How to Date a Nerd

Chapter 1 - How It All Started

The door swung open. I heard the clicks of stiletto heels against the floor and knew right away that it was Moira.

"So? What do you think about the script?" she asked with an encouraging tone, brushing a lock of ginger hair that escaped from her tight bun.

"Fantastic! I already signed a contract. What else could I do?" I sighed sulkily.

My new personal assistant Megan entered the dressing room with an armful of clothes, fan letters and hangers. Moira hired her for me but not without a lot ofprotest from me. I could manage on my own. Plus, it was just plain annoying to have someone constantly fiddling over my stuff.

Moira managed a wry smile. "Leon, you've got to try new things. This publicity would be good for your album launching."

"Sure. I guess everyone loves to have athree hundred year-old vampire sing them to sleep," I muttered under my breath, picking up the script. Moira seemed to have guessed why I'd been sullen all morning.

"I'm sure she would understand. After all, it's just work," she replied eyeing at Megan.

We didn't speak of Sarah whenever someone else was around. For more than a year, we managed to hide her existence from everyone. It was Sarah's idea but I agreed anyway. I didn't want to have people poking around her or her life or her parents. I couldn't stand to have people taking pictures of her. Just thinking about it made me want to throw something at someone. Really bad.

Restraining myself, I pretended to read the script. "Just drop those anywhere," I said to Megan. She was Moira's niece, a year or two older than me; a little too tall, with bushy auburn hair and a lot of makeup. Moira said she ditched college to try her luck in Hollywood but didn't get the break she was waiting for so she settled on being an assistant. She was a bit irritating, really. Sometimes, I'd unintentionally find her sniffing my clothes or stroking my guitar which was just downright creepy.

When Megan was gone, I faced Moira. "I'd have to talk to Sarah about it first. I don't want her to... worry."

"Wait. I thought you already did that?" she said fixing a pair of horned-rimmed glasses on her face.

"I was about to. If you didn't just make me cancel my flight this morning," I said dryly.

With a rueful look, Moira got my mobile phone from the table and dialled. "Here, tell her. Now. She deserves at least that." She handed me the phone.

I swallowed hard. I'd been intentionally delaying this moment for a few weeks now. My mind turned blank when she picked up.

"Hello, Sarah. It's me," I said a little too soon after the ringtone.

"Leon," her voice sounded vague. "I was worried about you. I thought something bad happened."

I stared at the wall, trying to remember her face, her stormy-gray eyes, her lips. Was she smiling?

After a while, I answered, "My flight got cancelled. I'm so sorry, Sarah. I knew I promised to be there and you don't how much I wanted to be there... But something really important came up."

The silent pause made it even more unbearable. She must be really mad now.

"Are you okay?" Sarah finally said, her voice softer than a whisper.

I couldn't answer right away. After I let her down on her birthday just because of some stupid interview, she was even more concerned if I was okay. That was just so Sarah. I must've done something right to deserve her. But it didn't make me feel any better knowing that I was hurting her all the time. Of course, she wouldn't fuss about it. Of course, she wouldn't say a thing, but I could feel all that sadness she tried to hide from me. Or grudges.