Sometimes in life your original plot changes and you come up with this as you write. Not sure how I feel about this, but I like it. Enjoy and read and review please! I miss hearing from ya'll. :)
Insecure- Mitchie
Chapter 7
Walking through the halls at school with Cody at one side, Tawni flanking the other and her cup of dark roast coffee in tow, Mitchie made her way to class. Noticing the crowd staring at her, she stared down at her outfit consisting of grays and blacks wondering if there was something wrong, but was reassured by Tawni that her clothes were fine, it was just her newfound popularity was showing.
Geez one party and everything changes she mused to herself as she took a sip savoring the bitter taste grateful it provided her relief from the weekend's events. It soothed her empty stomach and sore throat. She decided not to purge after that weekend since she didn't want to damage her throat anymore. Yet now with her stomach crying for more food, it proved to be a challenge. Taking another sip, laughing at the glossy lipstick stain it left on the cup. She quickly pointed it out to Cody who chuckled as well kissing her forehead as per usual. Life was good, life was perfect thought she headed to her first period class with her new friends hot at her heels, failing to hear the hello Sierra said as she passed by.
Lunchtime came around and Cody and Tawni decided to go off campus for lunch. Making their way to Cody's convertible (since he was 16, had recently gotten his license last week, and was the oldest of them) they drove off campus to a sandwich/coffee shop where Mitchie had gotten her coffee this morning. Nestled into Cody's side, they drove through California with the top down. Smiling she dug out her notebook as they awed at the downtown sights and sounds she wrote down a couple of lyrics that popped into her head:
"Summer came and took me by surprise.
The California sunshine in my eyes.
Driving with the top down we sang along,
To our favorite songs.
Nothing could go wrong."
Within minutes Cody pulled into the sandwich shop, they got out, ordered sandwiches that were ready within seconds, and made their way out onto the patio with stringed lights hanging overhead as they sat down at a table and tucked in.
Mitchie eagerly bit into her veggie sandwich grateful she had went on something healthy and filling like Tawni had suggested. Sharing a look with the blonde they giggled as they continued to eat despite the horrible secret they now shared.
"Looks like there was a party here this weekend," Cody noted gesturing towards the leftover confetti that littered the ground.
"Really?" Mitchie asked taking a sip of her water surprised. She didn't know her favorite restaurant held parties.
"Yeah, I think I read about it one of the blogs online. It was quite the rager. Apparently Connect 3 was here with Alexis. It looks like she and Shane are dating now. There are pics of him and here making out in that corner over there." Tawni explained nodding at the far back corner.
"Really?" Mitchie asked shocked looking at the corner in a whole new light as Tawni nodded once more. No longer was it her favorite place to study, it was now home to where the leader singer made out with a rising supermodel.
"Well who would've thought our favorite place that serves moderately priced food and beverages could host an A-list event. Maybe we can crash the party," Cody teased poking Mitchie in the ribs causing her to giggle. She knew that Shane Gray lived in California, but the fact that he went to her favorite places shocked her. Maybe Sierra was onto something she thought as she polished off her sandwich. Maybe they could meet one day. Frowning at the thought of Sierra she realized she hadn't seen or heard of her all day. Taking out her phone she checked for messages only to find some from other pops. Tawni spoke up once more as Cody stole her complimentary pickle off her plate which she quickly scolded him for.
"Doubtful. Security is pretty tight. Even if we wanted to we wouldn't have a chance."
They sighed as they continued to eat. Of course she should've known meeting celebrities could only happen once in a lifetime not for small time people like them. Even if they lived in California and were pops. Getting up they made their way out into the patio and back into the shop. The smell of coffee hit her nose and Mitchie instantly found herself craving another cup, despite it being midday. Cody sensing this laughed lightly dug a couple of ones out of her pocket and handed them to her.
"Here on me. It's the least I could do since I stole your pickle."
Smiling she kissed him on the cheek as Tawni dragged him off the car. "We'll be waiting. Hurry up so you can get back to being lovebirds." Laughing she made her in line closing her eyes she concentrated on the lyrics to the song playing in the background. Coldplay is it? She thought relaxing at the calm melody. Breathing she focused on the lyrics before it cut off to the instrumental break. Ah, Fix You she nodded as she heard the familiar soothing melody to the song as she ordered a dark roast with 2 pumps of hazelnut. Bobbing her head to the beat unware of her surroundings as her coffee was being made, she gasped as someone collided with her coffee spilling all over her as the instrumental guitar riff played to "Fix You" started playing.
Great just great she thought as the scalding liquid burned her skin. And at the instrumental hit too she thought as the stranger grabbed napkins from the dispenser to help clean the mess off of her.
"I am so sorry," the guy exclaimed apologetically as he cleaned up the mess around her.
