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*Georgie POV
Phew...
This is the first time I truly understand how a star feels — shining bright even though it's just been born. Still too small to light up any real planets, but already burning, already gasping for breath.
I release one album and suddenly half the school's acting like I'm the second coming of Johnny Cash.
Relax, y'all. I still gotta do algebra homework like the rest of you!.
It's ridiculous.
I've only had one big stage performance, and the rest? Just some honky tonk gigs around Houston. But they're treating me like I'm Michael freakin' Jackson.
And sure, I might sound annoyed, but deep down... I get it. I've lived a life before this, remember? I know what it's like to have a friend who's famous — a real artist, a rising star.
You want to be close to them.
You want to feel that warmth, that glow.
You want to believe some of that light might reflect on you.
So yeah, I don't hate it. Not really. I get it. And I'm pretty sure Sheldon will come around eventually.
As long as he doesn't, y'know, explode.
Luckily, he's still got Mom and Meemaw to keep him grounded.
And Missy? I bet she'll just wave at the fans like it's no big deal, like she's been famous her whole life.
But I need to set some ground rules for everyone.
We're classmates.
I'm still going to show up at school like I always have, and I'm going to keep being just another kid walking these halls.
Yeah, I knew this would happen.
At first it was just whispers and a few people pointing at me. But now? It's full-on crazy fans.
I really do get it, though.
Principal Peterson eventually broke up the crowd that had gathered around me and led me out of there.
Dad helped too, clearing a path alongside him.
Now I was sitting in the principal's office with Dad and Mrs. McElroy, who had also been called in.
"So, what are you planning to do, Georgie?" Principal Peterson asked, looking at me and Mrs. McElroy. "Honestly? I can't keep breaking up crowds of students like that every day."
I shook my head. "Of course not. I'm not really bothered by it anyway. It's just the first day of school since my album dropped," I said casually. "Give it a few days, and they'll realize I'm just another student. Just one of their friends. Just another human being."
Principal Peterson nodded with a small smile. "That's… very mature of you," he said, and I appreciated the compliment.
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. "Of course. Raising two kids at home makes you mature—"
Thwack.
A light smack landed on my head.
"I'm the one who raised y'all!" Dad said with mock anger, then snorted, making Mrs. McElroy laugh out loud.
"Well, Georgie," Mrs. McElroy said, pulling out a cassette copy of my album, "how about you sign my album before we head back to class?"
"Five bucks."
*Smack!
I quickly grabbed her album and signed it using the marker sitting on Principal Peterson's desk.
"How about me?" Principal Peterson asked, pulling out his own copy and sliding it toward me.
"Ten bucks."
"…."
Principal Peterson looked at me, then at my dad, his mouth twitching, mostly because Dad didn't stop me.
He just grinned at Principal Peterson.
—----------
The school day went by with everyone still staring at me — the center of attention — even though Mrs. McElroy had already warned the students not to bother me.
"Ugh. Why is everybody so stupid?" Sheldon muttered while biting into his sandwich in the library.
Our usual spot.
The library had been locked earlier by Miss Hutchins, with Principal Peterson's approval, because she was just as overwhelmed by the crowd of students trying to get in.
Now, only a few regulars were inside — no new faces, even if some of the familiar ones kept glancing over at me from time to time.
"Why?" Tam asked Sheldon, clearly puzzled.
"No one is as genius as you, Sheldon, but we learn new things every day," he added calmly.
As they chatted, I turned to look at Veronica sitting beside me, eating her lunch like nothing was out of the ordinary.
"You having a rough day, sugar?" I asked.
"Not really," she said, a grin spreading across her face. "But every single girl in school wants to be my friend now."
She leaned over and kissed me softly on the cheek.
"…Just every single girl, huh?" I smirked. "Not the guys?"
"Nah," she said with a casual wave of her hand. "They're all scared of you."
I could only shrug at her words. "Wow... Did you see that?" Sheldon suddenly asked.
"See what?" Tam turned to look toward the girl picking up a book nearby.
Veronica and I followed his gaze to a girl about our age reaching for a book on geostatistics.
Ah, Libby. Sheldon's first crush… and his first heartbreak.
I was immediately interested in her—not because I wanted her, but because she was the one who would capture Sheldon's heart and crush it. Brutally.
No, I wouldn't get in the way. Sheldon needed this. I didn't want him waiting around for Amy and only getting laid in his thirties.
"That girl just picked up a book on geostatistics. That's not something we're supposed to study for any science course," Sheldon said, looking at me oddly. "Why are you smiling like that?"
Ahem. Smooth, Georgie. Real smooth.
"No reason. Nothing important. Why do you ask?" I said, forcing a cheerful smile.
Veronica beside me, and Tam across from me, were both giving me confused looks.
"Is that really important?" I added quickly. "She just picked up a book on geostatistics."
Tam and Veronica looked even more puzzled but didn't say anything. They just watched Sheldon and me silently.
Sheldon nodded, turning his attention back to Libby. "She didn't even glance at you, Brother," he muttered. "Who is this mysterious woman?"
I nodded as I observed Libby—clearly absorbed in her book, barely noticing her surroundings.
"Go invite her to have lunch with us," I said casually.
Sheldon looked at me, puzzled. "Why? So far it's just us, and it's been working fine. Do we really want to mess with success?"
Tam looked at me with what I'd call a hopeful gaze… or maybe more like a helpless, horny gaze of a young man.
"…I want to see your rizz, Shelly," I said, grinning.
