How to Date a Nerd

Chapter 13 - The Knight in Shining Armor... minus the Shining Armor

Forcing a big warm smile, I stepped to her and offered a hand. “Leonard,” I replied, my heart instantly sinking at her reluctance to shake it. Breathing out, I pocketed my hand and headed to the free-throw line of the basketball court, looking up at the basket. “So… anything coming back yet?” With a bit of hope, I glanced back at her.

She shook her head. “No. Sorry.”

“Still no idea who I am?” I asked again, hoping she’d realize my true identity and what I really meant to her.

Sarah sat weakly on the bleachers then shook her head sheepishly. “Would you rather tell me?”

I weighed everything up for a second and smiled shaking my head. “I’d rather you find out. Won’t that be fun?” Picturing a ball in my hand, I shot it into the basket and headed to join her. “But to give you a clue, I’m the most persistent guy in the universe. You can’t shake me off your hair even if you try. So what d’you think?”

“What’s in it for me?” Her face seemed to light up as she finally looked up to me and met my eyes.

One corner of my lips pulled up on its own. “Anything you want.”

“A-anything?”

With a promising nod, I offered her my hand again. “Deal?” For a second, I was afraid she’d ignore it for the second time. Then again, she inched a quivering hand to shake mine, a fragile smile playing on her lips.

“Prepare to be broke before the year ends,” she grinned widely. “I’ve got a new definition for anything. And you’re not going to like it.”

Like I wasn’t already broke. “Let’s see about that,” I taunted smirking. Touch down! It was my big chance to get her back.

Subtly, she cleared her throat, a faint hue of pink making its way to her cheeks as she tried to pull her hand from mine. A bit ill at ease, I let her hand go. I won’t mind holding it for the rest of my life but for now, that brief moment of contact with Planet Sarah was enough to keep me going.

“And now, we find a way out.” I jogged to the door and tried to push it open. It won’t budge. “Guys? Come on! Open up!” I yelled at them. “Chuck! Reed! So not funny, guys! Open the goddamned door!”

No answer. Letting out a few muffled curses, I kicked the door with no success in opening it. Groaning, I slumped to the floor, messing up my already dishevelled hair in frustration.

“So we’re stuck here, I guess,” Sarah muttered with a sigh, flopping down on the gym floor a few yards away from me. “How did you end up with those jocks anyway?”

Willingly, I told her about Becky and Matt’s past relationship—how we made friends with Chuck, Reed, Drake and Larson. As if it was the most unbelievable thing, Sarah’s eyes grew larger in disbelief.

“Shut. Up! Becky and Matt… I wouldn’t have thought of it in my wildest dreams. And I… was friends with Matt Adams?” she blurted out doubtfully.

“Yeah… Guess so,” I replied, falling quiet and wishing I could take back what I just said.

Honestly, I wished I hadn’t told her of any Matt stuff. That just made me want to fly-kick him on the face. Dunno why. The guy’s been nothing but nice and supportive. Not! I should’ve told her Matt was a drug addict and a pedophile; that he usually ate puppies and kittens for breakfast. Life could’ve been a lot easier for me without him trying to get into the scene and steal Sarah from me.

Cut!

Ah, that was the crazy me talking. Must. Fight. Evil… Genes!

I didn’t want to lie to her. Despite how much it’d hurt, she had all the right to know.