Chapter 13

Meredith and I were back at school, back to reality.

We sat down at the lunch table like we usually do in the morning to talk with friends.

"Have you texted Alli lately?" I whispered to Meredith. I didn't want anyone to hear what we were talking about.

"Yeah. Angie, Tom, and her are back at their home in LA already," Meredith whispered back.

Someone interrupted our conversation, "Hey, you're Shannon, right?"

I nodded. I looked at the girl. I've never seen her before.

"I heard about you and Cody," She said.

Wait, she knows? Then, does that mean other people in school know, too?

I looked at Meredith. Her eyes widened and she shrugged.

"Yeah, and?" I asked.

"You're so lucky. So, you're like dating Cody now, right?" She asked.

She was confused I think. Cody and I definitely aren't dating. Cody has a ton of friends that are girls. Why would he want me? I don't even compare to them.

"Aha," I awkwardly laughed. "We aren't dating, just friends."

"Oh, you friend zoned him I see," She said. She still was so confused. "You're like famous now, you know that, right?"

Like I thought before, I would never consider myself famous. I was anything, but famous.

"I'm not famous," I say. "I'm friends with some that is famous, but I'm not famous."

"I'm not gonna argue with you," She gave up. "So, uh, can I have your autograph?"

My autograph? She wants my autograph? What?

I went with it. "Yeah, sure, okay."

She handed me the picture of Cody and I. I signed it.

"Thank you!" she smiled. "Could you like get Cody to sign something and give it to me?"

I see where this is going now...

"Yeah, sure I'll see what I can do," I lied.

The girl left.

"I'm so confused right now," I told Meredith.

"Same. Let's go to our locker," She said. We both got up and walked toward our locker on the other side of the school.

"Hey, Shannon! Meredith!" someone yelled.

Meredith and I ignored them.

We had a few more people shout at us as we walked to the locker.

"This is crazy!" I told Meredith as she was putting in the combination for the locker.

"I know. I wasn't expected that many people to know. Well, I guess it's also partially because we were the 'Not Just You Girl's," Meredith said. She opened the locker and got out a book.

"Yeah, I guess," I said. I grabbed one of my books and put it in my backpack.

~•~•~•~

I hated getting attention. People talked to me all day about Cody. People that didn't even like me. Lunch was the worst, though. Everyone wanted Meredith and I to sit by them. I got so over whelmed that I actually went into the bathroom and stayed there until lunch was over.

~•~•~•~

When my mom picked me up from school, I'm pretty sure someone followed us home.

We reached our home and the car following us parked on the street outside our house.

The person remained in the car.

I was about to go inside my house with my mom when I changed my mind.

I walked over to the person in the car. They rolled down their window.

"Hello!" I said with fake cheer.

"Hi," The woman seemed confused.

"I saw you follow us home, and I know it's probably something to do with Cody and I," I said facing the facts.

"Okay, fine. Yes, that's why I'm here," She gave in. "Can I ask you some questions and take some pictures?"

"Um, okay, but first who are you?" I ask.

"Oh, right," She reached out her hand. "I'm Sarah with 'Twist' magazine." With her other hand she pulled out a certificate. I read some of it. It stated that she was, in fact, an actual interviewer. I definitely trusted her more now.

I shook her hand.

'Twist' magazine wants to interview me? Does that mean I'll be put in one of their issues? My mind raced.

Sarah got out of the car.

"Oh! Let's go into my house and do the interview thing," I said.

We went into my house and immediately my mom worried.

"Shannon, who is this?" she panicked.

"It's Sarah, she's with 'Twist' magazine. They want to interview me," I told my mom. "Don't freak out. It's fine."

"Why are they interviewing you?" She calmed down a bit, but some panic was still there.

"It's about Cody and I," I told her.

She looked confused, then she sighed. "Well, okay." She walked away.

"Good, glad we cleared that up," I said. I walked into a seating room to my right.

Sarah followed me. We both sat down in chairs across from each other.

"Can I ask some questions now?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, of course. Go for it," I said.

She got out a voice recorder.

"Where did you and Cody meet?" She asked.

Uh-oh. I could tell by the first question these questions weren't going to be easy to answer.

I thought about it, then spoke, "We met when I had VIP passes at a concert."

I was lying, but it made more sense to people this way. All it seemed like I did anymore was lie. It was the easiest way right now.

"The concert Friday night?" She asked.

"Yes," I responded.

"You were chosen to go on stage, correct?" She asked.

"Yes, my friend and I," I told her. That part was true.

"And who's your friend?" She asked.

"Meredith. I'd prefer not to use her last name, just for privacy reasons," I told her.

"That's alright. Could you explain this picture to me?" She pulled out the picture of Cody and I sleeping.

I knew this question was coming. Obviously, that's the whole reason she was here, to clear up rumors about this picture.

I spoke, "Cody was tired after his

concert, and so was I. We both fell asleep talking backstage. Nothing more, nothing less."

"So, you and Cody aren't dating?" She asked.

This is another question I knew was going to pop up.

"No, just friends," I said.

"And your friend, Meredith?" she asked.

"Yes, Meredith is just friends with Cody, too," I said.

"Thank you for your time and clarification of all this," She stuck out her hand.

I shook it and said, "You're quite welcome."

She stopped the tape recorder and got up.

"Can I get some photos now?" She got out her camera.

I nodded.

~•~•~•~

After Sarah left, I called Cody. I went up to my room.

"Cody?" I asked through the phone.

"Hey, Shannon!" He happily said through the phone.

"I have to tell you something," I said.

"Yeah, sure, anything, babe," He responded.

"I did an interview with 'Twist' magazine. The image of us got around to them," I told him.

"Okay, and?" Cody sounded a little worried now.

"It got way out of hand with all the rumors about the image, so I decided this interview would be a go choice," I informed him. "I told them that we met at the concert on Friday and that we are just friends. I figured that'd be the easiest way out."

He waited a moment.

"Yeah, that works. That's pretty smart of you. You'd do good being famous," Cody said. I think he was happy about what I had told the interviewer.

There's that word again, 'famous'. I didn't like it being associated with me, but I'd have to get used to it.

"Aha, thanks," I said.

"You're welcome, but I should be thanking you. You keep lying for me, why?" He asked me.

I haven't thought of that. Why was I lying for him? I cared about him a lot, I guess.

"I don't want your career to get ruined. I like you. I would never hurt you," I simply said.

"You're so sweet. Glad to know I can trust you," He said.

"Of course you can trust me, anytime," I confirmed.

"Well, good job with your first interview," he congratulated me.

"Aha, thanks," I said back. "As odd as it sounds, I signed my first autograph today, too."

"Yeeww, you're famous now!" Cody laughed.

"Yeah, I guess!" I laughed back.

"Well, I gotta go do some things in the studio," Cody said.

"Okay, bye," I said.

"Bye!" Cody replied.

~•~•~•~•~•~

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey, guys, a lot of stuff has happened in this story ahaha! If you like it vote, comment, share it, whatever :)