(A/N: Sorry I took so long to write this! I had writers' block until tonight. Happy New Year! Enjoy!)

J- Just The Way You Are

Summary: Shenzi's self confidence is lower than usual, because of preppy bullies. She now believes that she needs to change herself. Chuckie is actually in love with his best friend, and wants her to just be herself. Can he change her mind?

14-year-old Shenzi walked in her school, feeling pretty in a black short-sleeved dress with a purple floral skull skirt, black Bobs shoes with silver studs all over them, black rose earrings, and a purple extension in her long bangs, which covered the left side of her face. The rest of her black hair reached her lower shoulders, while a fringe covered the right side of her forehead. Although she felt emotionally good, her spirit was going to be broken.

At her locker, as she grabbed her history textbook for class with her favorite teacher, Mr. Banks, some preppy girls walked up to her. "Hey Tuck," The leader greeted her as if they were friends. Just a little FYI, they're not.

She turned to them, with her book to her chest and an eyebrow raised, although it wasn't seen. "Hello."

"And how are we today?"

She couldn't help but feel confused. Since when did they talk to her? They were popular, while she was a dork. "Um, f-fine. It's uh, a nice day out. The sun isn't too bright."

"Just like anyone who thinks you're physically appealing," The leader remarked, and her posse giggled.

Shenzi sharply turned to look at her. "Say what?"

"Have you seen yourself? You're an ugly freak." That one hurt. "Nobody wants to be seen with you. Not even gorks, and especially not that Chuckie boy you have a crush on."

She blushed at that. "Wh-what? I don't have a crush on him." Technically, that wasn't true; She doesn't have a crush on Chuckie, because she's in love with him. Completely head over heels. He stole her heart when they were both 11 years old, but she never spoke of it.

"Oh, please!" The leader scoffed. "We've seen the way you look at him. We know the lovestruck look when we see it. And believe me, we've all seen it. It's not surprising that you don't know about it." Her teeth clenched in anger and emotional pain. "So, just do yourself a favor, and give up. Chuckie will never like you that way, or in general, ever." As tears flooded her eyes, the preps walked away with pride.

She didn't know how long she was standing there in the hall, alone, but she was very late for her class.

Meanwhile, in the history classroom, her absence was noticed by the eccentric teacher. "Where's Shenzi Tuck at?" Max Banks asked the students. "She's never this late."

"Um, Mr. Banks?" Chuckie raised his hand. "If it's fine, I'd like to go look for her. She might just be using the bathroom or something."

"You may go, Mr. Finster," Mr. Banks allowed him, "But don't take too long."

"I'll try not to. Thanks." The redhead rushed out of the room, and fast-walked along the halls, looking for the black-haired girl that he was in love with. "Shenzi?" He didn't receive an answer, so he tried another part of the hallway. "Shenzi?" He peeked in upon hearing sniffles, and saw who he was looking for standing by her locker, with her head hanging down. "Shenzi?" She looked up at him, so he saw the tears falling, before she gazed at the floor again. He walked up in front of her, and knelt down a bit, since he was in the middle of a growth spurt. "What's the matter?" Her only response was sniffles and shaky breaths. When he shyly wrapped his arms around her shoulders, she buried her face in his chest and soaked his shirt with her tears. Chuckie's embrace tightened, and his hands rubbed her back in attempts of soothing comfort. One hand stroked her soft, dark hair and his head carefully rested on hers as her shoulders shook.

When they heard footsteps, Chuckie was very surprised when she suddenly jumped away from him, as if a spider was on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"Y-you can't be seen with me," She shook her head.

"What? Why not? Why would you think that?"

"Brianna Penelope said so."

"You mean that mean girl and her posse who do nothing but put others down? Shenzi, she lied to you! I love being with you!" He tried to hold her again, but she backed away cautiously, making him sigh. "Shenzi, when has she ever told you the truth?"

"The last time she talked to me, when she said no one wants to be seen with me, especially you."

He sighed again, but sounded more distressed. "That was not the truth! I've been best friends with you for years! Why would you think I wouldn't want to be around you?"

"Because I..." She choked up from emotional pain, "I'm an ugly freak!" She cried out.

