Disclaimer: Anything you recognise is not mine.

Title: Compliments

Summary: Whenever you meet someone for the first time, they always say “You’re a beautiful girl.” They say it as if it’s an everyday thing, so they reduce the meaning behind those words. They don’t mean it. They don’t even care.

A/N: This is intended as a sweet fic but there is no romance. With reviews, please be brutally honest. I'd like all the constructive criticism I can get! It's been a long while since I posted anything.

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-Compliments-

“You truly are beautiful, Bridy” Jake said, rather seriously.
Whenever you meet someone for the first time, they always say “You’re a beautiful girl.” Of course, these people are usually adults and probably don’t even really look at you. They say it as if it’s an everyday thing, so they reduce the meaning behind those words. They don’t mean it. They don’t even care.

Or when you go out with friends and you buy a new top and ask them what you look like, they’ll automatically reply “You look pretty.”
Or when you go to a dance they’ll squeal, quite fakely actually, ‘Ohmigawd! You look so gorgeousss!” Or they’ll replace gorgeous with, pretty or ‘hawt’. But they may or may not be telling the truth. After all, it is a compliment, and compliments are not necessarily true.
If you look up the word in the dictionary- an expression of praise, admiration, or congratulation. It says nothing about it being the truth.

So I may be overreacting. Sue me. For all I know, Jake is just complimenting me, it’s not actually true. I think myself quite attractive actually. But I know this compliment is another overused, meaningless thing. After all, what else is he supposed to say after I say “Gah! This dress doesn’t match my complexion!”Yeah, I sound like a ditz. Meh.

“Right…..” I reply sarcastically.
“Are you being sarcastic?” He asks. As if he can’t tell.
“No. I’m being quite serious. Are you going to eat that?” I point to his untouched blueberry muffin.
“No. But I won’t give it to you. I’m going to give it to Tracey.”
“But I love blueberry muffins! You know I love blueberry muffins.” I sulk.

He smiles that irritatingly evil smile of his. “Exactly.”

That conniving evil foul loathsome…..wait. I mentally groan. I’ve been reading too much Harry Potter.

“Git.”
“Tell me something I don’t know, Bridy.”
“Tracey’ll get sick if you feed her the muffin!”
“Naw. Besides, I’m sure she gets sick of eating dog food all the time. It must be boring not eating from a variety.”
“At least she doesn’t get fat.”
I say this to myself but he must hear because he says again. “Bridy……you really are a beautiful person, though. You’re not fat. This should not be news to you.”
“No it’s nothing I haven’t been told. In fact, it’s getting rather tiring because I hear it from every single person. But why should I care. It’s just a compliment, afterall. Gee, people, if you’re going to say something you’re not serious about, then don’t put any effort in saying it. It isn’t like I’m going to judge you if you don’t compliment me!” I huff. He raises an eyebrow. “What?”
“You think I’m just giving you a meaningless compliment?”
“All compliments are meaningless.”
“No they’re not.”
“Compliments are used to make people think highly of you. Make you seem kind.”
“I guess. But you are beautiful.”
“That’s one example.”
“I’m serious.”
“Course you are.”
“I am.” he presses.
“Yes, that’s what I said.”
“Okay then, correct me if I’m wrong, but last week what did I say to Tye when he asked me if I liked his new haircut? Was it positive?”
“No. You, said that it made him look like the male version of little Bo Peep, and I couldn’t agree more. He took it very well though.”
“Exactly. And why do you think?”
“Because you always insult him?”
“No, because I am always upfront.”
“Yeah but that’s to guys! You’re never upfront with me.”
“Right. What did I say to that top you got last Spring?”
“Yeah it was…oh.”
“Yeah.”
“You said it made me look like a tramp and ….that it made my breasts look empowering.” I blush, slightly.
“I did, didn’t I?” He smiles that evil smile of his. Oof I just want to slap that smile off his face!
I don’t say anything. What else can I say? He is being serious.
“Bridy?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re spacing out…..” he says in a singsong voice.
“Oh. Right.”
I start fidgeting awkwardly. I don’t know why I feel uncomfortable. Maybe because it is the first time I have been complimented for real and know it is real- and by my neighbor at that. My male neighbor. Hurrah.
Jake exhales loudly before sliding along the log until he is flat against my side. “Bridy?”
“Yeah?”
I say uncomfortably. I still don’t know what to say, I mean if it is a compliment, you thank a person, but it is a real compliment. Do you thank someone for pointing out something you can’t help?
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
I’m not really listening, still concentrated on my newfound question. A good question at that. Only when he grabs and tilts my chin to face him do I snap out of it.
“You don’t believe me, do you?” he repeats.

Jake must notice my discomfort at the compromising position we are in because next he chuckles and let’s go of my chin. He then pulls me into a warm embrace.
“Why? Don’t you think you’re pretty?”
“No, I do. I mean, I’m not self-centred, but I feel comfy with my appearance. I just don’t take people seriously when they compliment me. They’re never telling the truth.”
“I am.”
I sigh, “I know….”
He kisses the tip of my nose and then pulls away, a boyish grin on his face. Actually, he slobbers over my nose and then pulls away.
“Ergh!” I hastily wipe at my nose with my sleeve.
He ignores my actions, “Get used to these compliments because there’s going to be plenty more.”
I manage to suppress my smile and feign annoyance. “Oh why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
“Baby, I’m going to do whatever it takes to boost up that self-esteem of yours. Though, I can’t be much help with the make-up and clothing. And I am not going shopping with you. “
I cheekily grin, remembering the last time I took him shopping. Needless to say, it wasn’t very appealing for him.
“My self-esteem is fine! I just don’t take compliments for the truth!”.
He smiles that irritatingly evil smile again. Ass.

Maybe Jake was going to change my stance, and maybe he has, but I still think compliments are not completely the truth and are mostly words out of ‘politeness’ - just not with Jake.