Pretty Little Liars: the next generation

Mixed Signals

11

Mixed Signals

Shay exited out of her fourth hour class. It was time for lunch. She went over to the cafeteria and set her bag down at the same table they'd been at yesterday. She got into the lunch line, and got a can of sprite, a hamburger, fries, and a brownie. The school's brownies and fries were okay, but the hamburger was disgusting and full of grease. Then, she saw Sasha and the others sitting at a different table. "What's going on?" Shay asked Sasha.

"Oh," Sasha shrugged. "Just felt like sitting somewhere different."

"Let me just get my bag," Shay said, setting her tray down at an unoccupied seat. She grabbed her bag from the chair, and rushed back to the group. They chatted amongst various things, but as Shay dipped one of her fries into a pool of ketchup, she couldn't help but feel a little twinge of sadness and hurt. Sasha seemed so carefree about everything. And manipulative too. One minute, she treats you like the queen of the world, the next like a dirty tissue.

"Hey, want to get some fro yo with me?" Sasha asked Shay, as they walked out of Rosewood High. Since she had a meet tomorrow, she didn't have swimming practice today.

"Sure," Shay answered. The two of them drove to the intersection, and crossed at the stoplight. They drove to Cherry Vanilla, the new frozen yogurt place. They walked in, and Shay admired the pink swirly wallpaper, and sprinkle tiled floor.

"Hmm, what should I get?" asked Sasha.

"I don't know," Shay mumbled. "I was thinking of just getting plain vanilla."

Sasha linked arms with hers. "Come on. You're better than that." She grabbed Shay's hand and squeezed.

The two of them stepped up. It was their turn to order.

"We'll have two Cherry Vanilla Delights," Sasha said.

"Two?" Shay squeaked out.

"Trust me, you'll love it," Sasha said, stepping away from the counter, so the next people in line could order.

Their yogurt came, and the two of them got in line to pay.

"That'll be 6.99" said the bored looking cashier.

Sasha fished some bills out of her wallet. "Treat's on me."

"No, really, I can pay for mine," Shay argued.

But Sasha refused, and just shook her head. The girls exited the shop, and Shay dug into her Fro Yo.

"Mmm," she murmured. "This is heaven." The sweet vanilla went nicely with the cherries mixed with sweet syrup. And the red sprinkles added that extra crunch that Shay just loved having.

"I told you," Sasha singsonged, but it wasn't in a mean way. "Want to go to the creek?"

"Sure," Shay said. The two of them walked down by the creek. Dry leaves crunched under their feet.

"You know something?" Sasha asked.

"What is it?" asked Shay, taking a bite of her frozen yogurt.

"You're my favorite. I can just tell. You're the sweet one."

That was one of the nicest compliments Shay had ever received. Especially from someone so poised and pretty. "Thanks," she said, not knowing what else to say.

Sasha was sending her mixed signals. Shay felt ignored this morning and at lunch. But now this was making up for all of it. Some alone time with Sasha.