"WHAT?!" Now Chuckie was horrified. "No you're not! You are absolutely not!" He sighed his anger away, and laid his hands on her shoulders before she could back away. "You're nowhere close to an ugly freak. You are a very beautiful girl, who is very fun to be with. In fact..." He leaned close to her left ear. "When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change," He sang quietly, making her blush at his warm breath on her ear, and his soothing voice, "'Cause you're amazing... just the way you are." When he drew back, she had a timid smile and an averted gaze. "Don't believe anything she tells you, because it's all lies. Now um, come on, Shen. Let's get to class. I'll defend you when it's needed."

"Thanks, Chuck." Hand-in-hand, the two friends walked to the history room, where the teacher and students were waiting for them. "H-hi guys," She stammered.

"You okay, Ms. Tuck?" Mr. Banks asked her. "You're never this late."

"Yeah, I-I'm fine. I was just having a... personal dilemma."

"Well, you don't have to tell it, Ms. Tuck; It's none of my business. You just take your seat, young lady."

"Thanks," She nodded, and followed Chuckie to her seat. As Mr. Banks lectured the students, Shenzi absentmindedly laid on Chuckie's shoulder, surprising him, before he laid his head on hers.

"And so..." Mr. Banks saw the two friends, and paused his lecture. "Aww, would you look at that?" The students turned and saw them practically cuddling. "In love before high school; Isn't that sweet?" Shenzi blushed from the attention, but didn't move from her position. Chuckie was very comfortable to lay on anyway. "You two just make the perfect couple." As he continued his lecture, the two friends stayed where they were; They provided comfort to each other without words. But nonverbal comfort only lasted so long without getting tarnished...

After the school day was over, Chuckie had to use the little boy's room, with Shenzi waiting on him so they could walk out to the bus together. As she waited by the restrooms, the preppy posse came up to her. "'Sup, Tuck?" Brianna, the leader of the group, greeted her.

Shenzi crossed her arms. "Don't talk to me, Penelope. You lied to me."

"Oh, is that so?" Brianna's hands planted on her hips.

"Yes, it is so. Chuckie told me that you were lying about people not wanting to be around me, and I believe him."

"How do you know that he's not the one lying?" S

henzi glared with anger. "He has never lied to me, and he never will!"

"Oh, trust me. We know lying when we heard it. Chuckie was only trying to make you feel better. He doesn't want to admit that he's embarrassed to even know a freak like you, so he's been lying to make you feel better. He doesn't actually think you're pretty; He was just saying that, so you wouldn't get mad."

She was furious at her accusations, yet she couldn't help but believe them. Why? She didn't know; Brianna sounded so sincere, yet her accusations didn't sound like anything her best friend would do. "See? I knew you would see reason," Brianna's voice snapped her back to reality, "It was just to keep you from getting hurt." Before Shenzi could ask why she cared, she and her posse left for the buses.

When she saw Chuckie walking out of the bathroom, anger boiled up. But why? It couldn't be true! He would never be embarrassed to know her! But no matter what she thought, fury just kept bubbling up. She wasn't aware of the angry glare on her face, before he spoke up. "Hey Shenzi, I'm refreshed. Let's get to... what's wrong?" He asked her in concern.

"Oh, bite me!" She snapped, before striding away angrily, with her hands clenched into fists.

"Wha-what?" He stammered in shock and confusion. Why was she so mad at him all of a sudden? Did he do something wrong? He couldn't have taken that long in the bathroom, right? The buses were still there, so they weren't late. Why would she... uh oh. It just hit him. Brianna and her posse must have claimed that he lied to her about their lies, which he did not. He was being completely honest with her! She was a delight to be with, and was absolutely beautiful! Why would she believe them instead of him? It didn't make sense!

After snapping out of his trance, he ran outside so he wouldn't have to walk home. After boarding, he stopped at the row where Shenzi was, but she gave him a look that could kill, so he sat next to Tommy at the window, across from her. He sighed in distress as he slumped back in the seat, ignoring his best friend's death glare. "What's wrong, Chuckie?" Tommy asked him.

"Shenzi believes that no one wants to be around her, especially me, and that she's an ugly freak, because Brianna Penelope told her. I told her otherwise, which is the truth, and she believed me until after I came out of the bathroom." He leaned forward to face the furious girl. "Shenzi, I told you to not believe anything she said to you!"

