Shortcake - A Richpez Story

Chapter 2

My insides were filled with butterflies, my nerves were awake, energy coursing through them.

"Jaime hurry up hurry up let's go let's go let's go!" I exclaim. I haven't felt this happy or excited in a long time.

"Gosh, Lo, chill," Jaime replies, but I can tell by the sound of her voice there's a smile on her face.

Jaime and I walk in, and there everyone is. Laughing, talking, hugging. Pretty soon, we're joining them.

"Lopez!" Joey greets me.

"Hey, JoJo," I reply, beaming happily.

We talk, exchange stories, and pretty soon he pulls me into a hug, causing my heart to skip a beat and my stomach to fill with butterflies. Happiness. I've missed it a lot lately.

"Hey StarKids!" Jeff calls, "we're all going to dinner, who's gonna come?"

Everyone raises their hand or shouts out "me!"

"Alright, everyone ok with..."

Jeff keeps talking, but I find my focus on Joey, and we lock eyes. My stomach does a little flip. Wait. Is this normal? Or am I just happy to see him? Usually these little stomach butterflies or my heart skipping beats are related to some certain feelings. And that can't happen. For many reasons. First of all, Joey is one of my best friends and there's no way I'd wanna ruin that friendship. Second, my ex, William, has been texting me a lot lately. Third, because of William, I'm way too scared to be in a relationship. I mean, not even Jaime knows the extent of all the things that went on between William and I. I didn't wanna upset her.

"Hey, Lauren, bet you can't eat as much as I can!" Joey challenges, yanking me out of my thoughts. 

"No way," I reply, confident I could beat him.

Jeff cuts in, "that's a very dangerous dare, Joey. I don't believe it's wise to challenge her on that."

Joey scoffs, "we'll see about that."

"Oh, it's on Ritcher!"

Once we arrive at the restaurant(in reality, it's just a small diner because we can't afford anything), I look at Joey, and he returns the same determined face. I will beat him. That is my one and only goal and I will stop at nothing to achieve it. Well, sure enough ten minutes pass and I'm already stuffed, but I've managed to eat one more french fry than Joey.

"Haha, JoJo, you lost," I tease.

Joey looks at me, and before I can react, boops me on the nose. Oh no he didn't.

Jaime gasps. "Joey you made a mistake. Another one." 

All of StarKid knows how much I hate boops, but they don't know why, just that I will react horribly to it. 

"Joey," I say, my voice flat. "Run."

He does, right out the door. I take off after him, forgetting completely that I just ate and running could make me sick. I also pay no attention to the very startled looks of the other customers there.

"Joey!" I screech, catching up to him.

In self defense, Joey spins around and holds his arms wide open as if he were about to give someone a hug. He does give someone a hug. Me, because I accidently run right into his open arms. 

"Joey," I whine, my words mostly swallowed by his shirt.

He laughs and I can't help but laugh, too. His laugh is contagious. So is his cute smile, along with his slightly crooked jaw, which I think is adorable.