How to date a Nerd

Chapter 2

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School really isn't so bad. Class is my favorite part. I like learning new crap, especially if I connect it to Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. But I fail most of my tests on purpose. Not enough to fail the class, but to eke by without being called an egghead or a moron.

I make it to first period right as the bell rings. Ms. Weber isn't even here yet. I take my seat in the back, where I'm usually surrounded by my self-righteous friends, but they're all late today.

"Hey, Camila." Ariana waves at me. I give a demeaning little wave back. Ariana is not in my social circle. My brief acknowledgment causes her face to flush. I fight the urge to care about it. That Camila can't exist at school. "Turn your phones off now unless you want me to chuck them against the wall," Ms. Weber says as she finally walks in. She's wearing a tight mauve dress, and her blonde hair is done up in an elegant braid. Her red lipstick and perfectly formed cheekbones make her face look flawless. Needless to say, she's the hot teacher all the boys drool over.

My phone is tucked safely between my boobs, and Lauren's not in this class so I don't pull it out to turn it off. She probably wouldn't look anyway. Ms. Weber dives into her lesson about Ancient Egypt, and I find myself leaning forward, enthralled with the information, but trying to keep my face nonchalant. Halfway through the lecture, Lauren walks in like she's just run a freaking marathon.

"Ms.Jauregui" Ms. Weber says, folding her arms over her waist. "I believe you are in my fifth-period class. You're a tad early." Giggles float through the air, but Lauren takes no notice of them.

"S-Sorry to interrupt, but they need Camila in the main office." Ms. Weber turns her back on her and continues to write on the whiteboard. Lauren waves me over. I take Ms. Weber's lack of response as an okay and grab my purse.

Someone wolf whistles, and I throw the bird out behind my back and laugh, trying to play it light so they don't think I'm enjoying company with Lord of the Nerds, even though being inches from her makes me drool like a darn puppy dog. A loud "Oooh" echoes around the room. People are so stupid, but I'm glad Lauren doesn't grab my arm to pull me into the hallway. More whistles would have ensued, and I can only do so much here.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who looks past her nerdy shirts and personality. Or thinks that adds to her cuteness level while everyone else writes him off. But Lauren and I...we used to be stitched together in middle school. The two geeks who spoke Elvish and played Pokémon in the band pit. Gah! It took forever to rid myself of that reputation. Sure, it was fun and stuff, but I was never invited to the cool parties or asked out, like...ever.

Totally changed now, thank you very much. But I still have major anxiety attacks when I think about the stuff people said behind my back. To my face, too, I guess. Lauren kind of held me together back then. Every time I'd have an "episode," she'd pull me into the janitor's closet—not for "seven minutes in heaven," that's so not what happened—and rub my shoulders till my breathing calmed, and make me recite the different shortcuts in various video games. Totally took my mind off all the nasty stuff people called me, and got rid of the tears, too. Lauren was awesome like that. Always seemed to be there when I needed her.

I still don't get what's wrong with her, though. I mean, didn't it hurt her, too? All the stuff people said about how dorky and loserish we were? Because it hurt me. It hurt a lot. She doesn't seem to care. I wish I could not care, but it's not possible. People want to be me now. Well, fake me. This is much better than crying over what people say about my Yoda backpack. Then I think about Austin and wonder if it really is better, but shove the thought from my brain before I revert to Geek Camila.

"What is it? Is Sofi okay?" Lauren shakes her head. "I got there just as the ambulance arrived." My heart drops into my butt. "What?"

"She totaled your car, Camila. I'll take you to the hospital. Don't worry, she didn't look too bad when I saw her." "I've gotta call my mom," I say, yanking out my phone. I don't care that this time she isn't looking at me. "Come on," she says, pulling my arm. "You can call her on the way."

I nod and wiggle out of her hold. I never knew Lauren was capable of driving over the speed limit, but we could hydroplane with how fast she zooms through the neighborhood. "Are you sure she's all right?" I ask as I cling to the seat for dear life.

"Yeah," she says, but she's short with me. Guess I shouldn't talk to her right now. We get to the hospital and Lauren drops me off right at the ER doors. As I'm clicking the seat belt, she clears her throat awkwardly. "Uh...I hope everything's okay." "You're not staying?" The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. I need her to stay. I should tell her thanks for the ride and let her go, but I can't. I need her in case, Sofia— "Only if you want me to."

She's giving me another chance to tell her to leave. I search myself for that fake persona, but I'm too panicked over my sister to act on it.

"Just go park the car. I'll need a ride home." That should be an okay response. I fly out of the truck before I can make more of a fool of myself. The ER smells like death. I know that's a horrid thought when walking into a hospital, but I can't help it. A woman pukes in a bucket in the corner, a little boy holds his arm, which is bent at an awkward angle, and there's a man who is so drunk he can't hold his head up straight. Dude, it's nine in the morning!

The man behind the desk is organizing charts. When I get to him, I can already tell his Monday morning is way busier than he wants it to be. "Put your name on the list. We'll be with you in a minute."

"I'm here to see my sister. She came in with the ambulance."

"What's her name?" "Sofia." His eyes finally flick to look me up and down. He raises his eyebrows at my wet outfit, and his face flushes. "Um, she's in room one-thirteen. I'll take you to her."

I'm used to guys falling over me, but I'm not in the mood to appreciate it. The receptionist or nurse or whoever he is leads me through the back doors and down the smelly hallway. When we get to room one-thirteen, my heart is pumping in my throat.

Sofia has a few tubes sticking in her arms. Her head is bandaged and she's got stitches on her left cheek. She's silently crying as she stares at the picture hanging on the wall. Thank heavens for the sister translator. "I can't not say something. You won't be able to hide this."

"Please," she begs. I shake my head and sit down next to her. I grab her hand, the one without the IV in it, and rub it. "Are you okay? What did the doctors tell you?"

"I'm fine. They have to scan my head or something 'cause I hit it so hard." I suck in a steady breath through my nose. "You know, Mom and Dad probably already know about all of this."

She shoots me a dirty look. "You called them?"

"Yes, but they didn't answer. Sofia, you're in the hospital. They need, you know, insurance information, parental consent, that kind of stuff to treat you. And if you're getting an MRI, I'm almost positive Mom is on her way right now."

Her face gets twisted, and she yanks her arm from underneath my fingertips. "You suck, Camila! I thought you had my back, and you go and call Mom."

"I do have your back. That's why I'm here." I say "You don't! You called Mom when I told you not to!"

"What do you want me to do? They're going to find out about this. How stupid are you, Sofia?" Tears stream from the corners of her eyes. She folds her arms and turns her face away. "Leave me alone."

I shake my head and storm out of the room. I don't have to deal with this right now. Little brat didn't even appreciate I didn't yell at her for wrecking my car. If she doesn't want me here, fine, but she can't be alone. I swing the doors open to the ER lobby and find Lauren standing awkwardly by the exit.

"Let's go," I say as I pass her. She doesn't question it; she doesn't say anything at all. I whip my phone out and dial my mom's number again. She still doesn't answer, but I leave her a message.

"Hey, Mom. Sofia's in the ER. She's in room one-thirteen and she seems okay, but I need to go back to school. Call me when you get this."

I ask Lauren to wait in the hospital parking lot till my mom calls. We don't have to wait long, but the few minutes of Lauren talking about the things he hopes Stan Lee talks about on Friday—while I hold back all my geek knowledge—calms me down. Even after our falling out, my nerdy, sexy next-door neighbor makes things better.

I wish I deserved it though.