How To Be Beautiful.

The One Where she is a cute puppy.

"I didn't suggest this before because I knew how much you like Adam," said Zayna as she adjusted her hair in the mirror. "But I think you should start seeing other people,"

"So I should find a rebound?" I teased, leaning by one of the dryers, waiting for her to finish.

"Whatever it is," She shrugged. "We all need some action,"

"What about you?" I smiled teasingly. "I have had enough action these past few years to last me a lifetime." She shook her head, washing her hands as I grabbed a few tissues, handing them to her. "Thanks," She said as we walked out and into the hallway.

I don't think I have ever thought of anyone romantically since I transferred here other than Adam. And how could I when I fell for him the very first time I saw him smile! That god damn smile! 

"I got another text from you know who," She announced as we walked towards her locker. "Again?" I raised my eyebrows. She has been rather quiet lately, but not very subtle when it comes to the looks she has been giving us, but she hasn't been texting Zayna, so that's a relief. Plus, we are kind of used to the looks ever since that incident with Zack a few semesters back.

"I told her to go fuck herself," She shrugged, and I could see the smug smile on her face, making me chuckle. "You did well," I nodded, a smile playing on my lips.

"I know I did," She nodded, opening her locker, sitting her bag inside before closing it again.

"Did you really have feelings for him?" I asked out of curiosity as we made our way to the cafeteria. "Who?" She asked in confusion.

"Zack?"

"Honestly," She started to say. "I don't know," She added with a sigh.

"I know there was something, maybe gratefulness or familiarity." She explained. "You know we have known each other for quite some time." I nodded, knowing they have been friends for almost a decade now. Zack and Zayna were the first two friends in this group. They knew each other since the first years of elementary school, and they even shared some stories about how their families used to get together for playdates back in the day. It was fascinating to see a relationship last this long, especially with the amount of pickering that goes on between them, but you can still see how much they care for each other. "But I didn't really think about it that much," She admitted.

"I was just grateful for his presence and that he stuck by me even though she made me into this horrible person," She said and I could see a hint of a smile playing on her lips. 

We arrived at our table to find Adam already sitting there with, to my dismay, Senna. "Oh hey," I said, trying to hide my shock that she was here. It's been a while since she joined because of her play. "I thought you would be at rehearsals." I added, sitting down on one of the empty chairs, as I sat my bag on the floor next to me. "We are wrapping up, and they wouldn't need me until the end of the day," She explained with a smile. "That's great." I nodded. Was it really, Claire. Was it really?!

"Yeah," She nodded with a smile, and I could feel Zayna's eyes on me. I could tell she didn't want to interfere after what happened, but the look on her face was a big giveaway.

"Where is Zack?" I asked Adam, trying to divert my thoughts away from the blondie sitting across from me. "Didn't you have the last period together?" I added.

"Caleb bailed on him, and now he has to finish everything on his own."

"Told you people cannot change! " Exclaimed Zayna. And I didn't know if this was about Caleb or Kaitlyn.

"Claire likes to see the best in people," said Adam, catching me off guard as he shoved some of his lunch into his mouth. "I don't see a reason to do otherwise," I shrugged. 

"Maybe I am just not the best judge of character!" She exclaimed. "It's not your fault she turned into a bitch!" I exclaimed. 

"Kaitlyn?" Asked Adam, as I nodded. "She is bothering you again?" He asked, and I could sense the anger in his voice. 

"I don't know, she's been texting me randomly." She explained, her hand gesturing towards her phone. "So I told her to fuck off," She added with a shrug, making him chuckle. "Really?" He laughed as she nodded, a proud smile splattered across her face. "You did well!" He said, his anger subdsided as Zayna grinned at me, making him look at her in confusion. "What?" He asked, his eyes shifting between the two of us. 

"She just said that," She chuckled, "Said what?" He asked. "That she did well." I explained. "Oh," he mumbled. 

"What can we say, great minds think alike!" I added with a smile. "True," he smiled down at me, a smile that could easily melt me into a puddle of mush. 

We quickly shifted our gazes back to the other two as Senna started speaking, "So, she really did slut shame you, because you had a crush on Zack?" She asked as Zayna nodded. "And I didn't even have a crush on him!" Exclaimed Zayna. "She just didn't like that he hung out with me and not her I guess!" 

"That's messed up!" Exclaimed Senna, her eyebrows raised.  "I know, right!" Exlaimed Adam, agreeing with her statement. 

"Wait, is she here?" Asked the blonde girl, scanning the room for Kaitlyn. "I wanna know what she looks like," She added, addressing no one in particular. 

"She is sitting up there," Said Adam, trying to point subtly at the table by the entrance, where she was sitting with whom I suppose are her friends and some jocks form the football team. "Wait, isn't that Caleb?" I asked as I spotted the familiar face. I haven't seen him that many times, but he has been pointed out by Zayna a few times after I questioned his identity the other day.

They were acting all cosy, "That bitch!" Exclaimed Zayna, as she eyed Kaitlyn shamelessly flirting with Caleb. "That's her?" Asked Senna, her eyebrows raised in confusion.

"It most certainly is!" Said Zayna and I could tell she was mad. "Do you think she is doing that on purpose?" I asked her, already guessing the answer.

"Who knows what that bitch is up to!" She exclaimed.

"By the way where is Ash?" She asked diverting the topic away from Kaitlyn. "She texted us on the group chat." Said Adam. "Really?" Asked Zayna in confusion.

"Yup," I nodded. "She is having lunch with Joey." I explained.

"I guess they are officially a thing now," Nodded Adam. "I guess so," I shrugged.

"Have you talked to Joey before, you know man to man?" She asked him all of a sudden. "Yeah once or twice," He nodded, looking at Zayna in confusion. "Why?"

"Nothing much, I just feel like we barely know the guy that's all,"

"Since when were you the worried type?" I asked with an amused smiled. "Since the two responsible ones left us to fend for ourselves. " She sighed and I could see the smile playing on Senna's face.

"Don't be so dramatic." Chuckled Adam. "I'm not used to the pressure of being the mature one." She added.

"And who said you should be, why not one of us?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. "You're too soft, Claire. I wouldn't trust you two with a fly let alone a person!" And I could hear Senna chuckle loudly, as I looked at the girl next to me, giving her my most menacing glare. "See!"

"You look like a freaking puppy glaring at me!"

"Puppies can be scary too,"

"Not you tho," Said Adam, making my head turn. "You're a cute puppy."

And I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks almost instantaneously. Why do you have to go and act like this? Isn't it hard enough to get over you as is?