Nerds Are Lovable

8: Nerds Are Comfy

"Haley, could I speak to you for a second?"

I look to the side, seeing that my Algebra teacher was calling me from the door to her classroom. She looked a little disappointed holding a piece of paper in her hands. I'm tempted to ignore her, pretend I didn't hear her at all, but having already made eye contact, that play was off the table. I regretfully walk towards her, ignoring the eyes that follow me into the Algebra classroom. People really cannot mind their business.

"I have your test here," She tells me once she's sat down at her desk again.

I'm standing in front of her on the other side of her desk. She slides the piece of paper she had in her hands to me. I take it as she wants me to look at it, so I pick it up.

"78? Dang, I killed it."

"See, I don't think you did. I think you cheated."

I look up to her, "I didn't cheat."

"Haley," She tells me, leaning forward onto her forearms, "Your test average is a 63. You expect me to believe you jumped fifteen points all of a sudden?"

I nod, handing the test back to her, "Yes, I didn't cheat," I tell her again.

"Look, I want to believe you."

"Then believe me," I interrupt, getting angry at the fact that she's accusing of something I didn't do.

Just because I have a reputation around school or have never been exactly good at math, doesn't mean I'm not allowed to pass a test. She's assuming things about me, something I that I hate. I give her an annoyed look to show her just that.

"I'm sorry," She shakes her head.

"Let me prove it to you," I blurt out.

I could hear my dad's words replay over and over again in my head. I didn't want to let him down, especially since he knew I'd actually been trying this time around. And I wanted to prove to my stupid Algebra teacher that I did deserve that 78.

"Make a new test, I'll take it alone so that I can't possibly cheat."

God, this is gonna suck. I am already regretting the words that just poured out of my mouth. I didn't even think about them as I said them. I just cared about my dad, I wanted to make him happy, make him proud.

She looks at me, "Okay, tomorrow after school, that's your only chance."

"Can I take that test to study?" I ask her.

She nods, extending the paper to me. I take it, making my way out of the room. The grip I have on the test is tight, making it wrinkle underneath my fist.

"Tomorrow, Haley," She reminds me right before I make it out the classroom.

I huff, frustrated, once I'm out of the classroom. I truly hadn't cheated and that bitch of a teacher wasn't giving me the time of day. This is the highest grade I've ever gotten on a math test and my integrity was being tested. I am really wishing I had my hookup contacts right now. I could use the distraction.

I slam the doors open, ignoring the shushing from Ms. Librarian and the dozen nerd eyes that lock on me when they hear the sound. I roll my eyes, still filled with rage. I do my angry fast walk all the way to the back and collapse into the chair with a loud thud.

"I can't believe her, that bitch," I start ranting, "I finally try, and what do I get to show for it? Blamed for cheating. Cheating! Now I have to take the test again. I could barely get through it the first time, now I have to do it again? I'm not gonna make it," I let my head fall onto the table.