It can’t be. Ocean had participated in every single event, speech and debate, and she won none of them. She’d lost to… The microphone rang out as she perked her head up. “First Place for Big Question debate…”
Ocean Rosenburg.
Ocean Rosenburg.
“Tammy Edwards.”
She’d lost to Tammy Edwards. But she’d worked hard to win, she deserved that award. Nights of sleep lost building up to the tournament all to be lost like that? All the proof reads and practice, meals skipped, choir concerts cancelled… She knew that all of her beliefs forbade jealousy, but she wasn’t being jealous, she was just deprived of everything she deserved. Her breathing was shallow, and were her palms sweating? In the fit of desperation that followed, she’d said an unforgivable word.
Heck.
Ocean swore.
—————
“I would like to present my case.”
Ocean had brought an entire file with her, all statistics and probabilities calculated down to the thousandth, yet probably still not enough. She looked up at the office staff, holding back tears. The whole choir was here. Constance was next to her, Noel and Mischa behind her in a corner, and Ricky sitting on the couch with what’s-her-name next to them.
“Exactly 5 days, 4 hours, and 43 minutes ago, I said an unforgivable word during the Saskatchewan regional speech and debate tournament, consisting of 4 letters, H, E, C, and K.” Ocean sniffed, on the verge of breaking down. “I apologize for this greatly, as I was in the process of an “emotional breakdown” according to the doctors when Tammy was admitted to the hospital, but I’m afraid I must step down from the position of student body president.” Ocean wiped away a tear on her cheek, trembling as she tried to keep her composure. She was failing. She was failing. She looked at the office staff. Some were staring in confusion, and some were holding back laughter.
Ocean was confused as well. This was a serious offense. “Not only that, I must expel myself for this… terrible action.” She heard a snort behind her and looked back, only to see Noel almost curled up on the floor while Mischa was trying to hold him up.
Focus, she told herself, patting down her skirt. Constance patted her back while Ocean grabbed onto Constance’s arm, sobbing.
“It’s for the best, Ocean,” Constance said softly, before Ocean cut her off. “Shut up Constance- I mean I love you Connie.” She seemed too grief stricken to notice what she said, moving on. Noel burst into another fit of laughter. Wait- was Constance laughing too? “Constance, you of all people should know how serious this is!”
“I honestly would not be able to tell if she was joking or not if it wasn’t Ocean,” Noel whispered to Mischa, sitting down and placing a hand on his diaphragm.
“I- I did all the calculations,” she managed through tears that were threatening to drown her. “The average gpa will be down by 0.734 points, and the school crime rate will rise by 32.923%, but that’s your problem to deal with now. It’s what the school needs.” There was silence from the school board before the principal spoke.
“Well, we will need a new student body president, and you have appointed yourself the whole student council-“
“I’ll do it,” Noel stammered through laughter. “I can—“
“NO,” Ocean practically screeched. Suddenly she looked like she’d never cried. “I- I may have done something terrible, but I’ve moved on from it and learned from my mistake. I’m a better person now, and I will only be suspending myself- are you filming me Ricky?”
Noel was cackling. “Someone tell Ocean that she told Connie that… actually let’s let her figure it out on her own.”
—AFTERMATH—
Ocean and Constance sat in the Blackwood Cafe, a pistachio croissant sat between them. Constance’s parents gave it to her for free, since it’d been her favorite since elementary. Ocean was burying her face in her hands so Constance couldn’t see how much she was blushing.
“Did I- did I really say- gee Connie, I’m so sorry-” Constance could tell Ocean was practically sobbing again, and put a hand on Ocean’s shoulder.
“It’s ok Oce, it’s ok-”
“It’s not ok, I- I-”
“I’m fine with it.”
“You are?” Constance nodded. “Here, have some croissant,” She consoled, sliding the plate over. Ocean looked at Constance, embarrassed, before stuffing her face with the croissant.
“We never speak of this again, ok?”