Guide To Date A Nerd

Chapter 5

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Let's just get through high school first, okay? One step at a time."

"But it's fun to dream, right?" Rose nudged me with her elbow. "And who knows? Sometimes dreams do come true."

Well apparently my besties are even more delusional then me.

I smiled, feeling a warm glow at the thought. "Yeah, maybe they do."

"Uh-huh, sure," she said, smirking. "Mark my words, Ella, this is just the beginning."

After school, I found myself at the library, nervously waiting for Jake. I had arrived a bit early, wanting to make sure I found a good spot. A few minutes later, he walked in, looking around until he spotted me.

"Hey," he greeted, sitting down across from me. "Do you mind if we change spots? I'm having trouble concentrating here."

"Yeah, sure," I said, gathering my things.

We moved to a different part of the library, and to my surprise, Jake led us to a table near a group of popular kids. They were laughing and chatting loudly, clearly not studying.

I shot Jake a confused look. "Are you sure this is a good spot?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I know it seems counterintuitive, but trust me. Sometimes the noise helps me focus better. It's like background noise that keeps my mind from wandering too much."

I nodded, still a bit skeptical, but willing to give it a try. We sat down, and I spread out my books and notes. The chatter from the popular kids created a strange kind of ambiance, and as we started going over our study material, I found it surprisingly easy to concentrate.

Jake seemed more relaxed, too. He explained concepts clearly and asked questions that made me think. Despite the noisy surroundings, we fell into a comfortable rhythm.

As we worked, I noticed a few of the popular kids glancing our way particularly one girl, I don't know her name but she is a prominent face in the school, probably wondering why we the Meer normal kids are sitting close to them. I tried to ignore them and focus on the study session. Jake's presence was calming, and his confidence seemed to rub off on me.

"See?" Jake said after we finished a particularly tricky problem. "Not so bad, right?"

I smiled. "Yeah, you were right. It's kind of nice not being in dead silence."

We continued working, and I was amazed at how productive we were. The popular kids around us continued their conversations, but it became nothing more than background noise, just as Jake had said.

We spent the next couple of hours studying. We laughed, joked, and even got some work done. Every time he smiled at me, I felt my heart flutter.

As we were packing up to leave, Jake turned to me. "Hey, Lily, I was thinking... maybe we could grab a bite to eat? There's this great Chinese place nearby."

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, that sounds nice."

We walked to the Chinese joint together, chatting about school, our favorite movies, and everything in between. I felt comfortable around him, more than I had with anyone else in a long time. The evening air was cool, and the streets were starting to light up with the glow of shop signs and street lamps.

When we arrived at the restaurant, the tantalizing aroma of stir-fried dishes and spices greeted us. The place was cozy, with red lanterns hanging from the ceiling and soft instrumental music playing in the background. We found a small table by the window and sat down, looking over the menu.

Jake smiled at me from across the table. "Do you like dumplings? Their pork dumplings are amazing."

I nodded enthusiastically. "I love dumplings. Let's get those."

We ordered a variety of dishes-dumplings, Kung Pao chicken, fried rice, and sautéed vegetables. As we waited for our food, the conversation flowed effortlessly. Jake told me about his passion for astronomy and how he hoped to study it in college. I shared how I haven't decided but for sure want to attend college.

When the food arrived, it was as delicious as Jake had promised. We dug in, savoring the flavors and enjoying each other's company. I couldn't remember the last time I had such a good time.

"So," Jake said between bites of Kung Pao chicken, "I have to ask. What's your favorite book?"

I thought for a moment. "I actually like manga a lot. I mean, books are great too, but manga is the OG for me. Have you read 'I Got a Date with the President'? It's so good! You know, Netflix even adapted it into a drama called 'Business Proposal.' I'm not usually a big fan of movie and drama adaptations of novels or manga, but this one is amazing. You should definitely give it a try. Both the manga and the drama are my comfort go-tos."

Jake's eyes lit up with interest. "I haven't read it or seen the drama, but it sounds intriguing. I'll have to check it out. I love discovering new stories."

"You won't regret it," I said, excited that he was open to my recommendation. "The characters are so well-developed, and the plot is both heartwarming and hilarious. It's one of those stories that you can keep going back to whenever you need a pick-me-up."

Jake smiled. "I can see why you like it so much. I enjoy stories that can do that, too. Maybe we could watch the drama together sometime?"

My heart skipped a beat at the thought. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Our conversation shifted to other favorite manga and anime, and I found myself getting more and more animated. Jake listened intently, genuinely interested in what I had to say, which made me feel even more comfortable around him. It felt like we were connecting on a deeper level, and I found myself opening up to him in ways I hadn't expected.

As we finished our meal, Jake leaned back in his chair, looking content. "This was really nice, Lily. I'm glad we did this."

"Me too," I agreed, smiling. "I had a great time."

He glanced at his watch. "It's getting late. Should we head back?"

I nodded, and we paid the bill before stepping back out into the cool evening air. The walk back to my house was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence, filled with the unspoken bond we were building.

When we reached my doorstep, Jake turned to me with a shy smile. "Thanks for tonight, Lily. I really enjoyed it."

"Me too, Jake," I said softly. "Thanks for the wonderful dinner."

He took a step closer, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me. Instead, he reached out and gently took my hand. "Would you like to do this again sometime?"

I felt a warm flutter in my chest. "I'd love to."

He squeezed my hand gently before letting go. "Good night, Lily."

"Good night, Jake," I replied, watching as he walked back down the path.

As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help but smile. The night had been perfect!!