My Werewolf Mate is a Nerd

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“What about this one?”  Jamie dramatically pulled the curtain back on the changing area.  She came out in her best model moves, swaying her hips and sucking in her cheeks.  She stopped, spun, and put her hand on her hips while I giggled.  “Nice moves.” I said.  I was enjoying being silly with my best friend. 

“But seriously, what do you think?”  Lifting her arms up slightly, Jamie looked at herself in the mirror and then looked to me for approval.  It was a shimmery rose gold floor length dress that hugged her curves while not being too revealing. 

“I actually like it. It looks great on you, while not being ‘too much’.”  I said.

“And it’s on sale.’  Jamie grinned.  “Now let’s find you something.  Pink?”  She knew I hated pink. 

I rolled my eyes.  “No!”

After a few minutes of pulling things from the rack, I had 2 black dresses in my hand.  “Uhhh, black?  Lane, this is supposed to be a fun thing, not a funeral.”  Jamie groaned.  “Here, take this one too”, she said, shoving a light aqua dress into my hand.

I came out in one of the black dresses.  I was knee length, straight and lace sleeves.  Jamie looked at me and shook her head, “No.”   “Makes you look old.” She said.  Dress 2.  Floor length mermaid with long bell sleeves.  I kind of loved it.  But It wasn’t really a party dress.  “You look like Morticia Adams!”  Jamie laughed. 

“That was kind of my point” I said. 

“Mmmm.  Nope.  C’mon.  try the dress I picked.  Pleeeeeaaassseee?”  She begged.

I rolled my eyes… “Ok…”  I went back in and angrily pulled the curtains shut.  I pulled on the dress.  It was tea length with a pleated skirt.  The top was an off the shoulder with a v shape that showed off just the top of my breasts.  I stood looking back at myself in the mirror.  I hated to admit it, but Jamie had found a great dress.  I looked good in it even though it was a little out of my comfort zone. 

I tried my best to look irritated by it so Jamie wouldn’t say ‘I told you so’ and gloat as I stepped out of the dressing room.  “Oh my god, Laney!  You look amazing!”  I knew she was serious cause she used my whole name.  “Twirl!” She demanded.  I laughed and I did it.  The skirt fanned out.  I wanted to keep twirling like a little girl…ok…I’ll admit it.  I loved this dress.  “OOooooo.”  Jamie gushed “You have to get it!” 

“I know!”  I said thinking about it.  Scarlett whispered in my head “Will Joey see us in this?”   I quickly stopped her.  “We’re leaving him alone, remember?”  She said no more.  But secretly, I did hope he’d be at the party to see me in this.  

We grabbed a few more things.   I got a cute pair of gray heels to go with my dress.  Jamie couldn’t decide on shoes.  We went store to store trying to find what she wanted.  I kept reminding her that her dress was long, and no one would see her heels.  But she didn’t want to listen.  Aidan finally caught up to us.

“You done?”  I asked him. 

“Hell yes.  Black suit, black tie, black shoes.  So easy.”  He grinned. 

“What about a shirt?” I asked him.

“Almost forgot.  Thanks.”  He walked up to a table in the store, checked the size and simply picked up a shirt to buy.  Not fair.  Men’s shopping was so easy!  And here we were, trying on the 20th pair of heels that would be rejected.   Jamie stood and stuck he leg out trying to see if she liked them. 

“Damn babe, your legs look so sexy.”  Aidan purred. 

“Really?”  Jamie said looking at him and batting her eyes. 

“Mmmm.  Yeah.”  Aidan walked over to her and planted his lips on hers. 

“Oh my God!  You two make me sick!”  I turned away.  “Just get the damn shoes already. I can’t take any more of your PDA.  Get a room!”

Aidan laughed.  “Ok, you’ll know what it’s like when you’re mated.” 

An awkward silence fell over us.  Jamie hit Aiden in the side with her elbow. 

“What?!”  Aidan yelped. 

“Sorry, Laney.  He didn’t know.  I didn’t want to tell him after I had accidently told Zander.” Jamie looked at me sympathetically.

“I’m not mad.”  I said.

“Will someone tell me what’s going on?”  a confused Aidan stood there looking between Jamie and me. 

I took a deep breath.  “I found my mate.  But he seems indifferent towards me.  He wants me to leave him alone…”

“What?”  Said Aidan, “That’s crazy.  Who is your mate?” 

“Joey Evans…”  I put my head down.

There was a long silence. 

Aidan began a slow laugh.  I gave him the dirtiest look.

“Joey Evans?!”  He laughed “Joey Evans is your mate?”

I nodded as he continued to laugh “And he doesn’t want you?  Joey Evans doesn’t want you?” 

“Stop!”  I said feeling like I could cry.  My brother found my pain so amusing and it hurt.  I knew he could be an ass, but this was too much!

“I’m sorry.”  He said trying to regain his composure.  “It’s just that Joey has been in love with you from the first moment he saw you when he was 10!  There’s no way he would reject you!” 

“What?!”  I stammered incredulously.

“Yeah, literally from the 1st day he came to our pack.  Why do you think we were friends?  I’m pretty sure so he could be at our house to see you.  He’d never have started a friendship with me, I’m too dumb! He’s waaaayyy smarter than me.”  Aidan began laughing again. 

I couldn’t deny that.  Joey was way smarter than Aidan.  “Then how come I don’t remember him?”  I asked.

“Beats me?  He was always at our house staring at you while I was trying to play.  He was always too shy to say anything and you basically just ignored him.  You talked to him a couple of times, but you didn’t even bother to learn his name, you called him Jonny!” 

“What?  Oh god.  No wonder he hates me.”  I slumped down onto a chair in the shoe section and covered my face with my hands. 

“He even tried to ask you to Sweetheart Swirl in 9th grade.  He had written you this poem asking to go with him.  I convinced him to finally give it to you before school.  We walked up and he handed it you, but then Zander stepped in and asked you to go with him.  You were so excited that the popular kid asked you out, you dropped the note and never looked at it.  Joey was heartbroken. He stopped coming around after that.” 

“Stop talking.” I mumbled through my hands.  I wanted to disappear.  No wonder he didn’t want me.  I sat there for what seemed liked forever.  Finally, I lifted my head.  Wow.  I was a horrible person.  Now it made sense why Joey got so upset when I had said I had never met him before that day.  I had met him so many times and he had been invisible to me.  “I was so worried about trying to be liked by the popular kids, that I was a totally b***h to the one person who really cared about me.” 

“Yeah, you really were a bitch.”  Aidan said.  Jamie hit his arm.  “What, it’s the truth.  I’m just agreeing with her statement.” Jamie gave him a dirty look.

“It’s ok.  He’s right.”  I mean, who’s going to be more honest with you than your jerk of an older brother. “Why didn’t you ever say anything to me?”

“It wasn’t my place to say anything.  And at the time you wanted Zander to like you.  So, I let it go.”

 I have been a horrible person.  I had wanted Zander to like me back then.  I wanted to be popular.  I understood why Joey was acting the way he was.  I’d hurt him, without even realizing it.  What can I do now?  I needed to make it up to him.  “Now what do I do?”  I asked them both.