Chapter Two: Getting Nervous
"Come on Lorr. Let's go say hi to the guys," Jessica said cheerfully.
Lori hesitated for a few moments then said, "I have to go get jeans. I'll meet you back here in five."
"Come on Lori. Don't be chicken. They're just guys," Jessica told her friend. Lori looked at her and Jessica said, "OK. Guys to me, GODS to you."
"Exactly," Lori agreed.
"Don't you want to meet Matt though?" Jessica asked.
"Sure I do, but I also don't want to look like a loser in front of him," Lori replied.
"You won't look like a loser in front of them. How many times do I have to tell you that?" She stopped for a minute then said, "You really have to have confidence in yourself."
"I don't know. It's hard for me. I have low self-esteem."
"Why?"
"It's hard to explain."
"Oh. I see." Lori looked away from her friend for a minute then saw the five guys of her favorite boy band walking around the mall.
"Come on. Let's go say hi," Jessica said when she saw what Lori was staring at.
"You can, but I'm not," Lori said.
"Stop being so stubborn. They're not going to be mean to you. They're nice guys," Jessica assured her.
"I know they're nice guys. It's just---I really don't want them to think that I'm a loser or a moron."
"They WON'T think you're a moron."
"How do you know?"
"Because I do."
"OK then. Yeah. Right."
"Don't you want to see your dream guy? I mean, meet your dream guy."
"Like I said before, I do, but I don't want him to think of me as a freak."
"Lorr, come on. Have some faith in yourself. You're a cool girl."
"Well, thanks, I think."
"It's true. You need to give yourself more credit."
"I know. Sometimes it's just hard because I care so much about what other people think."
"You shouldn't though."
**(*WITH THE GUYS*)**
"How's it going with Brittany anyway Matt?" Greg asked out of curiosity.
"Great. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me," Matt replied sounding happy and ecstatic.
"Do you think it'll last?" Chris inquired.
"If things keep going the way they're going, maybe," Matt told him.
"I wish I had a girlfriend," Greg said.
"We all do," Frankie corrected him.
"Maybe Brittany has some friends that you guys could get hooked up with. There's Lacey, Trina, Marli and Ariel," Matt said.
"I've met them and they are so snobby," Chris said. "They are so rude. Trina actually asked me if I could buy her a diamond bracelet. I almost laughed in her face."
"She was probably kidding," Matt said shrugging it off.
"She wasn't. She was totally serious. When I didn't buy the bracelet she wanted she ignored me for, I don't know how many days, but it was a long time," Chris said. "It was actually a relief to know that she was off my back. She was getting annoying."
"All girls can be annoying," Jesse stated. His friends laughed and Greg said, "He does have a point."
"Some are just better than others," Jesse added.
**(*WITH THE TWO GIRLS*)**
"They seem to be in a deep conversation. We shouldn't bother them," Lori told her friend.
"Why not?"
"Because it's not right. Well, in my opinion anyway."
"It's not right. It's not wrong. We just want to talk to them."
"Correction---you want to talk to them. I'd just rather stay home and listen to my Dream Street CD."
"It'll be fun meeting the guys. Plus you'll be so happy afterwards."
"I know I will be. It's just---the thought of them thinking I'm a loser---it freaks me out. I don't want them to think of me that way."
"Well, you'll never know unless you go find out."
"Come on. It'll be fine," Jessica said. Lori looked at her and finally agreed.
The two girls walked over to the guys, Jessica in the lead. Lori was following close behind. Her stomach filled up with butterflies because she was so nervous. She looked over at Jessica, who was acting so calm and collected. How can Jessica be so calm and relaxed about meeting them? They're so hot and everything. I can't even act calm, let alone relaxed. God, I'm so nervous, Lori thought to herself.
Chapter 3