Behind The Hoodie

(Part 2) Chapter 8: Boyfriends

We walk to the ice cream store first and continue around the shops. We talk nonsense for hours, Leo ends up with three numbers from different girls and Willow gets a cute lifeguards number. Which by the way made me cringe having to watch. I get being a wing woman but even being in the same shop as her, was, ugh!

The rest of the guys are huge flirts as usual and get a few numbers I know they will never call. In the end, I am the only one without a number on a piece of paper in my pocket or written on my arm. Making me a wing woman for them all. And that is how almost the whole day goes until we go to a clothing store and I can not stand to be in this dress anymore.

As they all flirt I buy a floral top with some shorts and actual shoes. I change in the dressing room after buying it and sigh in relief of not having to wear that dress. I put it in my bag regardless and wait outside for them all. 

I go on my phone and scroll through Pinterest with a milkshake in my hand. Like all those bomb pictures on Pinterest. But that glory doesn't last long when a family comes up to me.

"Excuse me, are you Beth? The girl who stopped that school shooting a few months ago?"

I look at them and smile as I nod my head. The mother with her three young kids around quickly pulls me into a hug and have to be careful hugging her back as my hands are full. 

"My nephew goes to that school when I heard what happened I was astounded. Thank you so much for what you did!" She says letting go of me with tears in her eyes.

I smile at her and rub her shoulder reassuringly.

"I'm sorry, it's just hard to think of what could have happened if you weren't there. So you really did lose your voice over it?"

I nod my head and smile sadly at her trying to reassure her. Her kids just look at me. 

"I'm so sorry, but um, I have a group of other mothers on my own site and we have been talking about how amazing you were, I never thought I would get to meet you! Could I get a picture with you?"

I smile at her and shake my head, yes, not wanting to say no as I see tears hiding behind her eyes.

She smiles and quickly takes a selfie with me before hugging me again.

"Thank you so much again for what you did."

"Could I get a picture with you?" One of her kids ask.

I look over and see a fourteen-year-old boy with his phone in his hands. I'm not a celebrity. I have never had people ask to take selfies with me. I shake my head, yes, not wanting to seem rude.

He is just as tall as me and he comes next to me and wraps his arm around my shoulder, quickly taking the picture. How dumb can I be? He is gonna show that to all his friends, isn't he? 

I mentally facepalm myself as they walk off. I ignore the fact that he is gonna post that picture though. I mean, as long as it's no harm, it's no foul, right? If he does, I'll hire a Profesional hacker to take it down. No biggie. Wow, I'm a nerd.

I go back to Pinterest and take another sip of my milkshake as I get irritated at how long getting a number is taking them all. I look through different funny memes and quotes along with some pictures of random junk that looks cool.

My happy place is soon disturbed once again though. Another person soon shows up in front of me. I look up as they begin to talk.

"Your Beth right? The hero of the school shooting?" The guy asks.

Am I famous here? Honestly though. He and his guy friends wait for my response.

I nod my head and smile.