Fiction
Not all strangers are like me
My name is Shauni Greene, let me tell you a little about me: I have green eyes, black short hair, I have an amazing taste in music, and I stopped believing in love when I watched my family fall apart. I promised myself I'd never be fooled by someone into thinking I'm in love, and I haven't... Yet. I've never been in a real relationship, you may think that's sad or cute but I don't really care. I mean I know I'm gonna fall in love and marry someone some day, but I just don't want to get hurt if I don't need to. I just want my first serious relationship to be my last one.
But this story isn't just about me, it's about me and my best friend, Jimmy. Let me set the scene for you, let's go back to the day we met...
I was 15 and he was 17, I was just a little freshman that hated herself and everything else. I woke up that day expecting it to be bad, it was a Sunday so I knew I had piles and piles of homework I had procrastinated into the last minute on Sunday. But instead of doing it when I woke up, I decided to lay in bed until noon, and then I went out.
I rolled out of bed groggily and put my glasses on. I looked at myself in the mirror with disgust. My eyeliner was smudged all down my eyes and my hair desperately needed to be brushed, I stuck a green headband on my pixie cut hair and slipped on some clothes, just a Nirvana t-shirt, some baggy, ripped, jeans and my favorite pair of chucks. I really don't care about impressing anyone today, so no makeup, except a little eyeliner. I'm just going to the bookstore, and maybe to Starbucks for some hot chocolate. (I hate coffee.)
I grabbed my bag and stepped out of my room carefully, not to awake my sister, I was staying with her while my dad was on a business trip, her name is Victoria and she's 25, she's way more uptight then I am too.
I tip toed out of the house and started on my walk to the bookstore. It's fall so it's cool enough to walk and it's all nice and breezy. The trees were blowing in the wind and nearly getting leaves all in my hair as I texted my sister I was at the bookstore while I was walking, she'd be mad anyways because I left without saying bye but at least she won't file for a missing persons report.
I got to the bookstore around 1 pm. I walked into the feeling of air conditioning and the smell of books, such a nice smell. I was looking for a specific book, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, and maybe I'd find another hidden treasure while I looked for it. I finally found a copy of it while I was crouched down looking through the bottom shelf of the fantasy section, and while looking through the poetry I found the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe. Let's just say I was a happy camper.
I paid for the books, and then like usual Shauni, I bumped into a guy on my way out, and by bumped into I mean just walked face first into his chest. Did I mention I'm terrible short? I dropped the books by accident, I went to pick them up to avoid eye contact with him, but lucky for me he decided to help me so I had to talk to the guy I just embarrassed myself in front of.
I picked up Fablehaven and he picked up the book by Edgar Allen Poe.
"Oh hey this is the book I've been looking for! Do you know if they have anymore in stock?" He asked me as I finally looked up at him, he had black shaggy hair, that was spiked up a little in the back, and piercing blue eyes with smudged eyeliner around them. I stared at him for a couple seconds before I finally realized I had to talk.
"Um I don't think so that's the only one I saw, this bookstore is mostly donated books so they don't have a lot of the same copies..." I trailed off. He looked so disappointed.
"I don't suppose you want to give it to me? Or let me read it?" He asked sadly.
"But I don't know you, if I lent it to you how do I know you wouldn't steal it?" I asked, chuckling.
"I'm Jimmy." He said, reaching his arms out for a hug.
"Um I'm not really a hugger." I said, confused. He put his arms down awkwardly. "I'm Shauni." I chirped.
"Cool name!" He smiled. I smiled back at him shyly, he didn't seem so bad but I still didn't know what to say.
"Well can I give you my number and then borrow the book?" He asked excitedly.
"How do I know if the number is real?" I asked as I placed my hands on my hips.
"You don't trust easy do you?" He said, laughing. I hugged my books to my chest and shook my head.
"Here I'll give you my number and you can call my phone to see if it's really me." He said as he scribbled his number onto a small piece of paper. I looked at it and called the number from my phone and his pants began to ring.
"Hello?" He said gleefully into the cellphone, grinning at me.
"Well now I feel bad for not trusting you." I said.
"It's okay, not all strangers are like me." He said, still grinning.
"Here, enjoy." I said, laughing as I handed him the book.
"Oh hey what school do you go to?" He asked.
"Orange County high school." I said grimly.
"How have I not noticed you?" He asked.
"Most people don't, I'm so short I don't even graze their peripheral vision." I joked. "And besides I probably don't have any classes with you, you're a junior right?" I asked.
"Yeah, Oh you're a freshman?" He asked. I nodded yes with a grim expression on my face that made him laugh.
