How to be popular

3. Make new friends

Like the manager at Starbucks said, I received an email on my phone saying I got the job. Since I was still in school and got out later in the afternoon, my hours would be on the weekends and breaks.

Pretty soon I would have that car if I saved all of my money.

:One months later:

Inhaling the sweet smell of the new car, my fingers felt around the black and grey steering wheel.  I couldn't believe it, I, well, Doug and I had a brand new car!  We had gotten it one week before, since we had to wait on a few paychecks to help pay for it. It was truly a beauty. Doug and I decided on a bright royal blue Toyota corolla instead of the Honda, sure, the rent was a bit more expensive, but it was a nice car. Anyway, now that I had a job, Doug and I could, but barely, afford it.

When we drove it to school, I got quite a few surprised stares as I parked the car in my usual parking place close to the front of the school. I hopped out of the car, and locked it. The beep sound was music to my ears.

My dad was not so fond of the idea at first. He said that I already had a car that I could drive to school, but after I told him he wouldn't have to pay for anything, he said fine, but that he wasn't going to help me with rent if I ran out of money. I had a job, and was responsible to save enough money each month, well, I would try to be responsible with saving money.

Since the car also belonged to Doug, he rode along with me to school. Later I would take him home.

I looked to see that Doug was checking and fixing his hair in the rear-view mirror, so I locked the car again so it would beep and catch his attention. He started walking to the building like nothing happened, and I followed him.

Before we got to the door, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see who it was.

She wasn't someone I recognized, must have been a new student. I pulled on Doug's shirt to get him to stop too.

She was a few inches taller than me, had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and had a light olive skin tone. Pretty, yes, but who knew what kind of personality she had?

"I saw you get out of that shiny blue car? Is it yours?"

I nodded. "Yup, I actually just recently got it."

"Birthday present?"

"Nope. Doug- I gestured a hand towards Doug- and I paid for it."

She perked up, smiled. "So you two are boyfriend and girlfriend?"

My eyes widened. "No no no. We're just, uh, friends." Doug and I awkwardly said in unison.

"Oh." She sounded like she was disappointed. I have known Doug for a while, but us dating? That never seemed like a reality to me.

She cleared her throat after a few moments of weird and uncomfortable silence. "I'm Mia. Sorry for not introducing myself earlier."

"Don't worry about it." I said quickly.

Doug nudged at my shoulder. "Alex and I have to go to class now." Then he whispered in my ear. "Lets go to the library, we've got 20 minutes."

I nodded, then smiled at Mia. "Maybe I'll see you at lunch Mia?"

Her smile got bigger, and her perfectly straight teeth began to show. "Yeah, that would be great."

...

Doug made himself comfortable in a blue beanbag chair that was in the back corner of the school library. I stood leaning on the small empty brick wall that was't covered in book-filled bookshelves. Doug wanted to come here to read a few pages of chapter 3, since there was really no use of finishing the last chapter.