overly-awkward

chapter 2

As we walked to class together, I noticed how much the school invested on those "welcome back to Northwest High!" sort of banners. I frowned as a life-sized school mascot of a bee walked around, hugging random people.

What if the thing were to hug me? I cringed at the mere thought.

"So you know during the last two weeks when you were away for vacation? Guess what?" Nicole paused for effect.

I nodded, signalling her to continue.

So this is what she meant by 'juicy details'.

"Me and Brand got together!" She suddenly exclaimed, catching me off-guard. She whipped out her phone and proudly displayed a couple photo of her and Brand, set as her home screen image.

"I don't have to see a picture of you guys kissing, please." I gag, and it was now her turn to laugh.

"What about you?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

I sighed.

"You know me Nicole, you know plain old boring me." She nodded her head in understanding.

"But still, I am happy for you guys." I said genuinely, with a genuine smile and genuine everything. I was more than happy for her.

"Wait how did y'all end up together anyway?" I asked again.

She looked at me, giving me a look that meant it-is-a-long-story-and-it-is-inconvenient-to-talk-about-it-here.

Hmm, okay then.

Nicole has been with me since the early years, way back in middle school, and we just kind of liked each other's company and stuck to each other. She could have moved on and made other good friends, but the fact that she didn't heartened me.

She was one who would kill for her friends, and her strong character is admirable. Honestly, if not for her, I wouldn't be able to get over all the...

Mean school bullies.

Never mind.

She has eyes the shade of amber, and her hair was a light sun kissed blonde, whereas mine was just plain old dark brown. Maybe there were highlights here or there, but that's it for me. Her face was also definitely more flawless than mine...

"Come on now let's go see Cal." She finished before dragging me to who-knows-where.

"Hi Cal!" She exclaimed but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is he?" I said, stupidly looking around for any sign of that tuff of brown hair. I've always wondered how it was like to sink my hands into his hair.

We had agreed to meet Cal here too.

I guess we are the 'three musketeers', the weird people who always hang around each other.

"There, behind!" Nicole pointed behind. Hmm.

I was just about to look back and give him a big friendly wave when I felt something engulf me.

Something big and fluffy.

My eyes widened in shock, before horror came.

"Oh-my-gosh-what-is-this-help-me-," I shrieked, before staggering backwards. I could have fallen down, before a strong pair of fluffy black feet caught me just in the nick of time.

Talk about perfect timing.

I looked up at the ridiculous person in our school's bee mascot life-sized costume. Cal.

He grinned, as usual, with his bright smile. "Hey Michelle! You okay?"

I glared at him.

"You okay? Me okay? You sure you can say that right after squeezing me with that thing that you're wearing? Honestly Cal, I thought better of you than to do such publicity for our school." I chided.

He just laughed his usual hearty laugh.

Cal was around a head taller than me, with a little curve of a dimple on his right cheek. His hair was a shade of dark brown, with his fringe covering his forehead. He has quite a strong built for someone who doesn't work out and a grin which is just plain adorable, in my opinion. I wonder if that is how he gains the favour of so many people.

"Wait, this is unexpected of you. Did someone dare you to do it?"

"Mrs Norris made me do it, you can't blame me."

I knew Nicole for a longer period than Cal, but I can consider myself very close to him. He should feel proud of himself. Very little people succeed in winning over my heart.

"Seriously though, you look stupid." came Nicole's honest opinion. I nodded in agreement.

I touched the fluffy yellow belly of Cal the bee.

Ridiculous.

Before I could protest, I felt wrapped around in a roll of fluffiness. Now that I wasn't surprised, it actually felt nice. I heard his laughter jolting me awake from my brief daze.

I haven't heard his familiar laughter for a while now, it's good listening to it.

Before I could possibly react, Nicole yanked me away.

"Come on, we will be late for class let's go! Have fun, Cal," she winked mischievously before whisking me off to class. He scowled.

"See y'all later," I heard from behind. I turned behind to just give a little wave, before we turned to another corner.

Welcome to my life. Here's a best friend who just pulls me around wherever I go, and here's another who is just plain nonsensical.

Not so dull, but also plain old boring at the same time.

One of my new year resolutions should involve stepping out of my ridiculous comfort zone, I mean, it has bugged me for years on end.

However, a part of me knows that I can only be myself around these two.

It is hard to learn the graceful art of trusting.

Nevertheless, I should be grateful for whatever I have. Especially these two.

Michelle Crystals, let's do this!

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hey!! :) first off, thank you for checking this out, really appreciate it <3 also, what do y'all think- from these two chapters? this is my first legit book that I am writing!!  comments and votes and most importantly, y'all, really make my day :D really enjoying this process of writing a book now, let's be friends too hahaha and get to know each other better- doesn't having an online friend sound appealing to you? ;D