"Well... I guess I'll see you tomorrow!" He said as he walked off and I turned around to walk home. But as soon as I started walking he i ran up behind me and gave me a hug from behind.
"I hug all my friends I have to hug you!" He yelled as he picked me up a little.
"Jimmy!" I yelled, he set me back down and I glared at him.
"Well, bye" He said like nothing happened as he turned and walked away.
'Well I guess I made a new friend today' I thought to myself. I remembered his blue eyes and childish smile and his laugh and I thought maybe I could actually have a really good friend. He seemed really sweet. But why would he want to be friends with me? He seemed so happy and full of life, I must've seemed like such a drag. Still I found myself smiling at the fact someone actually noticed me at all. No one ever does.
Afterwards I walked over to Starbucks, got there around 3. As I walked in I smelled the intoxicating smell of coffee and chocolate, coupled with the constant chatter of people. I ordered my hot chocolate and sat down, opening up Fablehaven, the book I got, to read a bit while I drank the hot liquid. I got my drink after about 10 minutes. After about 30 minutes of drinking my hot chocolate and reading, a group of people came in and sat down to the table next to me.
And you'll never freakin guess who was with them.
"Hey! Shorty!" I heard Jimmy yell, I didn't respond just because of the nickname, I just met the guy who does he think he is? He walked over shortly after.
"Hey Shauni! This is so weird I just saw you." He exclaimed. I smiled and nodded. He sat down next to me, smiling.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Why are you so sad?" He asked, acting as if he knew exactly what I was feeling.
"I'm not!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah you are, I can see it in you, maybe not right now at this moment, but you are." He explained.
"Okay first off, you don't know anything about what I'm feeling. Secondly, why would you even care?" I asked. "I only just met you today, yet you're acting like you know me so well."
"I don't know why I care, I just do." He said with a glimmer of hurt in his eyes.
"Sorry I snapped at you." I said honestly.
"It's okay." He said, smiling a bit.
"Well I'm gonna go, my sister's gonna be pissed, its almost dark." I sighed.
"Want me to give you a ride?" He asked.
"No that's okay, it's not a far walk." I reasoned.
"Nah I should drive you, can't have a pretty girl like you walking the streets alone." He said playfully. 'Pretty? Has he seen my face?' I thought
"Um okay." I said awkwardly.
He drove a truck, but not a giant one. But I don't know I think about cars or trucks so I wouldn't be able to tell you really. I got in and it was warm from the October outside and it smelled like cigarettes and mint. Even though it was warmer in the car it was still kinda cold so my jaw kinda locked in place while I was trying not to shiver.
"You okay?" He asked as he lit a cigarette and blew the smoke out the window.
"Y-yeah I'm fine." I said as I slightly shivered.
"You look cold, here I have a jacket in the back." He said reaching back to grab it.
"No it's okay, you don't have to." I exclaimed. He just handed me the large jacket and ignored what I had said.
I put the jacket on and laid my head on the window. We were at my house in about 5 minutes, I don't know why he insisted on driving me.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." I said getting out of the car. But he got out too, which was confusing.
"You didn't think you weren't getting a hug did you?" He exclaimed as he hugged me tight and picked me up. I was partially screaming and partially giggling, which made me sound kinda stupid. When he set me down I walked up to my front door and we yelled bye to each other.
"Where have you been?! And who was that out there that dropped you off?!" Victoria questioned as I walked in, her brow furrowed.
"I texted you, the bookstore." I said calmly.
"All day?! And who was that?!" She exclaimed.
"No I also went to Starbucks." I said in a snarky manner.
"And?!" She's relentless.
"And that was Jimmy." I said.
"He a boyfriend?" She asked, intrigued.
"What?! No! I just met him, we're just friends!" I yelled.
"You just met him and you were riding around in his truck?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It wasn't like that, he just offered me a ride home from Starbucks. Can you just drop it?" I pleaded.
"No not really, is that his?" She asked, pointing at the jacket I had forgotten I was wearing.
"Oh crap yes, I meant to give it back." I sighed as she rolled her eyes.
"Stop it Vicky! He wasn't like just a random creepy stranger! He goes to my school." I exclaimed and ran up to my room.
I got up into my room and plopped onto my bed. I was so tired and I didn't know why, and I hadn't eaten dinner yet but I just wanted to go to sleep. I started drifting asleep slowly, I could hear the TV in the living room and that it started raining outside. I heard my sister shout at her friend on the phone that I was so stupid and I didn't even know about stranger danger. I just wanted to sleep and not have to worry about my stupid sister, or school tomorrow, or the fact that I never did my homework. It was only 9, I don't know why I was so tired...
