You!

Once a nerd, always a nerd!

"Well, that was awkward," Lucy said, dragging out a long sigh that seemed to echo down the hallway. I could practically feel the tension in the air retreating back into my lungs as we rounded the corner to head to class.

Jake couldn't even muster a greeting. Instead, he stood there with a smug expression, as if he had just won some invisible battle.

"Jerk," I muttered under my breath, but it came out a little louder than I intended.

"Back to the surf competition," Lucy rolled her eyes, but I was dead serious. If anything, I would want to get over my fear of water and get back at Jake for almost letting me drown.

"Leah, do you know how long that girl's practice even to master a straight-up on a surfing board?" I knew she was right. Surfing wasn't exactly something you could just pick up overnight. But I was determined. I needed this. I was tired of being the weird nerd girl.

We went into class and sat down, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead as Mr. Drew scrawled his name on the board. As he turned to face us, he adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.

"And now, class, I have a special announcement to make," Mr. Drew said. My heart sank as I saw him gesture to me, signalling for me to stand up.

I felt a wave of dread wash over me as all eyes turned towards me. It was like being a deer caught in the headlights, frozen in place as Mr. Drew began to speak.

"I would like to introduce our newest student," he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment, wishing I could just disappear into thin air.

I stood up, trying to muster up some semblance of confidence, I felt like I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself in it. This was not how I had envisioned my first day at a new school.

I glanced around the room at my new classmates, I couldn't help but notice a few smirks and giggles. Everyone talking in soft voices.

"That's Luke's stepsister, but she doesn't look like a nerd to me, she's hot,"

What?

Did that boy just call me hot? I mean, seriously, me? The girl who used to spend her weekends binge-watching sci-fi shows and reading books about quantum physics? I felt my cheeks blushing up as I heard them talking. No one ever said that I was hot.

I looked down at myself, not used to this new look. I went from a nerd physically to a hot girl in literally a day. It was like some sort of weird, nerdy Cinderella story, except instead of a glass slipper, I had a makeover montage straight out of a rom-com.

But in my mind, I was still a nerd. I still couldn't quite shake the feeling that at any moment, someone would realize that I was more comfortable discussing black holes than flirting with boys. And honestly, I wasn't sure which one was scarier.

"You can sit Leah," Mr Drew said, his tone dripping with annoyance. I suddenly realized that he had already started his lecture and I was still standing there like a lost puppy.

I plopped down in my chair, the feeling of embarrassment washing over me.

The class went by quickly, or maybe it's because I was so caught up in my own little mind thinking about Luke and his bad-boy figure that I didn't pay any attention to Mr. Drew.

The bell rang and I gathered my things to leave, relieved that the period was over. As I hastily squeezed past a few teenagers with hormones dripping off them, I couldn't help but feel like a tomato blushing from the things coming out of their mouths. I mean, seriously, do they have filters at all?

I finally made it out of the hallway and into the fresh air, I let out a sigh of relief. Ah, the sweet sound of freedom. Well, at least until the next period when I would have to endure the chaos all over again.

"Leah!" Lucy called out to me, waving frantically for me to come over to her. I couldn't help but let out a deep sigh before making my way over to her.

"Luke was just asking in the hallway for you," she said, her voice filled with disbelief. I could see the hope in her eyes, the hope that maybe Luke was finally starting to notice her.

I tried to play it cool, pretending not to be surprised by the news. "Did he?" I replied casually, hiding the butterflies in my stomach. My plan was simple: get back at Luke for all the times he had made my life miserable.

"Maybe he wants to apologize to you, well seeing that you're no longer a nerd," she said with a smirk. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Does she not see herself in the mirror? Her whole appearance is screaming from the rooftop nerd, and yet she keeps reminding me that I'm the one with the label.

"There he is." My heart started to race and my hands began to shake. I couldn't help but feel nervous, even though I couldn't quite pinpoint why. Maybe it was the uncomfortable feeling of wearing a dress and makeup, or maybe it was the fact that a boy had just called me hot.

With a puzzled expression on my face, I mustered up the courage to ask, "Were you looking for me?"

"My father asked me if you can drive with me home." Well, that certainly explained the unexpected request, but it still left me feeling a bit apprehensive.

Before I could protest, he cut me off and said, "So, go on. Grab your bag." His tone was annoyed as if my hesitation was inconveniencing him in some way.

Feeling a bit flustered, I stammered, "But I still have classes to attend to." My voice was a little high-pitched, betraying my nervousness.

Unfazed by my feeble attempt to resist, he retorted, "I don't care. I don't. If you don't want to walk home, get your shit and come." With that, he turned his back and started walking away, leaving me standing there dumbfounded.

Lucy's words pushed me into action. "Go, go. I will cover for you,"

I hesitantly grabbed my bag and followed after him.

We approached his car and he opened the passenger door for me with a flourish, a move that made me stumble a bit in surprise.

"Are you going to get into the car, or just stand there?" Luke asked, holding the door open for me with a smirk on his face.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond to his teasing tone. "Yes, well. Okay!" I finally said, choosing to ignore the question that was on the tip of my tongue.

As I climbed into the car, Luke slammed the door shut, causing me to jump in surprise. "Jerk!" I muttered under my breath, realizing that this boy was unlike anyone I had ever met before. He was rude, but there was something about him that made my heart race and my palms sweat.

I shook my head, trying to push aside my growing feelings for Luke. I had a plan, a plan to make him suffer for his arrogance.

"Can you stop at the store please, I want ice cream," I blurted out, hoping to distract myself from the way he made me feel.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I cringed inwardly. Ice cream? Really, Leah? I scolded myself, feeling like a complete dork. Other girls would have asked for something glamorous like lip gloss or sunglasses, but here I was, asking for ice cream like a child.

Luke's smile widened, and I could tell that my attempt to appear cool and collected had failed miserably. He could see right through my facade, straight to the nerdy girl beneath.