I nodded and kept my eyes focused on my desk. I heard some people snickering, one of them was of course, Javier. It was whatever, I didn’t know half of the people in the room anyway, so I didn’t care about their childishness.
"Don't forget," Mr. Rowe announced, "class office elections are announced on Friday, so you all need to make sure you’ve campaigned enough to get yourself some votes."
It was not a want, it was a desperate need. Ineededto be senior class president.
Freshman, sophomore,andjunior year I had lost. Each failure took such a huge toll on me and my self-esteem. The difference was that this year I was in the running for valedictorian. I hoped that would give me a better shot, because who wouldn’t want their future valedictorian as their class president?
Though, Javier was also in the running for valedictorian. He was also more liked around school than I was, so I understood why he got more votes. But it wasn’t a popularity contest, which is what made me so upset about these elections because that was how everyone treated it.
Not only did I want to be class president, I also just wanted to beat Javier Cortez.
Mr. Rowe dismissed everyone and Kailey let me know she would wait for me outside of the door. I went up to Mr. Rowe's desk.
My teacher leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed. His bushy mustache kept taking my attention regardless how much I tried to look away. He smacked his lips and sat up as I approached him. "Elias, how 'ya been?"
"Good," I replied shortly, wanting him to get to the point already.
He nodded. "Alright, I’ll jump straight to the point. Are you still wanting to go on the trip?"
Every four years the student council club would go on a trip, though the trip was open to anyone. Student council members would get their hotel paid for in full and a discount on their park tickets. Anyone who wanted to go that was not in the student council would have to pay for it themselves.
This year was a theme park. I had never been to any theme park before, so I was extremely excited when we were told about it at the end of last year. Only problem was I knew that I wouldn't have enough money to go. While we did get a discounted price, it was still a lot. I didn't have a job, and my parents were too dead to pay for me.
I knew this before I agreed to go, but I still agreed anyway. I was hoping that by some miracle I would conjure up the money before it was due.
"Of course I want to go," I replied.
Mr. Rowe sighed. "Well, you haven't paid any of the fees yet. You have had plenty of time, kid."
It was my turn to sigh. I couldn't hide the disappointment on my face. This was a trip I had been looking forward to not only because of where we were going, but because all of my friends were going too. It would also be a week away from my family, and that was something I really needed.
"Look, I'll give you a month to make the first payment. If you can at least do that then we can try to work something out, otherwise, I can’t let you go. Understand?" Mr. Rowe explained.
I nodded and gave him my thanks. I should have simply told him that I couldn't go. There was no way I could come up with the money in a month, and that was only the beginning price.
I knew it was incredibly wishful thinking, but I was hoping the money would gracefully fall out of the sky.
Five
Eli
"Okay, let's forget about the stupid election for a minute," Ricky said, mostly to Kailey and me.
It was Thursday night, the night before the election. Me, Kailey, Bella, and Justin were at Ricky's house. Kailey and I were stressing over the possibility of not winning, and it must have been tiring the other three out because they were getting visibly irritated.
Kailey sighed. "I know that I was class treasurer last year, but I really want it again. You can’t expect me to not be worried."
Justin rolled his eyes. "But that doesn't mean you have to keep talking about it. Elias has been bitching about it forever and you're starting to add to it."
I wanted to give my rebuttal to Justin, but Bella gave me a stern looking. She knew I was about to say something and was silently advising me against an unnecessary argument.
"C'mon, let's start the movie," Ricky changed the subject
"It's a school night," Justin pointed out.
"You knew we were having a movie marathon before you came here," Ricky reminded him while he searched for the remote. "Eli, go grab drinks. Bella, you grab the blankets. Kailey—"
We had planned a movie marathon sleepover, another thing suggested by Bella and Ricky to get our minds off the election. Yes, it was a school night, but it was not like anything productive was going to be done anyway. Tensions were high and it would not be resolved until after the results were announced.
