How to Date a Nerd

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

“Nice watch,” she noted casually.

I automatically reached for my wrist watch. Suddenly, the gym lights flickered on and off then died altogether. I heard Sarah let out a stifled cry. The only visible thing was the face of my wrist watch with the tiny constellations glowing in the dark.

“It’s okay Sarah. Come here,” I called out to her.

“I’m okay,” she snapped all too defensively. “I’m here!”

“Then come closer!” I barked back in panic. Just when I thought I’d just been too hard on her, I heard her shuffling and stumbling to my side. Still aloof but logical. I could work with that. “Oh, man! I’m so going to kill Chuck and Reed for this.”

“I… w-would like to see that,” she stammered, her breaths ragged as her elbow accidentally touched against mine. Even in the dark, Sarah felt so near I couldn’t help but smile. I caught myself placing an arm on her shoulder. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all. I’d volunteer on trespassing school gyms regularly as long as we could get stuck together like this more.

Something metallic crashed outside. Sarah let out an “eeep!” and clutched tightly on my arm. The crash was followed by a steady banging sound and the rushing of sneakers across the corridor. Metal chains being removed clinked furiously against the door behind me. I heard freaked out voices from the other side and recognized those straight away as Reed’s and Chuck’s.

“W-what’s that?” Sarah asked, still trying to kill my arm by strangling it. But who was complaining? Ha!

“No idea. Stand back,” I said feeling like a knight in shining armor (only without the armor… or the broadsword). Lame. Okay. Let’s just hope she’d remember all of this.

The double doors opened. Glaring light blinded us for a couple of seconds. Right as my eyes adjusted, I saw Chuck and Reed’s pale faces. Like they’d just seen a ghost.

“Dude…” Chuck panted. “Like, RUN!!!” he yelled like mad.

Without being told (screamed at) twice, I snatched Sarah’s hand and tailed the other two. Like psycho mice, we sprinted along the corridor. I had to slow down a little to match Sarah’s pace. My fractured arm felt like it was going to fall off during the run.

“What the—“ I shouted cursing when we passed by the janitor’s closet—the one where we stowed Lynch in. The mound of cleaning stuff was spilled on the floor. It was empty. Lynch escaped. And we were toast.

“Less talky! More runny!” Chuck snapped skirting around the clutter.

From the far side of the hallway behind us, I heard a Lynch howl like a rabid wolf high on energy drink. It was still a long way to the back door. We might not make it. Good thing I had a plan B.

“Guys! Here,” I called out to them, veering to the left.

In no time, we reached the Bio Lab and I kicked the door. Luckily, it flung open. Sweet! All that workout paid off after all. We darted inside, heading to the large sliding window. Reed pushed it open and blindly hurled himself out, shooting straight into the dumpster.

“Geronimo!” Chuck followed grinning and landed butt first on top of his big brother.

“Come on, Sarah. You first.” I heard Lynch’s screams while viciously sputtering out profane words I’d never even heard of. “Hurry!” I pressed on.

She seemed reluctant. But taking a glance over her shoulder, she nodded, panic-stricken before taking my hand. Together, we hopped out of the window, barely avoiding a dumpster dive. Once on the ground, I dropped on my knees. The pain was already unbearable like my arm was being hacked off. I staggered up panting.