Not So Romeo

4

Tatum

"Where the hell have you been!" Tyler yells as soon as I walk through the door.

"Out." I simply say. He's about to say something else but he notices Shawn walk in behind me.

"What's he doing here?" Grayson questions with a mouth full of chips.

"Just came to hang out." I shrug, smiling up at Shawn.

Grayson just says "cool" at the same time my brother yells "oh hell no!"

"Jesus Ty! No need to scream in my ears!" I shout, quieter than Tyler. I turn to face Shawn and grab his wrist. "My rooms this way."

With much reluctance by my brother, and even Grayson, Shawn and I manage to make it to my room and shut my door for more privacy. Not that we really need it but my brother and his best friend can be annoying as hell.

"Wanna watch a movie?" I ask, grabbing my laptop from my desk.

Shawn chuckles, "sure." he then sits next to me on my bed and we both get comfortable. We decide on a cheesy horror movie and it has the both of us laughing the entire time.

Once the movie is finished I shut my laptop off and turn towards Shawn, surprised to see him already looking at me. I give him a small smile and he returns it. He looks as if he's about to say something but is cut off when my brother and Grayson burst through my door. "Tatum, we got pizza if you want some." Tyler starts, looking at me then moving his eyes to Shawn."And I guess you can have some too if you want."

"I could eat." I shrug. "How about you?" Shawn just shrugs and nods his head and we follow the idiots out of my room.

After a few minutes of eating in a very awkward silence, my brother decides to speak. "So Tatum, why'd you ditch? And why are you hanging out with Andrews?"

"I ditched because I wanted to and also because I hate math and biology. And I'm hanging out with Shawn because he's good company and is a lot of fun to be around." I answer, mad at the way my brother is being towards Shawn. I know I was rude to him earlier but then we started talking for real and he's just amazing.

"But ditching is so unlike you." Grayson chimes in. "You're such a good girl and it's weird to see you break the rules."

Shawn laughs, "I thought the exact same thing when I caught her."

"Well I only act like a boring little goodie-two-shoes in school and around you two." I gesture towards Tyler and Grayson. "But the truth is, I'm so done being little miss f*****g perfect all the time. Its boring and I want to live a little. And you know damn well I wasn't a goodie goodie when I started high school." I huff in annoyance. "Stupid stereotypes."

The boys laugh at my little rant. "Amen sister!" Grayson shouts, stuffing his fifth slice of pizza in his mouth. I swear this kid is a human garbage disposal. He's almost always eating something.

"So how did you two decide to become friends?" Gray asks.

Shawn and I look at each other. "Honestly, it just kinda happened." Shawn answers.

"You know ours and your parents will be beyond pissed if they find out." Tyler states, matter of factly.

We both shrug and I say, "doesn't matter." After conversing with my brother and his best friend a little while longer, Shawn and I head back to my room. My brother seems to be warming up to him a bit already but he's still quite hostile towards my newfound friend. Shawn and I talk about random stuff for about an hour until he gets a text saying he has to get home.

As I walk him out he surprises me by grabbing my hand and stopping, causing me to stop as well. "What time do you usually leave for school?" he questions.

"Around 7:50." I answer, quite confused about why he wants to know.

He nods his head, "alright so I'll pick you up at 7:30 so we can grab coffee or something before."

I beam up at him, "yeah, okay!"

He returns my smile, "great! See you in the morning." and with that, he walks to his car and pulls out of the driveway.

I return to the living room, which is occupied by the two boys now playing video games. "Why are you smiling like a pedophile?" I just scowl at my brothers question. The boys laugh.

"I'm going to bed. Just wanted to say goodnight."

Both boys tell me good night as I head off to my room. I didn't realize how tired I actually was until my head hit my pillow. Almost instantly, I'm sucked into a dreamless sleep.

Shawn

As I drove home, a stupid smile was stuck in my face. Its only been a day of getting to know each other for real but I already really like Tatum. Not in a romantic way or anything, but as a friend. I've never really had many real friends. The friends I have aren't anywhere close to real, they just want to be around me to gain popularity. Stupid and cliche, I know, but that's just how it is. Tatum has a great point; every little part of our lives are defined by stupid cliches and stereotypes.

I feel that if Tatum and I stick together we can break the stereotypes society had brought upon us. It won't be easy but I know we can do it. We just have to take it one day at a time.

I'm honestly really excited for tomorrow morning. There is just something about this girl that makes me feel happy, which is something I haven't felt in a long time.

As soon as I park my car in the garage, I head straight to my room. I ignore my mother and father as they question me about my whereabouts and fall asleep as soon as I lie down.