Changing Mr. Popular

Chapter Five | Tainted Love

Five

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The "plan" was to make Tyler want me. Because that is just so easy. So am I supposed to keep dressing how I normally do, or put on slut clothes? Wait do I even have slut clothes? Are slut clothes even a thing, or is it really about the person wearing the clothes?

I was definitely overthinking it.

I rummaged through the boxes of clothes I had yet to unpack, unsatisfied with everything I found.

I threw back the pair of ripped jeans I held in my hand, instead deciding on a simple blue dress. It was plain, except the back which had a laced pattern stitched through it, exposing my shoulder blades all the way down to the middle of my back.

I put my hair in a messy braid over my right shoulder and brushed my teeth before grabbing my bag and running downstairs. Because I was even later than yesterday, mom and Trent were already waiting in the car. Deciding to skip breakfast, I slipped on some sandals and ran out the door.

For once in his life, Trent didn't made any snide comments as I slid into the backseat. He just rolled his eyes, ignoring me as we drove away.

By the time my first three classes were over and Audrey and I were walking to the lunch table, I'd changed my mind about the plan completely.

It only took one look at him and the random girl kissing him to feel bile rising in my throat. God, did she not get that he felt nothing for her? There was no way someone like me could ever change Tyler, and I didn't really care to anyway. I was much more confident in returning to my original plan of action, which was to pretend Tyler didn't exist.

As I sat down at the table and we all started talking, I realized something about my three new friends. While Audrey and Lily were the rational ones, Carly and I were the outspoken, more sassy ones of the group. Carly was almost as sarcastic as I am, which made it easy to love her.

I tapped my unpainted nails against the fiberglass lunch table as we sat down and Audrey soon started describing her dreams to be a cheerleader. Apparently, she had always wanted to try out for the team, but felt she was too tall and awkward. That last part left me dumbfounded, because, with golden hair and a body that rivaled many Victoria's Secret models, she was easily one of the best looking girls in the school. All three of my new friends were, in fact: Carly was half-Chinese (though I didn't know until she told me), which blessed her with silky hair and hazel eyes that were perfectly almond-shaped, and Lily was of Russian descent, with blonde, almost white hair and piercing blue eyes.

Carly was quick to point out the absurdity of Audrey being labeled anything remotely close to "awkward", and we all laughed in agreement before moving on to another topic. I looked around our group as lunch went on, feeling grateful to have made such genuine friends so quickly.

Soon the bell rang, and we all headed our separate ways down the halls. I headed toward the gym, almost there when I felt a hand tug on my elbow. I spun around, half-poised to yell at someone.

"Hey, Lauren!"

Confused, I looked at the blonde guy who was staring at me and quickly tried to process how I knew him. Recognition finally came, and I smiled. "Oh! Hey...Brandon," I greeted. It was that guy's son from last night, and I mentally crossed my fingers in hopes that I got his name right. We quickly moved toward the wall to get out of peoples' way.

He smiled back. "So," he laughed nervously. "I know this isn't the normal way people do things and it might sound weird, but do you want to, like, be my friend? I mean, we already kinda know each other" He smiled shyly.