My torty is super shy too.

If she is awake at all, she will run away from me like I am going to kill her.

But if she was just given food, she will meow at me until I pet her while she eats.

Also, if she is sleeping on a kitchen table chair, she will let me come up and pet her. She will even give me a friendly meow and lean into the scritches.

Any other time, she acts like I am the terminator sent back in time to get her.