Paradise Pines (Shawn Mendes)

Nerd

Iris waved her father, Gavin off before leaving her house for school. Linda worked the graveyard shift at a hospital, so she had not returned home yet. As Iris closed the front door behind her, she spotted her new, undeniably attractive, and assumably psychopathic neighbor, Shawn. "Good morning!" he greeted with a large, cute grin. Not wanting to be as rude to him as she was when returning home the previous day, she replied "Mornin'."

"You want a ride to school?" he shouted. Iris was offended that he would even make such an offer. She thought she had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. Nevertheless, it beat having to sit in a bus with a bunch of loud, smelly, annoying peers. Reluctantly, she accepted his offer and walked across the street to his car. Unexpectedly, he opened the door to the passenger's side for her. She got in awkwardly and strapped on her seatbelt. He then sat himself down, turned the car on, and pulled out of the driveway.

"Thanks for the ride and opening the door for me. That was very... gentlemanly of you."

"Once you get to know me, you'll realize I'm not some heartless guy without a care in the world for family."

"I never thought of you in that way."

He scoffed. "You're easy to read, and my eyes tell me you're repulsed by me."

Feeling embarrassed, Iris replied, "I wouldn't say repulsed. That's too strong a word."

He chuckled. "I don't blame you, I was kind of an asshole yesterday. My apologies."

"It's cool as long as you keep driving me to school."

"It's a deal."

"I don't mean to seem invasive, but what's your deal with Becca?"

"I don't like bad mouthing people, but Rebecca is poison." Iris pulled her brows together confused at how he could think such a thing of Rebecca. "None of you will ever know her like I do, because she's one hell of an actress. She's a conniving, manipulative, self-centered bitch."

"That was uncalled for."

"You asked, I answered with honesty — something Rebecca knows nothing about."

"This picture you're painting of her is wrong on so many levels. I don't know what happened between you guys, but she's never betrayed me in any way."

"Really? Then why did she tell me she only befriended you so you could help her improve her grades?"

"What? That's a lie. And, I thought you said you never knew about me?"

"Rebecca is the liar, not me. She's as fake as Kim Kardashian's butt. And, I didn't know you were the one she always referred to as Nerd."

"You know, what? You can forget about the car rides."

"Look, I'm not trying to get in between you girls. All I'm saying is that I loathe her and want absolutely nothing to do with her."

"Then why talk to me or offer me a ride? I'm part of her circle of friends."

"Because, you're nothing like her."

"How do you know that?"

"Like I said, you're easy to read, and I've heard enough about you to know that you're a decent person. Since our mothers are being friendly with each other, I think we should do the same."

"I don't think that'll be possible."

"Well, you can't say I didn't try."

They drove the rest of the way in silence. Shawn parked in the school's parking lot, and the pair stepped out, drawing attention Iris was hoping to avoid. Through the crowd of students entering the school's main building, Iris spotted Avril staring at her. Shawn glimpsed at the exchange of looks and walked to Iris, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Iris froze in surprise. "See you at lunch, my friend!" he said with a big smile before releasing her and walking toward the main building.