Love in Unexpected Places

Chapter 1

Shaylene's POV

I knew something was going to be different the moment I woke up on Tuesday morning. I could just tell. Maybe today was the day that Josh Dorado finally would ask me out. He's my best friend and the only guy in the whole grade that wasn't crushing on me. Which is really sad, because I'm head over heels in love with him.

As I hopped out of bed, I caught sight of myself in the floor length mirror and grimaced. My looks were average at best. Everyone at school insisted I was hot, but I know I'm really ugly. My long shiny blond hair hung perfectly straight down my back and my huge sparkly blue eyes twinkled in the lighting of my room. My heart-shaped face with its perfect complexion looked off-color because I hadn't put my foundation on yet. I sighed as I studied my hopeless looks and decided to get dressed.

Because I could tell something was different today, I took extra care with my outfit. I pulled on a hot pink crop top that had the word HOT on it with a heart eyes emoji. I also threw on a pair of black ripped leggings from Forever 21. They're the latest style. I took them from my older sister Makaila, who's a fashion expert. Then I hurried to the bathroom to fix my makeup and hair.

An hour later, I emerged from the bathroom with my hair curled and styled perfectly and my makeup on fleek. All the girls in my grade say I do the best winged eyeliner, and it's true. I shimmied down the stairs to the downstairs section of our penthouse, where Makaila and my mother were waiting with breakfast.

"I made your favorite breakfast, honey bunches," my mom said as she handed me a plate of low fat pancakes.

"Ugh, don't call me that, mom. I'm basically twelve now and too old to be called stupid little nicknames," I replied. I'd told my mom that at least three hundred times, but she still insisted on calling me embarrassing nicknames like sweetheart and baby. Imagine if my friends at school heard her! I wouldn't be the most popular girl in school anymore!

"You're not even twelve yet," my annoying older sister pointed out. "You still have 24 hours."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help looking at Makaila in admiration. She'd gotten all the good looks in the family and the fashion sense to go with it. My parents loved her much more than me.

I quickly ate the flavorless pancakes and tied the laces of my white converse. Quickly I hurried out the door. Maybe if I was fast enough, I could catch Josh on the way to school. He lived on the floor below us in the apartment building. Because of this, we'd been best friends for years. I still remember the first time we met . . .

"Mom!" I whined. "I don't want to live here. I wanna go back to our old house! I wanna live next to Jasmine!"

"Honey, it's not always possible to do what we want. You haven't even seen your room yet! You'll love it, I know you will."

"Fine," I responded, stomping into the apartment building. I pounded on the elevator button, and it opened with a ding. I tried to hurry in, but ran into somebody. I looked up at the perfect face of Josh Dorado.

"E-excuse me," I stuttered. He grinned at me and shoved me out of the way. But the next day we had his family over for dinner, and we played with my Barbies. He was so kind and thoughtful to play with my toys, and we've been besties every since.

My sweet memories were interrupted by his velvety voice. I almost fainted.

"Um, hello? Earth to Shayla?"

"It's Shaylene," I corrected, almost wanting to cry. He didn't care about me enough to learn my name! My world was over. I hurried by him, tears blinding me, and walked to school while pondering how to attract his attention.

But when I got to school, all thoughts of Josh were blown out of my mind by the boy who I saw walking in the doors. I've heard people say describe some boys as having the body of a god, but I've never seen anyone like that in real life. Well, this boy definitely qualified as one.

A blue beanie sat on top of his messy thick black hair and as he turned towards me, I saw his bright green eyes. They sent a thrill through me and I almost fainted for the second time today. He was tall and muscular, and wearing a t-shirt that said "Like a Boss" with cute skinny jeans and converse.

I was instantly in love.

Then I saw the girl at his side, clutching his hand. It was Jasmine, my best friend. What a little b*@%$! She was already throwing herself at this new boy before the bell have even rung! I'd always know she was no good. She'd already dated half the grade, and it had only been two weeks since school started!

The new boy was still looking at me. I sauntered up to him and shook his hand. "Hi, I'm Shaylene," I said flirtatiously, batting my eyelashes. I was so glad I dressed up this morning!

The boy's eyes judged me, moving from my white converse to my perfectly curled hair. Then he stared into my eyes and I felt a spark of electricity pass between us.

"My name's Jarrod," he said in a deep voice. "Jarrod Edwards. It's lovely to meet you."

Jasmine pulled on his shirt. "Jarrod!" she whined. "Come on, babe. Ignore Shaylene. If you want to be popular, she's the one to avoid. I can help you with that."

My jaw dropped. So much for being friends! But right then, I heard the voice of my ex-boyfriend, Liam Sherkus.

"What were you saying about Shaylene, Jasmine?"

Jasmine had the decency to look scared. Liam was a buff football player with huge muscles. That was why I'd dated him in the first place, back in fifth grade.

"Because she's definitely the prettiest girl here at Lincoln, and the most popular too. Everyone knows that you just like to tag along with her and bask in her glory," Liam continued. I hugged him.

"Thanks, Liam. This means a lot. But I'm still not getting back together with you."

Jarrod let go of Jasmine's hand. "Is that true?" he asked in his heart-stopping voice.

I gave him his prettiest smile, the one I'd spent hours practicing in the mirror, and he walked over to me.

"In that case, I think you can show me around, Shaylene."

I smirked at Jasmine, who looked shocked. "That's why you shouldn't be a lying biotch!" I hissed at her over my shoulder, before dragging Jarrod into school. It looked like it was going to be a very good day.