You Don't Have to Try So Hard (I Like You Just the Way You Are)
Summary: Because all everyone ever cared about was Bella's story, no one ever paid attention to mine.
Chapter One: Put your make-up on, Get your nails done, Curl your hair, Run the extra mile, Keep it slim, so they like you...do they like you?
"Ariel: "Why do such stories always sound so sad? Why can't people part on more amiable terms?"
Danny: "Human nature," he said. "When feelings change and a person is at their most insecure, it's a matter of personal survival, I think. It's not always meant to hurt, but it often does."
― Judith-Victoria Douglas, Ariel's Cottage
Lauren didn't understand why people liked Bella so much.
It couldn't be her appearance, because Bella Swan was plain, pale, wore no makeup, and her clothes always looked like they came from the sales rack at Old Navy.
It also couldn't be her personality because Bella had as much personality as a white wall.
So what was it about her that made all the boys lose their minds over her? What was it about her that made Edward Cullen, the boy who had never even spared Lauren a second glance, date her? What was it about her that made Mike Newton, her Ex who Lauren had broken up with because Jessica was in love with him, follow her around like a love sick puppy? What was it about her that had Jacob, the hot Native-American boy who Lauren had seen often at the beach, willing to be treated like second best to be in her life?
What was it about Bella freaking Swan that had Lauren's boyfriend Tyler trying to ask her to dances instead of his own girlfriend?
It made no sense.
Lauren spent hours every morning working on getting her hair and makeup perfect. She got her nails redid every week. She woke up at 5:30 in the morning so she could run around the neighborhood to keep herself in shape. She dieted and read every magazine on fashion that could get her hands on.
She did everything right.
So where was her love triangle?
Lauren sighed, as she watched Bella talking to Mike at her locker, no doubt rejecting another one of his requests to hang out.
It was really pathetic how much effort Mike put into flirting with Bella, a girl who was never going to give him the time of day, when Jessica, who was much prettier in Lauren's opinion, would kill to have even a second of his time.
Lauren walked outside and wasn't surprised to see Jacob Black in the parking lot leaning against Bella's truck.
He didn't even look mad that Bella was taking her sweet time coming outside.
She would bet anything that Bella probably didn't even remember she left him waiting out here.
It really pissed her off.
Lauren fluffed her hair and brushed imaginary dirt off her jeans, before walking past him. She waited for a whistle, or a hitch in breath, maybe even a smile.
Jacob didn't even blink in her direction.
Lauren frowned, and her shoulders sagged.
"Seriously?" she mumbled, and looked around for Tyler.
He was supposed to give her a ride home, but Lauren didn't see his car anywhere.
This was the third time he left without her. Lauren gritted her teeth. Things like this never used to happen before Bella Swan came. Tyler used to be waiting for her in the hall when she came out of class and walk her to his van. Proud to have the prettiest, most popular girl on his arm.
Now she was old news.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jacob asked, and Lauren realized she had been standing in the lot staring into space for the last five minutes.
"I'm fine," she snapped, angry at herself.
Jacob held his hands up in a I-mean-no-harm gesture and took a step back.
"No need to bite my head off," he said, "I was just trying to be nice, Lauren,"
"Well, I don't need you to be nice to me. So go back to waiting for your girlfriend- no wait," Lauren fake gasped, "she's not your girlfriend, is she? Didn't she say that you were like a brother to her? Beyond friend zoned,"
Jacob face went blank for a minute, before he smirked.
"Nice burn," he conceded, with a slow clap, "I really felt that one,"
Lauren raised an eyebrow, "You're not mad?"
Jacob shrugged.
"You have a point. So what's got you so crabby?" He questioned.
"My boyfriend went home without me," Lauren said, and Jacob tilted his head.
"And?" Jacob asked.
"He was my ride," Lauren added, and Jacob nodded.
"Oh," he stated.
There was a moment of silence, and then Lauren's dark expression morphed into a sad one.
"It's not just Tyler," Lauren admitted, "It's all guys…even the girls. Everyone's so obsessed with Bella. They don't even remember me anymore,"
Jacob looked at her and didn't say anything.
"I do everything I can to stay on top. I'm in all the right clubs, I know all the right people, I keep up with the latest fashions, the latest gossip, I go to all the right parties, even when I don't want to. So why am I last year's news? I mean, look at you," Lauren gestured to him, "You didn't even glance up when I walked by! You're a hot guy, you could probably get any girl you wanted and yet you're here waiting for Bella freaking Swan. And she's inside getting a confidence boost from Mike Newton, Ugh!"
Lauren threw up her hands frustrated.
"It's just not fair!"
Jacob's eyes widened and then he gave her a slow once over. Lauren fought the urge to squirm under his attention. It really had been a long time since a guy noticed her.
"I don't know what you're doing all that stuff for," Jacob suddenly said, "You're already attractive."
Lauren scoffed.
"I wasn't fishing for fake compliments," Lauren said, offended.
"I'm serious," Jacob said, and Lauren rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," she said, and noticed Bella heading in their direction.
Lauren walked away without another word and she could feel Jacob's eyes on her back.
Walking home again. Well, at least she was exercising.
Author: This was a challenge from my cousin. Her favorite character is Lauren and my favorite character is Jacob. So here's my first Jacob/Lauren story.