“Umm, I don’t really think this is me.” I complained about an hour later, after Shane’s best friend Bryce’s girlfriend came over with clothes for me to try on.
“You look totally hot!” Felicity screamed. I guess I did look good. I was wearing tight pants for a change, and a really cute red top. It was totally different from what I usually wear and that made me a little uncomfortable.
I looked over and saw that Shane was asleep on my bed. I frowned and went over to him. With my index finger and thumb, I plugged his nose, making it impossible to breath. It took him a couple seconds, but he eventually shot up in bed, taking deep breaths.
“What the hell?” He asked me.
“You’re supposed to be helping me, not falling asleep!” I yelled at him.
“I am helping. I brought Felicity over didn’t I?”
“Yeah, but we need your opinion too. Guys pretty much determine popularity.”
He sighed. “Fine, what do you want?”
“Doesn’t she look totally hot in that outfit?” Felicity asked. His eyes took in my jeans and top, before making their way to my face, where Felicity parted my light brown hair and made it look all bouncy. He took a moment to answer.
“Well, she certainly looks better than she did an hour ago.”
“Uh, thanks?” I said, not sure if that was a compliment or not.
“You know,” Felicity began, “You’re pretty cool already. It was just your wardrobe that needed work.”
“Are you kidding me!” Shane all but shouted. “She’s a freak of nature!” I just glared at him.
“Shut up Shane.” Felicity and I said at the same time. We started giggling.
“All I’m saying is I don’t think Tillie’s ready.” He clarified.
“I know a way we can test her out. Oh wait, one more thing. We need to get you contacts. Glasses are just not cool.” My hand subconsciously went up to my glasses. I never though I looked too bad with them on, but then again I was a loser.
“Come on,” Felicity said grabbing my hand. “We’ll stop at the eye doctor on our way to Mullins.” Oh, no. Mullins was the ‘hangout’ where I lived. It’s where all the popular people went after school, and they were going to take me there already.
“Mullins? I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet.” I said quietly. Shane laughed.
“You just have to be poised, cool, funny….you know, everything you’re not. Then I’m sure they’ll accept you.”
“Shane! That isn’t funny! I’m poised and funny, maybe not cool, but that’s where you guys come in.”
Felicity rolled her eyes. “Tillie, you have to have confidence. That is a must have if you want to be popular. Now say it with me, ‘I am cool, and I will never listen to Shane again.’” I laughed but said it anyway.
“Can we go already?” Shane asked, standing in the doorway of my bedroom. “I told Bryce I’d be there by five and it’s already five thirty.”
“God, you are such a girl.” I told him as I walked past into the hallway. He shot me and angry look and was about to say something when Felicity cut him off. “Guys! Can you two try to get along for two seconds? This is never going to work other wise. Shane, you have to look like you really like Tillie, okay? That will help her cool factor if the varsity quarter back likes her. And Tillie, you have to act like you get that sort of attention everyday. Do you all understand me?” Wow, I could see how she was class president. She had a way of making people listen to her.
“Yes.” I answered with a nod of my head.
“Whatever.” Was Shane’s answer.
As we got out of the car at Mullins, I instantly became nervous. There were a bunch of people here. I looked over at Felicity, and she read the fear in my eyes. She then elbowed Shane who was standing on my right. Shane rolled his eyes, than put his arm around my shoulder. For some reason, I felt safe with his arm around me, like nothing could touch me or hurt me.
“Hey guys! We want you to meet our new friend. Guys this is Tillie, Tillie this is Bryce, Aaron, Aiden, Brooke, Rachel, and Connor.” Felicity said quickly. I of course, knew their names already, but from the looks on their faces, you’d think they’d never seen me before. One of the boys, Connor, stepped forward and offered me his hand.
“Very nice you meet you Tillie.” He said in a low voice. I couldn’t help it, I blushed. No boy has ever paid any attention to me before.
“Nice to meet you too.” I replied. He smiled at me, showing off straight white teeth. I felt Shane’s arm tighten around me. I looked up at him and saw he didn’t look happy that I was talking to Connor. Conner had a reputation for being a player. He was gorgeous, with blond hair and blue eyes, and has been with every pretty girl in the school probably, so I could see why Shane would get protective. I was, after all, his sister’s best friend.
Connor, noticing Shane’s arm for the first time, asked, “Are you two together?”
“No,” I said at the same time Shane said “Yes.” We looked at each other, and he narrowed his eyes at me. Why was he pretending we were together?
Connor looked confused. I ignored Shane and said, “We aren’t together officially.” I figured it was meeting him halfway. Connor smiled again.
“That’s good. Come on, why don’t you sit by me.” I was about to comply, but Shane spoke before I could move.
“She’s with me,” He said while tightening his grip on me even more, as if he was afraid I would try to get away. He and Connor stared each other down. Whoa, can you say testosterone?
“How about we let her choose where she wants to sit.” Connor finally said. Shane’s muscles flexed from tension. Probably because he knew I would choose Connor. I looked over at Felicity, not sure what to do, when she mouthed to me “Make him jealous!” That’s not a bad idea actually.
“I think I’ll sit with Shane this time.” I told them both. Shane visibly relaxed. Connor frowned for a minute, then smiled, his eyes lighting up. Of course. This was a guy that loved to play games, and I was going to be a challenge.
After we ate, we piled back into the car. It was just me and Shane now because Felicity left with Bryce.
“Why did you tell Connor we were together?” I asked him.
“I was supposed to pretend to like you remember?”
“Oh.” I replied. I don’t know why, but I was sort of disappointed. I thought he was acting that way because he cared about me. I felt stupid. That whole time I was totally misreading everything. “How’d I do?” I asked.
“Well, when you weren’t staring at Connor, you sort of just sat there. You need to be more social.”
“I talked! And I wasn’t staring at Connor.” Not a lot anyway.
Shane snorted. “You were practically drooling over him.”
“I was not!”
“Yes you were. You need to work on your social skills. Otherwise I think they pretty much accepted you. As long as they never realize that you’re the loser that sits in front of the classroom and wears baggy ugly clothes, you should be okay.” I glared at him.
“Thanks.” I said sarcastically.
“Just doing my job.” He answered.
this isnt that long so sorry! and i know nothing much is happening at the moment, but don't worry, i've got some good things planned for Tillie and Shane!! let me know what you guys think!!
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