Geek to On Fleek

Chapter Three: The Game (And I Don't Mean Basketball)

I stuffed my change back into my purse, and, surprise, I tripped. It was bound to happen, I was just too optimistic and thought I would be the smooth girl that night. I didn't even know what I tripped on, for all I knew it was my own two feet!

I didn't hit the ground, though, because Alex was there to steady me. How did he even get there so quick?

"A-Are you ok?" he asked softly. That's what I noticed first: how soft and soothing his voice was. I didn't expect that. The second thing was how warm his hands felt on my arms, despite it being chilly out there. Warm, and strong, despite his seemingly small body size. He surprised me in a variety of aspects.

"Um, yeah, sorry," I choked out while smoothing down my shirt and sleeves and gripping the soda. I was glad it didn't fall or explode, although with the shaking it went through I was sure it would explode on Emily when she opened it.

His grip on me loosened completely, but I felt my face grow red, again. He probably thought my skin tone was beet red. My heart pounded and I didn't understand why I was so worked up. It couldn't have been just the fall.

"No problem." He smiled at me. A small smile, a shy one. I was just glad to know I wasn't the only one. The only shy one.

I took a quick look around, and people were watching, whispering. I looked back at Alex, and finally got a good look at him. He had such warm, sweet eyes and I wished they weren't so concealed behind his glasses. Now he doesn't wear his glasses, but his eyes aren't warm anymore.

"I'm Alex," he extended his hand to me. Yeah, I know, I almost wanted to say.

"Lola." I shook his hand.

"Yeah, I know," he admitted guiltily, mimicking my thoughts. I remember he blushed just a bit as my eyes widened in shock.

"What?" How did he know me? I mean, I knew his name because everyone talked about him, his name's on his freaking computer–

"Everyone knows who you are." He shrugged guiltily. I remembered all the crap Emily was going on about. It embarrassed me to think he heard things about me.

"You're popular," he added, as if it was as common a fact as 'everyone needs to eat.' I began to shake my head in protest when I saw Emily rushing to my side.

"Geez, Lola, it's just a soda, what took you so long," she scowled when she saw I was talking to Alex.

"Come on, the game's back on, and Adrian's finally here." Emily linked her arm with mine and grabbed the soda from my hand. I turned back to Alex, who, of course, frowned in disgust at the mention of Adrian Windsor. My heart sank, and I wished Emily would just disappear. I wished I had time to explain to Alex that I didn't ask for people to know who I was and I didn't ask for Emily to drag me away to hang out with Adrian, his apparent tormentor. I wondered if he knew that I saw their interaction yesterday. Maybe he did, because he saw me, no, caught me looking at him.

"Alex, thanks," I stammered as Emily pulled me away, her grip stronger than I thought.

He just kind of waved, but I could tell he was upset. His head bent down a bit and he shoved his hands in his pockets. I would have gone after him if I didn't feel frozen.

Once back inside the gym I stopped.

"Emily, that was pretty rude, you didn't let me say goodbye."

She sighed, like I missed some point, and released me now that I could be trusted to follow her.

"Lola, I didn't want to be too mean with him there, but you really shouldn't be talking to him," she said in a hushed tone. I scoffed.

"Well you were mean anyways, and why not?" Her face contorted in different expressions as she thought of how to tell me. Again, she had a way of making me feel ignorant, even when I knew I was completely right.