Tim shook off Peter's hands. "No one asked for your opinion, Peter. And I don't have a thing or a crush on her. Not that it's any of your business if I did" he said defensively. Then he watched as Chloe opened her locker and withdrew some books"
"Relax man. Jeez" Peter said. "I'm just messing with you obviously"
"Well then" Dylan said to Tim. "From the look on your face, you look like you are scared of talking to her then. I totally understand if you like her though, she is kinda cute"
"What?" Tim said, though he knew deep in his heart that they were not entirely wrong. "Scared of what exactly? I'm not scared of talking to her. She's just a girl. There is nothing to be afraid of"
"Well then" Oliver chipped in "She is right there. Why don't you go talk to her"
Tim gave him a look and swung his backpack over his shoulder. "No way. Go talk to her and say what?" he said. Then he added when they grinned at each other. "Not because I'm scared or any stupid shit like that. I just don't have anything to say to her. And I don't have to prove anything to you shit heads"
"Ohhhh" Dylan said when Tim tried to leave. "He is definitely scared. Come on Tim, don't be a wuss"
Tim stopped walking, then he turned and looked from his friends to Chloe and then back to his friends. "Fine. I will do it" he said, not wanting to gain a reputation as a wuss who couldn't talk to a girl. "Douche bags," he added.
"Can I help you hold your backpack?" Peter asked, grinning.
"Shut up, Peter" Tim said, then he walked up to Chloe Gilbert, trying to look tough and brave and hoping that she couldn't hear his heart beating. Because he could swear it was beating very loudly right now.
"Hi" he said when he got to her, he leaned against the locker near hers and waited for her to turn.
She was reading a book, or glancing through, he didn't know which, but she turned seconds later and her eyes met his.
"Hi" Tim said again, marveled at how all words seemed to fly right out of his head.
"Hello," she replied. Then shook her head when Tim didn't say anything else. Her eyes seemed to ask 'Can I help you?'
Tim got the message. He cleared his throat. "Hi... I'm..."
"Tim" she completed for him. "I know"
"You do?" Tim said stupidly. "How... I mean how did you know that?"
She shook her head again. "Duh... Hello. We are in the same class, right? I have heard people call you or talk to you... And I have a brain. I can remember stuff"
"Oh right," Tim said. "Or maybe you have been watching me," he grinned at her.
"Yeah you wish" she said, rolling her eyes.
Tim decided to ignore that "And you are Chloe"
She nodded, then said "Is there something you need help with... Tim?" she asked.
"Oh no not really" Tim said quickly. "I.. Urmmm... Just wanted to say hello. And Urmmm to tell you that since you are new here, you can come to me if you need help with anything. Maybe find the library or something" he smiled nervously. "I.... Urmmm.. see you like books a lot. I mean, you seem to always be reading one.... So if you need anything, you can just ask me. Like if you need a friend... Or something"
Chloe stared at him for a few seconds like she didn't understand what he just said, then she looked away and rolled her eyes a little. "Yeah right" she said.
Tim frowned. What was with this girl? "What does that mean?" he asked, not understanding her reaction. Here he was trying to be a nice guy. He had never offered anyone that kind of help before.
Chloe returned her attention to him. "Look," she said. "Thanks for offering. But there is honestly no way I could be friends with the likes of you" she shifted her gaze to his friends who were watching them and giggling. She shut her locker and tried to move past him but he blocked her path.
"Now wait. Wait. Wait" Tim said. "The likes of me. What the hell is that even supposed to mean?"
Chloe held her book to her chest now, and she faced him and looked him directly in the eye. "I mean... That I know your kind of people. Had lots of them in my old school. Jocks, popular, good looking, rude, think they can get everyone and everything... And from what I have seen during the few days I have been here, you and your team aren't different. So yes, I would rather stay far away from you than have any sort of friendship with you"
"Wow" Tim said grinning, one hand held his backpack which was still hanging from his shoulder. The other rested on one of the lockers. "You sound angry. And for someone who is so mad about other people being mean, you are even worse."