Three

Chapter Three

Shelly and Kiara took their time before getting into her car. She had composed herself before leaving and gave the most radiant smile. She wasn't about to break down in front of strangers.

Getting to her car, she saw Cindy leaning on it. Her eyes were red and puffy, her face had lost its radiant smile. 

"I didn't mean to snap at you, it's not your fault," she said quietly. 

Cindy stared at her surprised—she hadn't expected an apology from her, but it was Shelly, after all, she'd never apologized directly. 

"It's fine." Cindy smiled. 

"Alright, let's go," Kiara said, already seated on the driver's seat. 

Shelly sat down in the passenger's seat, handing her keys to Kiara. She wasn't in the right frame of mind to drive. 

Once the car pulled out of the driveway, Shelly slipped into her thoughts. She wondered why Chase broke up with her—she had been nothing, but kind and supportive towards him, he had to leave her just like that.

She made sure he never lacked anything so he wouldn't leave her, but no... he left her just like her mother. They all left her and soon her friends would leave her. 

She couldn't afford to be weak in front of them and she wasn't the type to suffer in silence. She had to make others feel her pain and that was exactly what she had done to Cindy. 

Turning around, she stared at Cindy and saw fear. The kind of fear no one ever wanted to deal with. The kind of fear that made her who she was today. She shuddered at that thought not ready to go down memory lane. 

"We're home," Kiara announced, pulling into the driveway. 

They all stepped out and entered the penthouse. Shelly plopped down on one of the black sofas in the sitting room and stretched her body lazily. Her friends took their seats as well. 

"What are we going to do? It's your birthday and we shouldn't be sulking around." Cindy stated, trying not to be the bookie they made fun of.

"I suggest a rebound!" Kiara squealed. 

"No freaking way." Cindy shook her head. 

"Yeah, Shelly with lots of tequila shots and hot sexy guys," Kiara said bouncing on the sofa. 

"No, I just want a quiet night," Shelly said. 

Kiara stood up and dramatically placed her hand on her chest before going to check Shelly's temperature.

"What have you done to my friend, oh you demon!"

Cindy looked at her wide-eyed, while Shelly laughed.

"Stop being dramatic, Kiara."

"No. I'm with her. Quiet and Shelly can never be in the same sentence. C'mon a little fun wouldn't hurt." Cindy laughed. 

"Finally, we're on the same page." Kiara gave Cindy a toothful grin.

"Guys let's just go to my room, make popcorn lots of it, and ice cream then a movie," Shelly suggested. 

"Without alcohol?" Kiara pouted. 

"Maybe a little," Shelly whispered. 

"No alcohol guys." Cindy drew her brows in a scowl. 

"You can stay sober, girl." They laughed. They prepared the popcorn and took a bucket of ice cream to Shelly's room. 

Finally, they settled down on her bouncy bed and pulled down the curtains. They turned off the lights, piled the popcorn in a bowl, ice cream in hand, and tequila shots on the table.

Now came the problem. What to watch? 

"I'm not watching any sappy romance movie," Shelly grumbled. 

"I think we should watch fifty shades of grey," Kiara smirked. 

"No way, I'm not watching that." Shelly and Cindy said in unison. Kiara laughed. 

"So there's a new romance movie that just came out and I've been dying to see it." Kiara pouted. 

"Fine, I hope it's lame." Shelly grinned, folding her legs.

"It's titled nerdy glasses." Kiara giggled. 

"Ooh, nerds are lame." Shelly laughed glancing at Cindy. "Not you though."

Cindy huffed as Kiara connected her flash drive to Shelly's curved screen TV. 

Shelly focused with rapt attention and fascination as the heroine started the movie. She had freckles, glasses, and bangs! She reminded her so much of Cindy and she stifled her laugh.

The movie was about a nerd girl who couldn't get enough balls to tell her crush, a cute handsome guy how she felt about him.

"In my opinion, she doesn't deserve that guy," Shelly muttered quietly. 

"Why would you say that?!" Cindy cried. 

"I'm not talking about you Cindy but that girl seriously reminds me of you." Shelly shrugged and continued. "Remember when we were in eighth grade and Cindy couldn't even talk to her crush. Turned out he was crushing on me."

"That doesn't mean anything," Cindy said quietly. 

Shelly laughed. "Same goes for this girl here. I mean the guy is too good for her."

"Shelly, let's enjoy the movie please." Kiara shut them up. 

Shelly continued watching the lame movie and the ending part was no better. 

"I can't believe she never told him her feelings!" Cindy cried. 

"Like you never did." Shelly chirped in. 

"Shelly," Kiara warned. 

"Someone's gotta tell her the bloody truth." Shelly continued. "If she doesn't speak up she'd end up a virgin and an old maid."

"Shelly, that's harsh!" Kiara exclaimed while Cindy sniffled beside her. 

"Honey, I'm not picking on you." She addressed Cindy. "I'm trying to help you."

"I don't need your help, Shelly!" Cindy cried. "It's bad enough that I was being bullied right from middle school till I graduated, but to have you being on my case constantly is annoying."

"Cindy that's enough." Kiara hushed her. 

"No, it's not." Cindy was furious. "I'm sick of this bitch always thinking like she's better than everyone else when she's nothing."

"You are the one acting like a bitch. I'm just trying to help your stupid nerd self." Shelly snapped. 

"You are the foolish one, you can take your help and shove it up to your bitchy ass." Cindy ravaged. 

"Well look, the bird has learned how to fly," Shelly smirked. 

"Shelly, there's no need to fight." Kiara pleaded. 

"I'm not, I'm just helping a friend who doesn't appreciate it." Shelly fired, chewing her popcorn and inspecting her fingers.

"Now I can see why Chase dumped your sorry ass." Cindy snapped but regretted it immediately. 

"Shut your virgin mouth, Cindy!" Shelly glared at her.

Shelly was beyond upset. She was raging mad. The last thing she needed was for someone to rub Chase's breakup in her face and that was exactly what Cindy did. 

Cindy watched Shelly's expression. She was staring at her like how a lion stared at its prey before devouring it. Then in an icy, unearthly voice, Shelly said, "I'd rather die a thousand times than live the life of a weird nerd."

Kiara felt like the tension in the air was enough to slice through metal so hurriedly clearing her throat she smiled. "I think a bar sounds like a nice idea."

"I'm in," Shelly said still staring at Cindy. 

"I'm in too." Cindy snapped. She was going to show her that she could also have fun.

They walked out silently and stopped in front of the new car. Stepping inside and denying Kiara from driving, she stepped on the gas and pulled away from the driveway. 

Driving like a maniac, she speed through the road dying to taste a glass of bourbon and drown all her sorrows she barely heard the warning shouts of her friends before she saw the trailer heading straight towards the car. 

Trying to avoid the collision, she drove off the road and slammed her car into a tree before it started crashing into a ditch. 

The last thing she remembered before darkness enveloped her was a single whisper, "nerdy glasses."