A/N: I'm back. I was sort of on an hiatus I suppose. Please forgive me and I hope you didn't lose interest in this story!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but this laptop :D
Beep. Beep. Beep. I looked over at my alarm clock and turned it off. It read 6:00, but I've been awake for the past 3 hours, unable to sleep.
My meeting with Shane yesterday has been replaying in my mind over and over. I'm the type of person who tends to analyze every situation, and well, this wasn't any exception.
I made my way out of bed and turned on my curling iron so that it would heat up by the time I got out of the bathroom.
I decided to dress up a tad bit more today, and throw on some makeup. Not that Shane had anything to do with that... I don't change myself for guys... Yea, right.
A cute black skirt with a simple purple top, paired with a pair of black ballet flats. I don't want to look like I tried too hard.
An hour and nineteen minutes later, I was in the car with Tess and Caitlyn on our way to school and they couldn't stop talking about Tess's party tonight.
"Mitchie, we're going shopping right after school for some hot outfits. Tess invited these gorgeous college guys!" Caitlyn said through a fit of giggles.
I honestly was only interested in Shane as of now and casually asked if he was going to the party.
"Well, he and his brothers are invited, the whole school is. My bet is that Nate and Jason will show up and if we're lucky enough Shane will grace us with his prescence." Tess sarcastically replied.
"Why are you guys so harsh towards him? I mean, it's not like you personally know him, right?"
Insert awkward pause. Great job Mitchie. You've angered the only friends you have here. Way. To. Go.
"Mitch, um, Shane and Tess sorta had a thing last summer...." Caitlyn trailed off.
"Cait!" Tess gave her an 'OhMyGod' look before turning to me. "Shane Gray is a jerk who only asked me out so he could get in my pants. So, sorry if I don't use the most pleasant tone when I talk about him. The only reason he's invited is because I know he won't show up."
I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to. Shane didn't seem like a jerk. But then again, I did only meet him for a nanosecond...
"Tess, I'm so sorry, I had no idea. I know what it's like to deal with jerks." I said as Caitlyn parked the car in the school's parking lot.
Tess gave me a confused look so I simply said, "My ex-boyfriend."
"Ohhh juicy. Save that story for when we're getting ready for my party!" She hopped out of the car and we made our way to school. She got over her anger so fast. What a strange, strange girl.
I just couldn't get myself to believe Tess. What's happening to me?! I don't even know this guy and I'm acting obsessive. I feel like a fangirl or something. Snap out of it!
We parted ways and I made my way to my locker. I pulled out a few books and put some in. I also added a mirror and a notepad for reminders. I'm not anal, I'm just paranoid about forgetting things. I fixed my hair and made my way to class.
xxXxxXxx
By the time third period rolled around, I had checked how I looked in the mirror about 7 times. I was too excited to see Shane, it's sickening.
"Sit down people. Do the excercise written on the board and stay quiet. We'll be doing a lab today." The teacher announced as he walked into class. It was only my second day but I knew exactly what kind of teacher this was.
Boring lectures, lame lab experiments, easy tests. Not that I'm complaining.
He began explaining the procedures and was just about to release us to go at it but paused for a moment.
"Michelle Torres?" I jumped up at the sound of my name. "Y-Yes?" Way to go Mitchie, just keep stuttering. I'm sure Shane thinks I look so cool now.
"Ah there you are. You were originally partnered up with Abby Gales, but she won't be returning to school. So, please just attempt the experiment alone and let me know if you need anything."
"Mr. Banks? My partner's not here today, I'll work with her." I recognized the voice but turned its way to double check. Shane Gray smiled at me.
I now believe in fate, by the way.
"Very well Mr. Gray. That's quite unlike you but I'll take it."
The rest of the class was busy mixing chemicals and measuring test tubes. Shane and I took our places at our lab station and he handed me a pair of goggles.
Everything he's doing just doesn't correspond with Tess's story. I didn't want to judge him without knowing the truth.
"Thank you." I smiled sweetly at him. Or I tried to at least. Remember, Jacob was my first boyfriend. I don't know much about flirting and all that fun stuff.
"No problem." He smiled back and I lost focus. "We're supposed to mix what's in bottle A with bottle B and then heat it until it evaporates."
I snapped back to reality. "Oh, um, yea. Guess we won't see any explosions ha ha ha..."
I need an instructional book. Talking to Guys for Dummies. Sigh.
He chuckled as he placed the test tube in a beaker over a burner to heat. "So, Michelle. I thought you said your name was Mitchie." He said as a smirk played on his lips.
I cleared my throat which felt awfully dry. "Uh, it is. Michelle's my full name though."
"I see. How long have you been playing piano. You were great yesterday."
"Oh wow, thank you. It's been about seven years or so." I tried to stay cautious, taking in what Tess had told me.