I thought crazy thoughts as I drifted off and dreamt of blue eyes and goodbye hugs...
But this story isn't just about me, it's about me and my best friend, Jimmy. Let me set the scene for you, let's go back to the day we met...
I was 15 and he was 17, I was just a little freshman that hated herself and everything else. I woke up that day expecting it to be bad, it was a Sunday so I knew I had piles and piles of homework I had procrastinated into the last minute on Sunday. But instead of doing it when I woke up, I decided to lay in bed until noon, and then I went out.
I rolled out of bed groggily and put my glasses on. I looked at myself in the mirror with disgust. My eyeliner was smudged all down my eyes and my hair desperately needed to be brushed, I stuck a green headband on my pixie cut hair and slipped on some clothes, just a Nirvana t-shirt, some baggy, ripped, jeans and my favorite pair of chucks. I really don't care about impressing anyone today, so no makeup, except a little eyeliner. I'm just going to the bookstore, and maybe to Starbucks for some hot chocolate. (I hate coffee.)
I grabbed my bag and stepped out of my room carefully, not to awake my sister, I was staying with her while my dad was on a business trip, her name is Victoria and she's 25, she's way more uptight then I am too.
I tip toed out of the house and started on my walk to the bookstore. It's fall so it's cool enough to walk and it's all nice and breezy. The trees were blowing in the wind and nearly getting leaves all in my hair as I texted my sister I was at the bookstore while I was walking, she'd be mad anyways because I left without saying bye but at least she won't file for a missing persons report.
I got to the bookstore around 1 pm. I walked into the feeling of air conditioning and the smell of books, such a nice smell. I was looking for a specific book, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, and maybe I'd find another hidden treasure while I looked for it. I finally found a copy of it while I was crouched down looking through the bottom shelf of the fantasy section, and while looking through the poetry I found the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe. Let's just say I was a happy camper.
I paid for the books, and then like usual Shauni, I bumped into a guy on my way out, and by bumped into I mean just walked face first into his chest. Did I mention I'm terrible short? I dropped the books by accident, I went to pick them up to avoid eye contact with him, but lucky for me he decided to help me so I had to talk to the guy I just embarrassed myself in front of.
I picked up Fablehaven and he picked up the book by Edgar Allen Poe.
"Oh hey this is the book I've been looking for! Do you know if they have anymore in stock?" He asked me as I finally looked up at him, he had black shaggy hair, that was spiked up a little in the back, and piercing blue eyes with smudged eyeliner around them. I stared at him for a couple seconds before I finally realized I had to talk.
"Um I don't think so that's the only one I saw, this bookstore is mostly donated books so they don't have a lot of the same copies..." I trailed off. He looked so disappointed.
"I don't suppose you want to give it to me? Or let me read it?" He asked sadly.
"But I don't know you, if I lent it to you how do I know you wouldn't steal it?" I asked, chuckling.
"I'm Jimmy." He said, reaching his arms out for a hug.
"Um I'm not really a hugger." I said, confused. He put his arms down awkwardly. "I'm Shauni." I chirped.
"Cool name!" He smiled. I smiled back at him shyly, he didn't seem so bad but I still didn't know what to say.
"Well can I give you my number and then borrow the book?" He asked excitedly.
"How do I know if the number is real?" I asked as I placed my hands on my hips.
"You don't trust easy do you?" He said, laughing. I hugged my books to my chest and shook my head.
"Here I'll give you my number and you can call my phone to see if it's really me." He said as he scribbled his number onto a small piece of paper. I looked at it and called the number from my phone and his pants began to ring.
"Hello?" He said gleefully into the cellphone, grinning at me.
"Well now I feel bad for not trusting you." I said.
"It's okay, not all strangers are like me." He said, still grinning.
"Here, enjoy." I said, laughing as I handed him the book.
"Oh hey what school do you go to?" He asked.
"Orange County high school." I said grimly.
"How have I not noticed you?" He asked.
"Most people don't, I'm so short I don't even graze their peripheral vision." I joked. "And besides I probably don't have any classes with you, you're a junior right?" I asked.
"Yeah, Oh you're a freshman?" He asked. I nodded yes with a grim expression on my face that made him laugh.
"Well... I guess I'll see you tomorrow!" He said as he walked off and I turned around to walk home. But as soon as I started walking he i ran up behind me and gave me a hug from behind.
"I hug all my friends I have to hug you!" He yelled as he picked me up a little.
