Nerds Are Lovable

7: Nerds Are Rebels

It seems like whenever I'm with Jayden, hours pass in the span of minutes. Before I know it, and before I fully understand all this math, Ms. Librarian public library edition comes up to us, kicking us out. Taking a look at my phone I realize it was already 9pm, closing time.

"Have you ever tried to stay here over night?"

"No, that's illegal."

"Right, nerd boy."

"Have you ever?" He doesn't finish his question, but I get the gist of what he's trying to ask.

"At a library? No, but I did sneak into the zoo once."

"You broke into the zoo?"

"You, sir, have never lived."

"I'm eighteen."

I roll my eyes at his obviousness, "My point stands."

Jayden is packing up all his stuff, neatly placing everything where it belongs in his backpack. I, on the other hand, stuff everything as it falls in and call it good.

"What's," He looks up to me, slinging his backpack on, "The worst thing you've done?"

"I'll tell you if you tell me yours," I try to make a deal.

Surprising to myself, I'm actually kind if intrigued as to what Jayden Monroe considers to be the worst thing he's ever done. Maybe stay up past his bedtime. Or worse, not eaten his vegetables. I smile internally at my own jokes. But I quickly get rid of those thoughts, remembering that I shouldn't assume things about him if he's not allowed to assume things about me.

"Deal."

We start our walk out the library and back to Jayden's car as we continue talking. I follow him, still a little lost as to where we are within the library. It's only my first time here after all, I'm not a blueprint machine.

Once we're both seated in the car, buckled up of course, I speak up, deciding I should go ahead and go first.

"I spray painted a building and got the cops called on me, so I ended up having to run away from the cops."

I can tell that Jayden is surprised by both my openness and my story. I bet it's not every day he's told the illegal tales of teen rebellion. His eyes are wide, albeit still in the road.

"Wow, okay," Is all he says.

"Come on," I encourage him, "I show you mine, you show me yours."

Even in the dark of 9pm, the lampposts illuminate Jayden's face enough that I can see the blush the creeps up from his neck. I always did have a way with words.

"Um, mine's just," I can tell he doesn't want to share, "Not as extravagant."

"Don't back out on me now, Jam."

"I, well, I snuck out once," He nervously begins, "To go to a party that I ended up leaving twenty minutes later."

I give him a small smile even though he's not even looking at me, "Sneaking out?" I say with a slight surprise, "I didn't know you had it in you."

"I never did it again," He tells me honestly, "I felt guilty."

"Would you ever consider doing something, rebellious," I choose my word, "Again?"

He shrugs as best as he can with both hands on the wheel, "I dunno, drinking a beer with you wasn't rebellious?"

"No even close, nerd boy."

Soon after, Jayden pulls into my driveway. He parks the car and turns to face me. There's a small smile that plays on his lips but his eyes refuse to meet mine.