"You've got a real talent. And a great voice too." He reached over to the beaker and pulled out the test tube. He went over to measure it and came back to write down the mass.
I was in awe and wanted to say something, but I was dumbfounded. Before I knew it the bell rang and I began to gather my stuff.
"So Shane, are you going to lunch?" I tried to casually say.
"Actually I'm not. But, I'll see you later. Maybe at Tess's party tonight?" He sounded... hopeful? No, no way.
"Yea, absolutely. I didn't think you were going. Not that I was thinking about that, I just assumed, not that you were on my mind or anything..."
He chuckled again. At least I'm making him laugh, right? "I didn't have a reason to go before. See you tonight Mitchie." And he was gone. Not a moment too soon either because I collapsed into my seat.
Wow. Shane Gray was quite something.
xxXxxXxx
I was surrounded by teenage girls, expensive clothing, and a mixture of smells consisting of food, perfume, and something else I couldn't recognize.
Welcome to the mall.
Tess dragged Caitlyn and I to her favorite store full of great, and expensive, clothes. I had already let my mom know that I was staying over at Tess's house tonight because of the party. I honestly don't know how she agreed to that, but she did. Miracles do happen, you know.
"The theme is dressy casual." Tess said in a high-pitched tone.
"What exactly does that mean?" I asked. I mean, dressy casual?
"Oh Mitch, you're so new. It means that you've got to look hot but don't wear a freaking prom dress. Heels paired with jeans. A casual dress paired with heels. Tons of makeup and hairspray." She said with small snicker.
"I knew that...." I tried to cover up my lameness, but who am I kidding? I suck at trying to look cool.
We must have tried on twenty different outfits each, and in the end we all left with at least one outfit. Tess, of course, bought about seven because she wanted 'choices.'
When we got to Tess's house, she led us up to her enormous room to get ready for the party, which was in about three hours. Nine o'clock on the dot.
I mentioned my little conversation with Shane earlier and told Tess that he was going to come by. But, I neglected to add that I was apparantly his reason to do so. I didn't want to start any problems before the party. I am extremely unconfrontational.
"Mitchie. Let me guess? He laughed at almost everything you said, and he kept smiling your way right? He made you feel like you amazed him somehow, correct?" I stayed silent as Tess continued. I didn't want to ruin the perfect image of Shane I had in my head. Tess had already tainted it with her story. "Don't let him play you Mitch. I don't care if he comes, just don't let him play you." She continued fixing her makeup as Caitlyn curled her hair.
"I don't think he is. He seemed genuine. Maybe he's chang-" Tess cut me off before I could finish.
"Mitchie, don't even. You don't know him like I do. Please, as my friend, promise me that you'll stay away from him tonight. Promise!"
I didn't want to lose my only friends, so I stupidly agreed. Gosh, I'm on such a roll today.
xxXxxXxx
Caitlyn and I were done getting ready at about 8:30, but Tess was still teasing her hair. Hairspray fumes were consuming me at the moment.
"Oh Mitchie! You didn't tell us about your boyfriend!" Caitlyn said to me to break the silence. I hadn't said much since I 'agreed' to stay away from Shane tonight.
"Well, um, we started dating over one year ago, but he ended it before I came. He doesn't believe in long-distance relationships." I didn't want to talk about Jacob. At all.
"Sorry Mitch, that's gotta be tough to deal with." Caitlyn said soothingly and I smiled at her sympathy.
"Did you guys ever, you know, go all the way?" Tess said with a sly smile on her lips.
"I don't kiss and tell." I replied back with a laugh.
"Party pooper." Tess said under her breath.
The truth is, Jacob and I weren't very intimate. A kiss here, a cuddle there. We barely ever even made out, just once in a while. Yes, I know, it's strange. But, I was never ready to go that far and Jacob understood that.
Twenty minutes later, Tess was done and all three of us stood at her mirror and admired our work. Tess was wearing a short, blue dress with simple black heels. Caitlyn rocked some great black skinny jeans and a red top, paired with cute heels.
I wore a pair of dark skinny jeans that fit my every curve perfectly. I went for a simple tight black long-sleeved shirt that fell off my left shoulder and showed off a strap from my hot pink tank top underneath. I found the 'hottest,' as Tess would say, pair of hot pink peep-toe heels that I wore with my outfit. My hair was curled perfectly and I had never been happier with how my make-up turned out.
There was no way I was going to waste this look and stay away from Shane tonight. I just couldn't.
"Girls, we look so hot. Get ready to go crazy college boys!" Caitlyn said and we broke out into a fit of laughter.
There was a commotion downstairs and we heard the door open. "Did you hear that girls? The guests are here!" We followed Tess downstairs and prepared ourselves for a wild night.
A/N: The next chapter will be the party were Mitchie's life drastically changes.... I'm probably going to work on that tonight or tomorrow so I'll have it up soon! Review please!
