The Nerd and The Geek

Chapter 1

~Pepper~

September 4th was the most perfect day Athens lane had seen all summer and Pepper was using it to in the only way she thought was appropriate: sitting in her room with all the lights off, while she binge watched her favorite show for hours. It was when her mother called her downstairs for dinner when she realized what day it was. It was Sunday, and the next day- the first day of school.

Pepper ran her fingers through her messy hair. The Hendrix family had shown up. It was tradition for them to come over for pizza and a movie the night before school started. If Pepper had remembered their tradition she would have probably worn something besides sweat pants and a "last resort" tee shirt. But alas, she had to endure Mrs. Hendrix's disapproving glares, and Jacks teasing.

"Jack darling" Mrs. Hendrix said sweetly "Why don't you get the movie, I think Pepper will like it" Pepper rolled her eyes. She really doubted she would like it.

"Sure mom" Jack said jumping up and leaving faster than Pepper thought was appropriate. Saying Jack Hendrix wasn't attractive would be a bold faced lie. He had blonde hair, freckles and dimples. He was like a fifteen year old Ryan Gosling. He'd gotten popular our freshman year while I got demoted to the person everyone picked on.

When Jack got back he shoved it in Peppers face, it looked like one of those cheesy star wars knock offs. It wouldn't be completely horrible.

"Are you going to be on the football team again this year?" Pepper asked Jack, after her mom told her to talk to him.

"Don't be stupid Pep' of course I am" Pepper rolled her eyes in disgust; he always thought the best of himself and the worst of others.

"Call me Pep' again and I'll bIjatlh 'e' yImev" Pepper spewed the Klingon phrase for "Shut up" without thinking. Jacks eyes got big and he stepped away. Pepper smiled and walked up the stairs to her room to change clothes. She grabbed an over sized sweat shirt and a pair of universe leggings and threw it on. When Pepper got down stairs "Space Balls" was already playing.

About half way through the movie Peppers mom got bored and got up to make tea.

"I want some mom" Pepper yelled once she realized what her mom was doing.

"Me too Mrs. Korell" Jack added.

Pepper didn't get annoyed easily but everything Jack did seemed to get on her nerves. Her mom came in with two mugs. The mug I made with the picture of the Enterprise and the T.A.R.D.I.S. going into battle against the Daleks, and one of my mom's mugs -simple, dull and not at all fandom related. I took my mom's mug.

"Thanks Mrs. Korell" he said looking at me with one eyebrow raised. He knew she had only allowed him to use that cup to irritate him. She took a sip of my tea, and went to put it on the table. Her arm was so shaky Pepper lost her grip and dropped the cup. It shattered on the hardwood floor.

"I'm sorry- I don't know what happened- I lost my grip" she stuttered meaninglessly. Her mother cleaned it up without saying anything. Peppers clumsiness resulted in her parents having a hushed conversation in the corner of the room, out of earshot.

The movie was over soon after that, and after that the Hendrix's made their exit. Once the social pressure of other people being in her house depleted, Pepper decided to ask her parents about the "tea cup incident."

"Mom I'm really sorry about the mug" she said

"Don't worry about it, it's just a cup." Her mom let out a sigh "you should go upstairs" the suggestion was more than that it was a command.

It was 1:00 am before Pepper finally went to sleep. She had stayed up to write the next chapter in her novel. Her parents wanted her to finish so she could get it published, but she didn't want to have it end. It was only 100 pages into the story, and Pepper had so many new ideas. She had just left her main character- Rose Wilmore- hanging off a cliff staring into her evil mothers eyes. Rose's boyfriend Mark was going to come and rescue her. Unfortunately the book wasn't over, so her mother would disappear in a cloud of smoke dramatically.