Dabbing napkins at her ruined black v neck shirt she studied the stranger dressed in jeans, beat up converse, and a flannel. White Ray bans shaded his eyes despite the dim lighting. "I really am sorry," he said once more throwing napkins away. "My plans for yesterday kinda got canceled and so now we're rushing to get everything done. We're kinda on a tight schedule."
Hearing the sincerity in his voice she laughed. He was literally just like her, overly apologetic. Smiling at the stranger's apology she waved him off clearly not bothered by what had just happened at all. "It's fine really. I'm just glad I smell like dark roast coffee now, my favorite. Thank you." She laughed awkwardly trying to lighten the mood.
Luckily it worked for the guy smiled and ran a hand through his wavy hair relieved. "Well that's a relief and I'm glad then I made you smell like dark roast which is also my favorite. Usually where I come from people get mad when that happens so it's nice to run into someone who won't chew me out."
Studying him, she sensed there was something more to his words. Something she could easily relate to herself since many people at the party she went to glared at each other after spilling beer on them. "Sounds like the people who you run into don't seem nice," she noted as the stranger ordered another cup of dark roast and mentally kicked herself for stating her opinion to a stranger.
"Maybe," he agreed sitting down on the stool studying her behind his glasses. "But it's kinda hard to tell you know? To decide who's bad and who's good."
"Yeah," Mitchie nodded in agreement feeling uncomfortable under his gaze. I wonder what's taking so long, she thought before voicing her own thoughts to Shane's question. "But sometimes people can surprise you and with that you kinda of just have to take a chance to decide who is bad or who is good even if it means getting hurt in the process. Either way you learned a lesson or gain a new friend."
Smiling the guy looked around the empty room before nodding settling on her once more, "Thanks you really know how to make a guy feel better."
"No problem," Mitchie said surprised that her advice had worked. Feeling herself grow warm she also added, "I'm just surprised my advice worked."
"Well it does. Sometimes you just got to put yourself out there even if there are risks."
Staring at the guy she was surprised at his advice as well. Hearing the bell ding she went to the counter to find their orders ready. Digging money out of her pocket she found the guy had waved her hand away and had paid for her instead. "No allow me. It's the least I can do since I did spill coffee all over you."
"But you did give me advice," Mitchie countered following the guy to the door. "Aren't I supposed to pay you back now?"
Musing the guy took a sip before looking at her a devious grin on his face. "Well maybe if we have this encounter again you can pay next time."
"Oh really? What makes you think we'll have this encounter again?" she teased instantly regretting her words. Was she flirting with this guy and if so did she like it?
"Well judging from your backpack I'm guessing you go to school around here and are on your lunch break. This also happens to be my favorite coffee place so it's bound to happen again…eventually." He replied smiling before she could even process her fear on flirting with a stranger.
"How do I know if you're just some stranger?"
"That's for you to decide. But if it helps, I don't lie." He said as he yawned as she rubbed his glasses under his eyes only to knock them off in the process.
Cursing he reached to pick them up and struggled to put them back on. Catching a glimpse of his face, which seemed familiar she heard Cody's car horn go off outside and sighed, it was time to get back to life.
"Well I better get going." She sighed as she took a sip of coffee and headed to the door.
"Back to school?" the guy asked his face in full view. Staring at him more clearly she noticed the bags under his beautiful eyes. Ducking she tried not to stare at his face reminding herself that she did have a boyfriend. However she had to admit whatever he was dealing with, was really wearing him out.
"Yeah," she agreed about to head open the door once more before he stopped her. "Wait!"
"Yeah?" she asked staring into his amber eyes. She stared at them longer swearing she had seen them before, but honestly she had no clue where.
"Do…do I look familiar?" he asked worry ceasing his face.
Studying him once more trying not to check him out, Mitchie answered honestly, "Yeah you do, but honestly I just don't know right now. But knowing me, it'll hit me like a ton of bricks later or not."
Seeing his reaction a small smile spread across his face puzzling her even more. Even though she knew she would probably be late she found herself asking, "Why are you looking at me like that?" Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze. A feeling she usually felt around Cody.
"I don't know. You just seem different."
She felt herself pale before he added reassuringly, "A good different."
"Yeah, definitely different." She agreed feeling a huge smile spread to her face as one spread across his. Studying his face once more, she felt as if the answer was obvious to how she knew him. Hearing the honking once again, ruining the moment they shared she nodded towards the door once more.
"Right you have school," he replied saddened by the realization. "See you…"
"Mitchie," she answered automatically feeling her heart race as she headed out the door. Call her crazy but she wanted to hear him say her name. "And see you…"
"Shane," he answered smiling. Shane Mitchie thought pleased by the name. "Bye Shane," she waved as she went into Cody's car.
"Bye Mitchie," he said back as he put on his glasses and headed out the door moments later.