"And I told you to bite me!" She snapped, before turning away with crossed arms.

Chuckie's face fell in his hands in distress. "Tommy, what should I do? She obviously believes that I'm embarrassed to know her, which I'm not! She's the greatest friend I've ever had!" He buried his face in his knees, with his hands and upper arms in his wild, red hair. Tommy didn't feel any sort of discomfort at Shenzi being referred to as Chuckie's greatest friend; He was perfectly fine with being a close second. Right now, all he felt was sympathy. "How can I make her believe me? She can't let bullies tell her lies like that."

"I wish I knew," Tommy rested his cheek on his hand in thought. "Hmm... hey, I know! Didn't you tell me what her favorite song is?"

"Yeah!" Chuckie nodded. "It's "Just The Way You Are", by Bruno Mars. Why?"

"Well, why don't you sing it to her?" Tommy suggested.

Chuckie blushed shyly at that. "Wha-huh? Oh no, I can't sing."

"Come on, I've heard you sing before; You're great! If you sing that song to her in the auditorium, then she's got to believe you! Then she'll ditch those preps, and run back to you."

The redhead thought about it. He wasn't very confident about his singing ability, although he sang to her quietly just earlier that day, and she said to find his voice soothing. "Hmm... okay, I'll do it," He decided, "Anything to make her feel better, and to get those lies out of her head."

"Alright!" Tommy praised him. "I'll find some way to get her in the auditorium tomorrow."

Luckily for them, Shenzi was listening to music on her new iPhone, which had an 8-bit Mario "Game Over" case, with matching Mario mushroom earbuds, so she couldn't hear them. And while tuning out the world, she still looked angry and emotionally hurt.

The next day, Shenzi's clothes made her look as depressed as she truly was. She was in a black velour hoodie, matching bootcut pants, black fireball stud earrings, all black Converse high-tops, and the only other color on her, from a black floral cowlneck top. For once, her hair was extension-free, and she just looked like she wanted to kill someone. When Chuckie watched her from his locker, he quickly averted his gaze when she glanced at him.

He and Tommy discussed their plan at the former's house; Chuckie was going to do the song during the history class, the first one of the day. They cleared it with Mr. Banks, who understood and excused them from the class until they were finished, so long as they come back before the class should end.

Once Shenzi was alone, Tommy made his move; He walked up to her, ignoring the intimidating vibe radiating around her. "Um, hey Shenzi."

She turned to him, looking like she had no emotions whatsoever. "Oh, uh, h-hi Tommy." Her voice was a bit droll; It almost reminded him of the science teacher, Mr. Beaker. "What's up?"

"Umm... I uh, I made this new movie," He told her, and she nodded, indicating that he had her attention. "And uh, I-I would like your opinion on it before I show it to the public."

She looked genuinely surprised. "Wh-why do you want my opinion?"

"... Uh..." He didn't think she would ask that. "I just... 'cause you're a good audience."

A blush grew on her cheeks. "R-really? Well um, thanks. I can view it for you. When are you showing it?"

"About... now."

"NOW?!" She suddenly exclaimed, startling him. "We have history class!"

"I cleared it up with Mr. Banks," He assured her, "Our tardiness won't affect our records."

She sighed in relief at that. "Okay," She nodded, "I'll just take my history book with me, so I don't forget it."

"That's fine."

After using the girls' restroom, she walked in the auditorium and sat near the front row. At meetings, elections, or anything held in the room, she never sat up front, because she would strain her neck from looking upward for a certain amount of time, so she always sat near the front instead. Her history book was on her lap, under her clasped hands. She watched as Tommy walked on the stage and to the microphone. "... Shenzi, I have to tell you something."

"What?" She raised an eyebrow in confusion. "You don't have a movie ready?"

Tommy paused for a beat. "Wow, that is what I was going to say. This is something more important." As he walked to the curtain, her heart pounded hard when Chuckie took his place. She gave him a scowl with crossed arms, and clenched lips.

