Good Place Shorts

Eleanor X Tahani High School AU

"Can you believe it, Janet asked me to the school dance! The most beautiful babe in the school!" Jason shook Eleanor by the shoulders.

"That's, um, really great Jason." Eleanor nervously replied, returning to eating her sandwich at the cafeteria table. Neither her or Chidi had much to be excited about when it came to the Valentine's Day dance, for neither had dates.

Eleanor wasn't going to ask Chidi since she decided that she'd go with someone she actually had a crush on, or she wouldn't go at all. There was only one person on her mind.

Tahani Al-Jamil, the 2nd most popular girl in the school.

The most popular girl was her sister, but she wasn't nearly as attractive in Eleanor's eyes. Eleanor's eyes darted from Jason to the doors, waiting for her to walk in.

"Don't be so worried, maybe she'll ask you to the dance too." Jason smirked knowingly.

"Yeah right, the most we've ever done is make small talk in our classes." Eleanor huffed. "Besides, she'll want to show off the hottest guy here as her date."

Just to stick it to her sister.

Tahani opened the doors, soaking in the attention of all the eyes on her. Eleanor couldn't help but be one of those pairs of eyes. Then the last thing that she expected happened, Tahani looked straight at her.

"C'mon Tahani, taking her to the dance will make you even less popular." Some snobby blonde with ruby lips scoffed. "Trevor is such a catch, you'll love him."

Tahani seemed to walk away against her will, leaving Eleanor staring after her in shock. Jason gave a cocky smirk.

"Told you." Jason smiled.

"But I don't understand! We were biology partners yesterday, but I barely flirted with her!" Eleanor protested. Chidi looked up from his book.

"Eleanor, your definition of 'barely flirting' is not so subtle." Chidi pointed out. Jason laughed, and Eleanor looked at the ground with a deep blush on her face.

Even if I was flirting with her like crazy, it's not like that'd catch her attention. I'm not popular, or a guy for that matter. Maybe her friend didn't know what she was talking about.

...

The dance was in one week, and Eleanor's feelings were mixed. She didn't get another chance to talk to Tahani, so she believed that maybe her dumb friend steered her away after all.

She got up and threw her backpack over her shoulder when the bell rang, and left her biology class when she felt a hand grab her's, pulling her towards a secluded corner between the locker rooms. It was Tahani.

"I don't know why I'm so drawn towards you, I've only liked rich and popular guys at the school." Tahani's shoulders fell. "But I want to know you better, I..."

Eleanor wondered if she was going to do it, if she was willing to be standing next to her at a school dance. She'd never ask, would she? At least her flirting charm had worked.

"Your sister's opinion doesn't matter if you have someone that cares about you." Eleanor put her hand on Tahani's shoulder. "I do have the hots for you, but if you don't want to ask-"

"I do! I want you to come with me to the dance!" Tahani blurted out. "We don't talk much, but my heart sings for you. I don't want to keep trying for everyone's approval, not when I already have yours."

Eleanor felt her heart pounding, who knew that some flirting over the span of a few days would get this sexy skyscraper so head over heels for her? She smirked, allowing her insecurities to finally wash away.

"I thought you'd never ask."