Letting out a shaky breath she calmed the racing to her heart, as Cody drove off he turned to her asking, "What took so long?"
"Someone spilled coffee on me and I had to clean myself up. Surprisingly I ended up giving that person advice as well." Mitchie replied as leaving out the moment she shared with the stranger.
"Really a stranger?" Tawni mused. "What was his name?"
"Shane." Mitchie replied as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Shane Gray?!" Tawni exclaimed.
"No, no, no just Shane. There was no way it could be Shane Gray," Mitchie reassured Tawni thinking back to Shane's face. Now that she mentioned it they did share similarities in appearance, but there was still no way. Besides she thought pushing her side bangs to the side, the real Shane Gray wouldn't have shared a moment with her like that back in the café.
"Well whatever Shane it is, he better not be trying to steal m'lady," Cody said wrapping an arm around her instantly making herself feel better.
With Tawni "Awwwwing" in the background, Mitchie snuggled up to her boyfriend as they made their way back to school. Luckily they managed to get back to school before the tardy bell and the rest of the day dragged on in a blur. Mitchie couldn't have been more relieved when the school bell rang signaling the end of the day. Making her way to the school parking lot where Cody would give her a ride she heard someone calling her name. Turning to the source she found Sierra there frantically waving. Walking over to her lanky friend wanting to know why she hadn't seen her all day she decided to strike up a conversation with her. "Hey Sierra."
"Mitchie hi didn't you hear me call your name this morning?"
"You did?" Mitchie asked puzzled. She did not remember seeing her curly headed friend at all this morning.
Just as Sierra was about to speak Tawni raced over to her and grabbed her arm. "Mitchie come on, Cody is waiting! We don't want to make him wait again do we?"
Sending an apologetic look to Sierra, she let Tawni pull her off in the direction of the parking lot trying to keep her balance in her black ankle boots. Once outside, Tawni slowed her pace in the direction of Cody's car. Frowning she noticed that Cody wasn't in a hurry to take her home in fact. He was talking to others with any means of rushing. Shooting a confused look to Tawni she sighed before answering. "Come on, Mitchie don't tell me you don't know."
"Know what?" she asked confused. She really didn't know what Tawni was getting at.
"The rules to popularity." Tawni explained as if it was obvious.
"I do know," Mitchie replied still not understanding the problem. Tawni had told her all about them at the party and as far as she knew, she wasn't breaking any.
"Well you obviously don't. Mitchie, to be popular you have to know popular people, which you do, but you can't hang with non populars. I hate to break it to you, but Sierra isn't popular."
"But you know Sierra and I know her-" Mitchie began only to be silenced by Tawni.
"Yes we do, but she doesn't meet the other criteria. I'm sorry Mitchie, but like I said you have to make sacrifices to be popular. You have to decide who you want to hang with." Tawni said sympathetically.
Letting this new information sink in, she made her way to Cody's car thoughts racing throughout her head. Looks like she had to use Shane's advice after all. It was up to her to decide whether to leave her old friend or new one's behind. Walking up to Cody who turned his attention away from her, he drew her into a warm hug instantly making all her troubles go away.
Sighing she relaxed into him feeling comfort in his touch. At least one thing was going right today. "You okay?" Cody asked pushing a lock of hair of behind her ear as Mitchie bit her lip debating whether or not to tell him the truth. Studying the concern in his eyes she smiled feeling the butterflies in her stomach erupt. Whatever had happened in the café with the stranger must have been a fluke because she couldn't deny the feelings she felt now with him.
"I'm fine," she replied.
"You sure?" he asked the concern still present in his eyes. She stared into her eyes wanting to tell the truth but didn't want to hear the same answer from Cody. Since he did talk to Tawni just as much her, she expected to hear the same words come from his mouth, only not as harsh.
"I'm sure," she said and added before Cody could ask anymore questions, "It's just school is stressful. Lot's of school work. I just want a distraction."
"A distraction, eh? Maybe I could help?" Cody said pulling her closer to him leaning in. Mitchie held her breathe unsure what to do or say paralyzed by his words. Even though they haven't really discussed it in the month they've been dating, she knew that it was bound to happen. Their first kiss as a couple and her first kiss as well. Without a word she found herself leaning in against his lean build, her eyes closing in the process. Their lips met moments later and she found herself being pushed back, sitting on the hood of his car as he deepened their kiss.
Well he is right about one thing, this is an distraction she thought as she felt his lips brush against her gently, as if he knew this was her first time doing this. Even though she didn't have the answers to everything, she knew she wanted to be with Cody. Moments later they pulled apart and she found herself smiling unsure what to say as she rested her head against his shoulder, blushing from their previous actions. She just hoped that whatever decision she made, he would stand by her like he was doing now.