"Jimmy!" I yelled, he set me back down and I glared at him.
"Well, bye" He said like nothing happened as he turned and walked away.
'Well I guess I made a new friend today' I thought to myself. I remembered his blue eyes and childish smile and his laugh and I thought maybe I could actually have a really good friend. He seemed really sweet. But why would he want to be friends with me? He seemed so happy and full of life, I must've seemed like such a drag. Still I found myself smiling at the fact someone actually noticed me at all. No one ever does.
Afterwards I walked over to Starbucks, got there around 3. As I walked in I smelled the intoxicating smell of coffee and chocolate, coupled with the constant chatter of people. I ordered my hot chocolate and sat down, opening up Fablehaven, the book I got, to read a bit while I drank the hot liquid. I got my drink after about 10 minutes. After about 30 minutes of drinking my hot chocolate and reading, a group of people came in and sat down to the table next to me.
And you'll never freakin guess who was with them.
"Hey! Shorty!" I heard Jimmy yell, I didn't respond just because of the nickname, I just met the guy who does he think he is? He walked over shortly after.
"Hey Shauni! This is so weird I just saw you." He exclaimed. I smiled and nodded. He sat down next to me, smiling.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Why are you so sad?" He asked, acting as if he knew exactly what I was feeling.
"I'm not!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah you are, I can see it in you, maybe not right now at this moment, but you are." He explained.
"Okay first off, you don't know anything about what I'm feeling. Secondly, why would you even care?" I asked. "I only just met you today, yet you're acting like you know me so well."
"I don't know why I care, I just do." He said with a glimmer of hurt in his eyes.
"Sorry I snapped at you." I said honestly.
"It's okay." He said, smiling a bit.
"Well I'm gonna go, my sister's gonna be pissed, its almost dark." I sighed.
"Want me to give you a ride?" He asked.
"No that's okay, it's not a far walk." I reasoned.
"Nah I should drive you, can't have a pretty girl like you walking the streets alone." He said playfully. 'Pretty? Has he seen my face?' I thought
"Um okay." I said awkwardly.
He drove a truck, but not a giant one. But I don't know I think about cars or trucks so I wouldn't be able to tell you really. I got in and it was warm from the October outside and it smelled like cigarettes and mint. Even though it was warmer in the car it was still kinda cold so my jaw kinda locked in place while I was trying not to shiver.
"You okay?" He asked as he lit a cigarette and blew the smoke out the window.
"Y-yeah I'm fine." I said as I slightly shivered.
"You look cold, here I have a jacket in the back." He said reaching back to grab it.
"No it's okay, you don't have to." I exclaimed. He just handed me the large jacket and ignored what I had said.
I put the jacket on and laid my head on the window. We were at my house in about 5 minutes, I don't know why he insisted on driving me.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." I said getting out of the car. But he got out too, which was confusing.
"You didn't think you weren't getting a hug did you?" He exclaimed as he hugged me tight and picked me up. I was partially screaming and partially giggling, which made me sound kinda stupid. When he set me down I walked up to my front door and we yelled bye to each other.
"Where have you been?! And who was that out there that dropped you off?!" Victoria questioned as I walked in, her brow furrowed.
"I texted you, the bookstore." I said calmly.
"All day?! And who was that?!" She exclaimed.
"No I also went to Starbucks." I said in a snarky manner.
"And?!" She's relentless.
"And that was Jimmy." I said.
"He a boyfriend?" She asked, intrigued.
"What?! No! I just met him, we're just friends!" I yelled.
"You just met him and you were riding around in his truck?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It wasn't like that, he just offered me a ride home from Starbucks. Can you just drop it?" I pleaded.
"No not really, is that his?" She asked, pointing at the jacket I had forgotten I was wearing.
"Oh crap yes, I meant to give it back." I sighed as she rolled her eyes.
"Stop it Vicky! He wasn't like just a random creepy stranger! He goes to my school." I exclaimed and ran up to my room.
I got up into my room and plopped onto my bed. I was so tired and I didn't know why, and I hadn't eaten dinner yet but I just wanted to go to sleep. I started drifting asleep slowly, I could hear the TV in the living room and that it started raining outside. I heard my sister shout at her friend on the phone that I was so stupid and I didn't even know about stranger danger. I just wanted to sleep and not have to worry about my stupid sister, or school tomorrow, or the fact that I never did my homework. It was only 9, I don't know why I was so tired...
I thought crazy thoughts as I drifted off and dreamt of blue eyes and goodbye hugs...
Really love this story :3
5/1/15