"Rizz?" This time, it wasn't just Sheldon. Veronica and Tam also looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.
"You know—woo the girl, charm her or something like that."
"Why do you call it 'Rizz'?" Sheldon asked, genuinely confused.
"It's slang from 'Charisma,'" I explained. "It means the ability to attract women, make them interested in you."
They all gave me weird looks.
"Hey, I'm going into showbiz. I gotta blend in with modern slang, right?"
Sheldon sighed. "…But why me? Why not Tam invite her?"
"Good point. Let's take this as an experiment," I said, turning to Tam. "So Tam, got any rizz?"
Tam looked panicked. "I—I don't know. Why not just Sheldon? He's cuter than us!"
"Rizz isn't just about looks, Tam. It's a skill. What? your entire game depends on dropping my name?" I teased, smirking.
"…I've got rizz!" Tam suddenly stood up. "Watch me get her to have lunch with me." He strutted off like he had a plan, and he literally said 'Lunch With Me'. Not with Us.
"You're a cruel person, Georgie," Veronica sighed beside me.
I ignored her and looked at Sheldon. "Watch, Shelly. Rizz isn't just about appearance, it's a craft."
Sheldon looked toward Tam, then back at me. I leaned in.
"Pay attention to her. What she's doing, what she's reading, what grabs her attention. Thats your bullet to have her to do what you want."
"I know about charisma," Sheldon said flatly. "The word comes from the Greek kharis, meaning grace or favor. Max Weber, he was a German sociologist, defined it as a personal quality that makes someone seem exceptional, even supernatural. In other words, people are irrational and easily manipulated."
He gave his usual encyclopedia answer, and I smirked.
"You were drawn to her, Shelly. You literally called her 'mysterious woman'."
Veronica nodded. "When you said that... yeah, it showed. You're into her."
She seemed to get where I was going with this.
"…You really know how to push my buttons," Sheldon muttered, watching Tam again.
We all watched as Tam nervously approached the girl, trying to act cool and hot, before said a few words... and then returned to us looking like a wounded dog.
He sat back down, trying to act casual. "…She's not interested in having lunch with us."
"Got any clue why, Sheldon?" I asked. "What does she like?"
Sheldon glanced between Tam and me. "Well, she's reading a book on geostatistics, which isn't standard material for most science classes in highschool level. Or people said Rock Study."
"That's something. Anything else?"
Sheldon shook his head. "She already said no. That usually means no."
"Hey!" Tam snapped. "Why are you coaching him after I already talked to her?!"
"You said you had rizz," I shot back. "You're a hormonal teenager just like me. I bet you've got adult magazines stashed under your bed."
"...I do not," Tam muttered quietly—but we all knew he was lying.
I ignored him and turned back to Sheldon. "So? Can you turn her around? Make her want to join us?"
"…Fine. I'll take that as a challenge. An experiment," Sheldon said, standing up.
But I stopped him with a grin. "Ah ah you can't talking to her and explain this situation— I want to see your skill. Your body language, your charm. This is real-world stuff. How are you gonna get people to fund your research one day if you can't even make them like you?"
Sheldon tilted his head. "From you…Wait... am I not getting funding from you?" he said before I gave him a devilish grin. "I changed my mind! You need to impress me. Prove you've got what it takes."
He stared at me in horror. "That's not fair! You promised!"
I leaned back and pointed at the girl. "Show me what you've got."
Grumbling, Sheldon walked over with visible frustration.
"Wow. That's cold," Veronica whispered in my ear. "…I like it."
I smiled and kissed her gently. "He needs this. It's one of the ways we survive in this world. He can't only rely on us."
Veronica nodded as we both watched Sheldon approach the girl and start talking.
"…So, Georgie," Tam asked, still stunned, "do you have any skills you can teach me? We are friends right?"
"Just watch and learn." I said without looking away.
Tam snorted and glanced toward the scene. A few moments later, Libby packed up her book and lunch and began walking toward us—with Sheldon.
"Hehh… Gen Cooper really is charmer, huh?" Veronica teased and pinched my side.
"…Why are you pinching me? It was Sheldon who brought her!" I said, confused and she just give me snorted and pouted away.
I looked at Tam, who had his mouth hanging open like he'd just seen a miracle. Then he turned to me with a pleading expression.
"You have to teach me, Georgie! Please!"
Veronica was still glaring at me, but I tried my best to ignore her.
"Everyone," Sheldon announced as he returned, "this is Libby. She'll be joining us for lunch."
"Hey there, Libby," I said with a smirk. "So I assume my little brother impressed you, huh? I'm Georgie Cooper, and this is my girl, Veronica."
Libby nodded. "Yeah. He's smart—like everyone says." She glanced at Tam with a flat expression. "Unlike him."
"…" Tam froze, looking devastated like life had just kicked him in the gut.
"Don't worry, he's still in training," I added, tossing more salt into his wound. "Let me guess—Tam gave you the creeps when he asked, didn't he?"
"…Why'd you say yes when Sheldon asked?" Tam whined, ignoring my words, "What did he say to you?!"
"I just asked her if she wanted to have lunch and talk about geostatistics," Sheldon answered simply. Then he turned to Libby. "So, Libby, what do you think of rock formations?"
Veronica and I exchanged a look. We both knew what really won him over.
{My brother once said if someone want my heart, go through science. Or, more precisely, knowledge. I used to believe that. I liked science. I liked Star Trek. But at some point, I realized… I didn't want to talk about that for the rest of my life. And truthfully, no one else does either. }-Adult Sheldon Cooper