The boy removed his hand from my shoulder and nodded. "Alright, just making sure. I couldn't sleep. I'm Matt." he outstretched his hand and I shook it weakly. He gestured towards the girl. "And this here is my little sister Megan."
I shook her hand too. "Oh, so you two know each other?" I joked. Matt smiled.
"I'm trying out for grade 10 rep this year." Matt explained. "I was a grade 9 rep last year, so it ought to be easy. Megan's trying to follow in my footsteps."
"So heredity is on her side." I said. Matt shrugged.
"It's a popular thing, so it couldn't hurt. Besides, with you playing the door-to-door politician, she'll need all the edge she can get." He playfully punched my arm. It actually kind of hurt.
"May the best candidate win." she said softly, speaking for the first time. I guess she didn't talk much. They were dressed like they belonged in a high school setting – he was wearing a blue polo, with sandblasted jeans and a big watch to complete the set. She was wearing a slightly loose knit sweater with what looked like no t-shirt underneath. She wore a short skirt and good-looking shoes, contrasting Matt's worn sneakers. I suddenly felt very self-conscious of the old t-shirt and jeans I had just thrown on this morning. I guess I should have dressed for success.
Matt and I made small talk, with Megan saying barely a word in between, until we looked up and realized that the gym was full of students. Matt checked his watch. 9:32. "Showtime," he said excitedly. Every emotion I felt at that moment contributed to my desire to throw up.
Phil took to the stage and gave the usual cheesy speech about us starting a journey and how great the student council is. After he was done, Mr. Scott, our esteemed principal, took to the stage.
Mr. Scott was great if you ask me. On the outside, he was everything you expected in a stereotypical principal – a cheerful expression, gray hair, a tweed jacket, and a big, loud tie to seal the deal. When he spoke, though, he knew exactly what to say and how much. He knew how to talk to students, not talk down to them, something I respected quite a lot. His speech was more to the effect of why we deserve the students' time and how we'll be representing the school, something to keep in mind during the elections. He then took his seat, and Phil called Matt to the podium. I guess grade 10s were going first.
Then lightning struck me. Shit. I remembered I had no speech prepared. Everything started to fade out. I could hear laughter from Matt's speech, but it became more and more faint. Dark thoughts started to swirl around my head. I had absolutely nothing, I was a failure. I was about to go in front of the entire school, perhaps the most shy guy in school, and I had absolutely nothing prepared. How idiotic could I be? The whole school was going to laugh at me. I would disappoint everyone – Nicole, Phil, Mr. Salvador, mom…
I felt a soft touch on my hand that brought me back to reality. I looked to my hand and found Megan's on top of it, her thumb caressing the skin of my hand. "Are you okay?" she whispered, nothing but concern on her face. "You were breathing really hard there…"
Was I? It sure sounded like me. I was nervous as all hell, and just wanted to leave. Or cry. Or both. God, I was a wreck. I smiled at her. "Yeah, I'll be okay. Just nervous."
She took my hand in hers. Her touch was absolutely electric. Her hands were delicate, yet deliberate, and suddenly my smile felt genuine. "I'm nervous too. It's okay." She held my hand and paused before adding, "It'll be over soon. Might as well go through with it now we're here, hm?"
My smile didn't fade, and I nodded. I let go of her hand reluctantly and turned my attention back to the podium, where Phil was there again thanking all of the grade 10 candidates. How much time had passed?! He then turned his attention to us and introduced us to the crowd. The crowd, mostly the grade nine section, cheered.
"Great," he said enthusiastically. "Now, you may recognize this next girl from her brother, who made that great speech about the tornado and the science lab."
Matt leaned into me, a smug expression on his face. "I made that part up myself."
"Let's give a warm welcome to our first candidate, Megan Schneider!" Phil led the clapping as Megan timidly took to the stage. She cleared her throat and began her speech, which wasn't half bad. I couldn't concentrate, however, due to my own nervousness. I think I started breathing heavily again as I debated in my head what I was going to do. I think Matt heard me, and empathy must run in his family or something. Next thing I knew, a hand I guessed was rubbing my back reassuringly. "Relax, man." Matt said soothingly. "It's all good." After a bit, the rubbing stopped, but his hand remained on my shoulder. It felt nice to have people in my life who actually cared when I was feeling down. I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but this was the first time in my life someone outside of my family was helping me when I was down, and it meant the world to me.
When I looked up, Megan was back in her seat and Phil was at the podium. "I think you're up next, man." Matt said, now both of his hands on my shoulders to support me in getting up.
Sure enough, at that moment I heard Phil say, "…And when it comes to the issues this guy has done his homework. Here he is, Adam Watson!"
Matt had no shame in standing up and helping me get on my own two feet until he was confident I could walk to the podium myself. My heart was pounding in my chest. My legs felt like they were made of solid lead. I managed to make my way over to the podium and clear my throat as the cheering died down.
But just as it did, one guy declared, more loudly than he should have, "Hey! That's the guy who asked what we want in the school!" I looked down and could only smile in disbelief. It was Carson, the guy from my math class. He definitely already knew who I was, but I guess he thought this could give me a boost.
The result was instantaneous. As if the cheering had never died down, it erupted for a second time, this time louder than the last. I had absolutely no words for the moment. These students, people I had only met a few days ago, were being so selfless and helping me. I was overwhelmed. So much so, that my throat was closing up. I cleared my throat again, in what the audience took as a sign of me beginning my speech.
"Um…" I began. Stellar beginning. I think I really sold it with the 'm' sound. My heart began pounding even harder than others. My nervousness, surprise at everyone's kindness, past stress and lack of preparation were welling up from within me. I could tell, I was going to cry. How lame would that be? Yes sir, vote for the crying dolt. I had to take some edge off. I needed some sort of release, a joke or something.
I breathed once, and again. "My fellow Americans…" I started, earning a chuckle from the crowd. Well, that was it, filling my joke quota. I needed to follow that up with something serious. I passed the mic to my brain as I began to freestyle, not knowing the words coming out of my own mouth.
"The people of this school… are something special." I began, not knowing why I said that or where it came from. "During my campaign over the last week, I've been asking you what needs fixing, what's wrong with the school. But I'd like to take some time and tell you what's right with it. About a minute ago, I was in that chair, on the verge of a panic attack."