Shelly

Despite the fact that I was scared, the entire two weeks went by okay. My mind was still going and my heart was racing. But, I was able to focus on school and on Tanner. Everything was going well.

And then Joseph texted. I hadn't expected him to do that. He was a great friend, even though we had our ups and downs after my big secret, and I didn't want anything more with him anymore. His text made my heart flop and I grimaced at it.

Joseph

Hey, can we talk?

Me

yeah

about what?

Joseph

I've been thinking

and I know it's different since everything that's happening now

but I was wondering

if maybe you wanted to go out?

Me

I don't go out anywhere

plus, didn't you and the group already have plans?

Joseph

that's not what I meant

I meant

Shelly, would you go out on a date with me?

I paused. What was I supposed to say? I knew the automatic answer was 'no' because I was with Tanner. My stomach twisted with excitement as the thought of being his girlfriend had flown threw my mind. All I knew was that I had to let him down.

Me

Jo, I can't

Joseph

we don't have to go outside

we could do it in our houses but separate

I've seen some people do that

I figure you'd be more comfortable with that

Me

no Jo

I literally can't

I already have a boyfriend

Joseph

oh

this is awkward

I feel cocky texting it but I thought that you would like me more

Me

I'm sorry

I guess you could say you jumped on the late train

And we haven't talked much since we were put on lockdown

it just would feel weird to suddenly go out, you know?

Joseph

Yeah

I guess so

I left him alone after that. How had he developed feelings within that short span? School had barely begun, we barely talked, and yet he somehow had feelings for me. I chalked it up to that he was just playing with me.

Joking. He was good at that. He always teased me about my feelings. Thinking nothing more of it, I decided to call Tanner. Tanner would get a kick out of it.

"Hey."

"Hey back," he laughed.

"How has your day been?"

"Lonely, I miss you. I wish we didn't have to go through with this. That we could just hold each other again," he confessed.

"Who are you talking to? Is that your girlfriend?"

I pulled the phone away from my ear. Who the hell was that? My face was straight as I just stared at the device in my hand, wishing I could crush it. Was he talking to someone? Was he leaving me behind?

No, Tanner wouldn't. But it didn't help that I was already insecure. Nobody had ever liked me. I never had a boyfriend. These things didn't come naturally to me. I trusted him, more than anything, but I don't think that I would get over the fact that he was still going to have to talk to other girls.

Did he have the same thought? Was that even a good thing to think of? Was I unintentionally being toxic in a fresh relationship? 

"Shelly?" I heard him say.

I took a deep breath, feeling the jealousy rise and fall, before putting the phone next to my ear. How long had he been talking to her? I shook my head. It didn't matter. Tanner was with me, he liked me, he was my stalker.

"Yeah?" I croaked.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, um, I have something to tell you."

"You aren't pregnant are you?"

What was I going to do with Tanner? I shook my head and rolled my eyes at his question but smiled nonetheless.

"Tanner?"

"Yes?" he replied in the same tone as me.

"Tell me how, how in the world, am I supposed to get pregnant if we haven't done anything?"

Although I said it, I blushed. It wasn't something we talked about, not even joked about, but it was still a major thing.

"I don't know. Food baby?" Tanner sounded confused.

"Oh, then I'm pregnant all the time with food babies," I laughed with a wheeze.

"What did you want to tell me?"

"Uh, so you remember my friend, Joseph, right?"

"I'm leaving, I'll talk to you later Tan."

The girl was most likely harmless, maybe even liked girls. I kept telling myself she did so that I wouldn't get angry at Tanner without a logical reason.

Even though we were both loyal, I knew that it was just a jealous girlfriend thing. I had always heard about it but didn't know that it was a real thing.

"Yeah, I remember him," he grumbled.

"He asked me out."

"And you said?"

"I said no Tanner. Why would I tell him yes if I'm already in a relationship? I just figured that I should tell you before, shoot I don't know, I end up slipping on it. Like it comes up and you get mad and we push each other away,"

"I wouldn't ever get mad at you. Why would I get mad at you?"

"Because everyone does. I felt bad that he had suddenly gained the guts to ask me out. Like, I don't know how he has feelings for me, I'm awkward and weird."

"But I have feelings for you. They aren't platonic either."

"But that's because you are my stalker. And Edward. And soulmate. And boyfriend. You are supposed to have feelings for me."

"True."

"So, who was the girl?" I hoped I didn't sound irritated. Or jealous. Or angry. I wanted to be calm about things like this.

"Her name is Tina. She's in my English class, and she asked me out the other day. Well, not really but she did in a non-suspicious way? I had told her about you and she backed off."

"Oh."

So I was right. She did like him. But he shooed her away as I had with Joseph. Knowing that we were both capable of warding unwanted people away, I felt my jealousy disappear.

"Hey."

"Huh?"

"I'm your stalker. Don't forget it."

"I won't."

And just like that, Tanner made everything okay again.

******

A/N:

There's always at least one jealousy chapter in my romance stories. I mean...it's romance. What's a romance story without a little jealousy?