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Naomi loves helping out at the bookstore. She can just stay there for hours in the quiet surrounded by millions of expertly written words.
Naomi is putting a recently returned book back on the shelf when something catches her eye. There she sees the most fried, bleach blonde hair she's ever seen. The hair that belongs to none other than Travis Meacham.
Now, Travis isn't the type you'd expect to see at a bookstore. Not to be mean but he isn't the brightest lightbulb around. Not to mention he runs around with a bunch of assholes who would surely be making fun of him for sitting in here reading...
A self-help book?
No. She surely must be wrong. She blinks and looks again. Yup. Self-help book.
"Travis Meacham?" She finally says, figuring it would be pretty weird to continue staring at him.
"Huh? What?" He startles, quickly hiding the book as soon as she makes herself known.
"What are you reading..?" She asks hesitantly.
"Nothing!" Travis says, but it's so insanely obvious that he's hiding a book behind his back. Even if it wasn't, his face is a dead giveaway. Think of the most stereotypical face of a liar. That is the face Travis is wearing right now.
"Uh huh. I gotta say, you're not a very convincing liar," Naomi says, a smug smirk crossing her face.
"Who even are you?" Travis suddenly blurts, eyes squinting in confusion.
"Naomi," She holds out a hand for him to shake, "And I'm just curious."
"About what?" Travis tilts his head in confusion.
"Why is Travis Meacham, known troublemaker, doing in a bookstore reading self-help books?" Naomi points at the book he's hiding.
"I-I don't-" Travis starts, but Naomi cuts him off.
"Don't try to lie. You're horrible at it. I'll know," Naomi looks at him pointedly before letting him continue.
"Because the school counselor thought it would help," Travis relents after a long moment of silence. Naomi has to admit, it catches her off gaurd.
"What?" Naomi questions, making sure she's hearing him right. Travis sighs
"I got sent to the office because my friends sent me on some stupid dare and the counselor said to read self-help books because I don't say no to people when I should and it gets me in trouble."
"And you listened?" Naomi asks.
"Well I wasn't going to say no," Travis huffs a small laugh.
"Right. I guess you weren't," Naomi smiles a little, "Well, are you at least enjoying yourself?"
"A little," Travis replies, much to Naomi's surprise.
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's actually kind of relaxing!"
"Huh."
Naomi suddenly has a thought.
"Do you like your friends, Travis?"
Travis pauses and stares for a second.
"Sometimes?" He finally responds.
"Sometimes?" Naomi questions
"Yeah, I mean they're nice to me but they make me do stuff that gets me in trouble and they're kind of assholes sometimes."
"I noticed," Naomi sighs, "Look, you seem like you're smarter than your 'friends' and you're definitely way less than an asshole."
"Thanks."
"Can you steal a book for me?" Naomi asks.
"What? Uhhhhh," Travis looks around, unsure of what to say.
"Travis..."
"Yes?"
"Travis!"
"Oh! Uh, no, no I can't," Travis blurts, finally getting it.
"Test number one failed," Naomi says smugly.
"Yeah, great," Travis says with a sigh.
"Well, I wish you luck on your endeavors!"
"Uh huh."
Naomi turns to leave before turning back.
"If I were you, Travis? I would drop that group of hooligans you call 'friends' before they get you in real trouble," She says seriously. She grabs a book off the shelf next to her, "And if you're looking for self-help? This is the book you're looking for. That book has nothing that's going to help you."
"Oh... thanks," Travis says.
"No problem! That's what friends are for, right?" Naomi smiles.
"Yeah, friends," Travis smiles back.
Naomi didn't expect to become friends with Travis Meacham of all people. The guy is pitiful. That's just part of his charm though.
Naomi thinks that being friends with Travis is one of the best, weirdest decisions she's ever made.