"Shenzi, I... I know that I'm the last person you want to see," Chuckie spoke in the microphone, feeling nervous from her angry expression, "But... I've never lied to you, and I never will." She didn't move a muscle. "I sincerely believe that you should ignore Brianna's insults, because they're not true." Her tongue moved in her left cheek, but otherwise, she didn't budge. "You're the most beautiful and sweet girl in our whole school. And... I'm going to prove it." He turned to the backstage area. "Tommy?" The purple-haired boy started the music. Shenzi looked genuinely surprised at the instrumental version of the song that started playing. It was her favorite song! She had always wished for somebody to sing it to her, including Bruno Mars himself, but she never spoke of it, afraid of getting teased.

She was very surprised when Chuckie started singing the song perfectly. It was just at the right time and speed, and he had such a wonderful voice. As he performed, he looked at her with love in his eyes throughout the whole song. Maybe he was telling the truth yesterday? He looked completely honest right now. The love in his eyes looked completely sincere. She couldn't help but smile as he nailed the performance. He even gave Bruno Mars a run for his money, in her eyes. When he finished, he looked at her with hope in his eyes.

With emotional tears welling up, she ran on the stage, and practically jumped on him in an embrace with her head on his shoulder. "Th-that was so wonderful, Chuckie!" She cried softly in his chest. "I'm sorry about the way I acted yesterday, and today."

"It's alright," He assured her, "I understand." He then gave Tommy a thumbs-up. "Bullies can be very convincing, but they're never honest. Look at me." She drew away, and gazed up at him. "Can you promise me that you won't listen to anyone's claims and insults ever again?"

She felt hesitant, but thought about it. How could Brianna know her that much? They weren't friends; They were barely even acquaintances. What right did she have to tell her things like that? None, that's what. She made her decision right then and there. She looked up at Chuckie with a bit of confidence. "I promise."

"Good," He smiled, and to her surprise, he kissed her cheek.

After regaining her composure, she shyly rubbed the back of her neck. "And um... I'm sorry for telling you to bite me."

"It's okay," He chuckled, then took her wrist and gently, playfully bit her.

"Hey!" She giggled. "It's an expression, you doofus!"

"I know," He laughed, "I was just playing. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

She glanced at her wrist, which had a bit of his spit remaining, then shook her head. "No, you didn't. I'm fine."

"Good," He nodded, "So um..."

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to... have lunch at the mall sometime? Maybe this Saturday?"

"Are you asking me out?" She asked him, simply wanting to confirm.

"Y-yeah," He nodded, looking nervous.

Shenzi let a smile grow. "I'd love to." She then hugged him again, and he reciprocated. "Oh, and Chuckie?"

"Yes?"

"You have a wonderful voice." She leaned up and kissed his cheek, making him blush.

"Th-thanks," He stammered shyly, making her smile grow. "So um, let's get to class before it's over, shall we?"

"Alright," She nodded and held his hand. "Come on, Tommy!" The three walked to the classroom after the girl grabbed her history textbook.

After the class was over, Shenzi and Chuckie walked together to each other's lockers, feeling comfortable and happy in each others' presences. After they had their English textbooks in hand, they headed for the proper classroom, but were stopped by Brianna and her posse. "'Sup, Tuck?"

Shenzi glared at her. "Don't talk to me, Penelope. I know you lied to me. I did before, and now... I definitely know. Chuckie actually likes my company, and he sees me as pretty and appealing." Brianna looked stunned.

"She's right," Chuckie chimed in, "I see her as fun to be around, and the prettiest girl in our whole school. And now, she's not letting you or anyone tell her otherwise." Feeling proud, they walked past the group to the classroom. "We got her," He snickered.

"Yep," She agreed with a giggle, "Thanks, Chuck. Your singing really helped me."

"My pleasure," He smiled down at her, "I couldn't stand seeing you as upset as you were; I had to do something to make you happy again. So, Tommy and I came up with the performing idea yesterday."

"Well, it was amazing." They sat next to each other at the one, long desk. "You're truly talented."

"Thanks," He blushed again.

"No prob."

As they listened to Ms. O'Keats' lecture, Shenzi looked forward to her upcoming date with Chuckie. What would they have for lunch? Would they visit the arcade? Will they try the Mall Jump for their first times? Just thinking about it excited her! It was going to go great; She was very positive about that.

(A/N: I hope you enjoyed J! You know the disclaimer. Once again, Happy New Year!)