

Riley didn't think she'd ever felt so much pity towards anyone before.

"Janice, you don't have to take this. If it makes you so unhappy, why don't you quit?"

Janice looked at Riley with red swollen eyes.

"Quit? Why don't I quit? It's not that easy. My parents want me to do this. They think that by being the Cougar Radio DJ, everyone treats me with respect and looks up to me. But it's exactly the opposite. I can't let them down by quitting, they're too proud of me."

"I could help you talk to them, Janice. I can back you up. Once they realize how things really are, they'll let you resign!"

Janice gave Riley a small sad grin. "I appreciate your help, Riley, but I think it's best if I leave things be for now."

Riley gave a weak smile back. "Well…okay. I understand. But I just don't think it's fair to you."

"Nothing's ever fair," Janice said with a sigh. "Life's not fair. It sucks, but that's the way it is."

Riley wholeheartedly agreed. After all, would she call having Jack for a brother fair?

Janice glanced at her watch. "Well, it's getting late, I'd better getting home. Um, by the way, thanks for listening to me. It was nice to finally have someone to talk to…about everything."

"Yeah…" Riley felt extremely guilty now. "Look, I'm sorry about making those posters…I feel like such an idiot!"

"Don't worry about it. It was for the best, actually. It gave me the chance to explain to you who I really am."

And with that, she walked off again, down the sidewalk.

Riley looked at the pile of posters that she was still holding. She walked over to a trash can and tossed them in, one by one.

AWW! wasn't that sweet! Robin's got a crush on Jackie-Poo and Riley and Janice are pals! AWW! Now excuse me before I vomit from all this mushiness! Lol, jk. Hope you liked it!