Subject:

T A T I C
shane/mitchie/nate~

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i'm trying to be a good little updater, especially since i haven't been too majorly busy lately.

last week's chapter title based on the song "mandy" by the jonas brothers. haha too easy.

can you guess this week's chapter title lyrics? I BET YOU CAN'T. XD (hint: it's based on one sentence in this chapter.)

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chapter three:
the nerve

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It's been a week since Shane and I started meeting up after school, and I think we're starting to become friends. Not so much as "friends," really. More like...frequent acquaintances.

Caity thinks that I'm in over my head. Trading in one Gray for another. But I'm NOT! I still like Nate. I still want to be the girl he can't live without. I still want him to wrap his arms around me, and press his lips to my hair, and whisper pretty words that no one else will ever hear.

Really. (This is what I get for watching to much "Cinderella" as a kid. Disney movies lie.)

"Have you thought about who you want to take to Homecoming?" I ask Shane after school on Friday.

He smirks at me. "Why? You interested?"

I blush profusely and say, "No! I'm not!"

And I'm not...right?

This is Shane (read: not Nate) Gray. I've only known him for a week! I can't like like him.

"Jeez, Mitch. No need tog et so defensive. Damn," he says, the smirk on his lips still firmly in place.

"I...you...never mind," I bite my lip and take a drag of his cigarette. I'm almost used to the smell of them now. What's funny is that even though Shane smokes, all he smells like is Old Spice and Cinnamon.

"Seriously. I've been busy helping Jason get this girl he really likes," Shane shrugs.

"Oh really? What girl?"

"Well, you might know her I guess. She's a sophomore. Do you know a Caitlyn Gellar?"

WHAT.

My heart stops beating from shock, and I can't even do anything but giggle a little.

"Um, yeah, a little," I manage to say.

"She's like...insane. But Jason's totally whipped for her, so I figure it's worth a shot," Shane smiles a little.

My heart flutters slightly at his smile, and my cheeks burn (I'm almost positive) the color of cherry tomatoes.

"Definitely," I nod encouragingly and pat his hand.

Shane looks at his hand where I touched it momentarily before standing up. "Well, Torres, it's been fun but I gotta book. Mom wants me to go to His Highness's football game tonight. Whoop de doo."

"His Highness?" I cock my head to the side.

"Prince Nate," Shane said, snorting. "Daddy's Pride and Joy and Mommy's Little Boy. Jason's the brains of the family – surprising, I know, Nate's the brawn, and God only know what the hell I am."

I bite my lip, and for a minute I really hate Nate, but I'm not sure why.

"I have a brother," I tell him softly. "He was valedictorian and president of the Student Council and all that. I know how you feel."

"Sure," Shane mumbles and pulls out his cigarette. "I'll see you later, Torres."

And then he's gone.

For a minute, I feel really bad, and for some odd reason I want to run after him and make him feel better.

But I don't.

I'm a coward.

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When I get home, there's no new entry on Hangnails, which makes me feel really disappointed, but Caity's online. I figure – since I got grounded for the weekend from my phone for getting a D on my Bio test (lame) – I should warn her about Jason. It's not incredibly loyal to Shane to spill the beans, but I figure this will give Caity time to prepare her answer.

When Caity gets taken off guard, she rambles. And when she rambles, she tends to say way too much.

mliz92: caity!!!

caitylyn!: mitchie!!!

mliz92: so I was after school with shane and he told me something very interesting.

caitylyn!: i'm sure he did, babe.

mliz92: he did! :) I know someone wants to ask you to homecoming, caity dear.

caitylyn!: OMG are you for reals? who?

mliz92: jason gray.

caitylyn!: you're kidding, right?

mliz92: seriously, shane told me he was serious.

caitylyn!: oh.

mliz92: yeah.

caitylyn!: well damn. that's weird.

mliz92: it is?

caitylyn!: yeah cuz like...i don't even know him that well. I only have study hall w/ him. he sits behind me.

mliz92: huh. what are you going to say?

caitylyn!: idk.

caitylyn! is offline

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ohhh. anyone ever have some just randomly log off on you? NOT FUN.

please review with more than "so cute" or "i loved it," thanks! :)