Page 10 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

I turn to my bed, where I dropped my phone. It’s ringing, and I see it’s my sister calling.

As I lift the phone and hit answer, a heavy sigh pours out of me. “Hey Tess.”

“Whoa. What’s wrong?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“You sound so down. What happened? Was someone mean to you at school?”

I huff. “Why do you always run to that conclusion?”

“Because I spent four years at Ashworth Academy. I know how horrible it can be to get through a day there.”

“Sis, I don’t go to school with the same people you did.”

“It doesn’t matter. Every grade has mean people.”

I frown, ready to hang up on her. “Is this really what you wanted to talk about?”

“No, I just called to check in with you. And I was serious when I said you sounded down. Tell me what’s happened.”

“You know the boy next door?”

Tess chuckles. “Oh, yes. Your long-running crush.”

“Well, one of the popular girls has her eye on him.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Well, it’s not just her eyes.” I take a beat, sickened by the memories flashing before my eyes. “First they were holding hands, and then...” I gag on the words. “I saw them kiss.”

“Oh, Kikki, I’m sorry.”

“What’s worse is she’s no good for him,” I reply. “She’s a serial dater. He deserves better than someone who’ll eventually dump him.”

“Then why are you so worried if you think they’ll break up soon?”

I fiddle with the buttons on my blazer, too afraid to answer.

Tess sighs. “Because you’re worried he might be the guy who lasts with her.”

Another heavy sigh gushes out of me. “Exactly.”

“I hate that you had to see all of that.”

“And I’ll have a front row view of them in chem lab.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s my lab partner, and he sits at the bench across from us.”

“You should stay clear of them,” Tess orders.

My heart sinks. “What?”

“You don’t want this girl knowing you’re into him too. If she’s popular, she’ll have friends who’ll help destroy you.”

“Actually, she had a falling out with her friends. That’s why she always tries to talk to me in chem lab.”

---