How to Date a Nerd

Chapter 1 - How It All Started

"Yes. Sarah, I'm really sorry. I swear I'll make it up to you once I get home okay?" I said hating myself more by the second. I had to tell her about the kissing scene but my brain just haywired.

"See you then," she replied seemingly distracted.

"And Sarah?"

"Yes?"

"I... Happy birthday," I breathed as something wrenched in my chest. Guilt trip extravaganza.

"I love you," she murmured, her voice almost breaking.

"I love you more," I replied, missing her more and more.

Moira pointed at her wrist watch, shaking her head. How could I tell Sarah? I just broke her heart and I couldn't bear to make it worse. I put the phone down and stared at the small blue box I intended to give her as a present.

"Five minutes," Moira reminded me as she slipped out of the room.

I clenched my fists, took a deep breath and tried to focus on the script. Someone might ask me about it during the interview and Moira would want people to think that I really loved my role, so I read it. My thoughts always strayed. I couldn't help but think about Sarah.

She seemed to take everything so well that sometimes it made me think if she was just faking it. When rumors about me dating Elle broke to the media, Sarah didn't even complain or ask me if it was true. Even when the talk about her-my secret non-showbiz girlfriend-came out, she just said that it was okay, said it was part of my work and she understood.

I just couldn't take it. People made it sound like Sarah's a criminal mastermind. Like all my mistakes were her fault-that she was ruining my life when the truth was that she was the only thing that kept me going.

When her mom, Emma got fired from her job, Sarah told me it wasn't my fault even if we both knew who was behind the lawsuit against her. It was Camilla Downing, my mother. I just knew it was her who paid the person filing a malpractice case against Sarah's mom. It was just something Camilla would do. Just like what she did to Dad, she wanted to make Sarah's life miserable.

It was my fault for trying to reason out to Camilla. I thought she had changed over the years but as it turned out, I was wrong. And I dragged Sarah to London, to Camilla, making everything far worse than I'd imagined.

I couldn't imagine whatever Sarah did wrong to deserve an all-messed-up boyfriend including his all-messed-up family.

"I play Cain," I replied with a smile to a reporter. He had to repeat his question because I was spacing out a bit. I tried to sit still and keep my eyes on the crowd while sporting a smile that said "Yeah, I'm so enjoying this. I'm so lucky."

"What qualities do you think you have in common with Cain?" said a middle-aged reporter from the crowd.

It took me a while before answering. All I knew about Cain was that the dude's a very old vampire with a teenager's body. Other than that, I had no idea. But I wouldn't let people know that.

"Uhm... we're both blood-suckers?" I said smiling and laughter filled the spacious convention room-as expected. Seriously, it wasn't even funny but I kept my lips pulled up. "Kidding aside, I think me and Cain would agree about many things, like how he'd do anything for love."

There was a short pause as pens scribbled angrily on notepads. Touch down.

Another reporter stood up and asked, "People are wondering, have Leon Walden ever fell in love for real?"

As rehearsed, I kept them on the brink of their seats before answering, "Maybe."

"Leon," another raised a hand. "The rumor that you and Louella Cole are dating, is there any truth about that?"

"Louella and I are close friends and she's very dear to me. But we're not dating."

"Rumor has it that you have a non-showbiz girlfriend. Is it true?"

I cleared my throat and saw Moira at the corner of my eye. She nodded like saying "Go with the plan."

Clenching my teeth, I said, "No. It's not true."

I straightened and managed to keep a casual smile on my face, struggling to keep my coolwhile the reporters threw questions at my co-stars. I hated lying about Sarah. It felt like I was cheating on her. But since it was what she wanted, I kept repeating those lines in every interview.

"I've heard there were several kissing scenes in the movie," a lady in her twenties asked. "Are you done with the shoot? How do you two feel about it?"

I froze on my seat. It was Hayden Levine who answered first. She played Annette, the lead-female.

"No, we still haven't done the part but I must say that I'm looking forward to it," she said smiling, pushing a few blond locks from her face. "It's such an honor to have the chance to work with Leon. I mean, he's been in the business for quite a while now and I've been learning so much from him."

"You made it sound like I'm old," I joked leaning on the microphone propped in front of me.

As the audience twittered, I gave Hayden a grateful nod. It seemed like she knew what she was doing. In fact, we never really talked that much in the couple of months we've been working together so I had no idea what she had learned from me. Maybe I was just too preoccupied to notice that she was a lot nicer than I thought she'd be. And hot... err...

"And is he giving you tips about the kissing scenes?"

Hayden laughed nonchalantly and threw a meaningful look at my direction. "Not yet. But I hope he will."

I had the sudden urge to topple the table over but I just smiled and nodded. Hopefully, Sarah wouldn't see this on TV.

The talk veered to my album. I was secretly grateful for the change of topic but it didn't improve my mood. As much as I wanted to lose the grin and bust out of the interview room, I had to restrain myself and act like I was having the time of my life.

When at last, the movie interview ended, I said my thanks and left the stage a little too quickly than most would've expected. On my way down, I saw Moira shook her head, sighing. That won't stop me and she knew it.

Hurriedly, I jogged to the dressing room to get my stuff. I heard Megan's voice when I reached for the door. She seemed to be talking to someone inside the room.

"What? I'm Leon's girlfriend so don't ever call him again or I'll come find you! And when I do, you'd wish you were never born!"

Cursing, I slammed the door open. Megan let out a startled cry when she saw me coming. I snatched the phone from her, unable to control my anger. The last call log was from Sarah.

"GET OUT!" I growled through my teeth while I could still contain myself from doing something really violent. "Out!!!"

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Hi! It's me again *taps mic...ehem... cricket sounds*

So I hope you're still there. Anyone? Anyone at all? Uh... yeah well I hope you liked this chapter and tell me how you feel about it. Vote, fan and leave a message if you can :) and Oh, I hope you recognize that scene on the first part and if you did, thanks for reading Life as told by Nerdy's Bonus chapter.

So many are asking about the prologue: what happened to Sarah? well that would be answered in the next few chapters so please please watch out okay?

No left turn,

~shim :)