A Collection of Short Stories

Who Says?

"Who says, who says you're not perfect

Who says you're not worth it

Who says you're the only one that's hurting

Trust me that's the price of beauty

Who says you're not pretty

Who says you're not beautiful, who says?"

Selena Gomez's song Who Says is on repeat in my ears. I've had a bad day at school, and all my friends are off doing something else. They said they weren't going to be hanging out together, but I know they are; they're all hanging out together without me. Everyone chooses to ignore me now, just because I didn't down a stupid drink at a party. I did what my mom asked, stayed a good girl. Now, everyone chooses to hate me for it. I'm supposed to be working on a project with David Ramirez, but I doubt he'll show up to my house. I have five out of eight classes with him, and we always get partnered up. We have the same last name, so we always end up sitting next to each other when the seating chart is alphabetical. Everyone teases me because I absolutely despise him, and apparently in the sixth grade, he had a crush on me, so everyone always goes "Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez." Why did I have to be cursed with the same stupid last name as David? I can't change it though. I mean, it's not like I'll ever get married. 

"Janie!" I hear my mom shout. I get up from my bed, pull my earbuds out, and yell back.

"What?" I go downstairs, kind of defeating the purpose of shouting, but she'd just say "Come here!" anyways.

"Someone's here to see you," she replies when I reach the steps. I see the front door, and standing there is David. Wow, he actually showed up. I descend the stairs until I'm at the front door, and my mom heads for the kitchen.

"Why are you here?" I ask, even though I know the answer. David doesn't answer, he just walks by me and up the steps. I close the door, and follow him. "I don't believe I invited you in," I tell him, sternly. 

"We have projects to do." David says, coldly. He keeps ascending the stairs, so I follow. We've had to work together before, so he knows exactly where my bedroom is. We're sophomores now, and the last time he was here was seventh grade. My room's changed a lot since then, but he still knows exactly where it is. David pushes open my bedroom door and goes immediately to the location of where my desk was before. He looks around, finds it's new spot, and approaches it before putting his stuff down. I close my door, and go over to my bed and take a seat.

"I told you I'd do them and put our names on them," I say, quietly.

"I'm not going to let you do all the work and have me take credit for it," David says. "Now let's get started."

- - -

A few hours later, around seven o'clock, we finally finish the projects we had to do. My mother invited him to stay for dinner, and he declined, but my mother insisted. David is going to stay for dinner, we just haven't had any yet.

"Done." David and I say in unison. 

"Want to listen to some music?" I ask him. He doesn't answer verbally, but nods his head. I plug my phone into my iHome speaker set. I press play, and Who Says starts playing. 

"You like this song?" David asked, sounding somewhat shocked. 

"Yeah, it makes me feel better about myself. Because everyone says those things about me. I'm not perfect. I'm not pretty. I'm not beautiful." I reply.

"Janie," David whispers.

"What?" I coldly answer.

"Don't put yourself down like that," he whispers. I look over to him and he looks like he has tears welling up in his eyes. 'Why?' I mouth to him. "Because you are all those things. Who says you're not?" 

"Everyone." I answer.

"I don't," David tells me. He lifts my chin to look at him, but I avert my eyes. "Janie please look at me," he whispers. I do as he asked. "You are beautiful. You're gorgeous, and pretty, and perfect. You're amazing." 

"No I'm not," A tear rolls down my cheek.

"To me you are," David whispers. I look into his eyes, and he looks into mine. My thoughts all clear out, he's the only thing on my mind. Our lips interlock, and move together in perfect syncronization. David places one of his hands on my hips and brings me closer to him. I place one of my hands on David's shoulder. After almost a minute, we seperate. "Be my girlfriend," David whispers. 

"Okay." I whisper back, and he leans in for another kiss.