Nerds Are Lovable

21: Nerds Are Dancers

The following weeks pass by in a blur and before I know it finals week is fast approaching. The dreaded finals week that means the end of the semester but also the worst days of my life. Talk about hell, this is some deep level punishment. Tests after tests over material I was supposed to learn throughout the semester. I barely remember what I had for breakfast this morning, how am I supposed to remember five classes worth of material? There's no way this prepares me for life. Who's life consists of back to back test
taking?

"I prepared some things for you," Jayden smiles, handing me some paper packets.

I take them, flipping through the pages to see what all is in them. One of them is labeled Physics, the other one Algebra. They each have about fifteen questions worth of pages stapled together. My neutral expression quickly turns into a scowl as I see all the questions I'm going to have to do. I look back up to Jayden, who's seated in his normal tutoring spot.

"What is this?"

"As your tutor, I made you some practice problems for finals week," He explains like it should be obvious that he'd do that.

I furrow my eyebrows and shake my head. I grab the packets between two fingers and extending it away from me like it's a smelly sock. I drop the packets on the table.

"I can't do that," I point to the discarded paper, "That's torture."

"Torture that will help you pass your tests," Jayden rephrases.

I plop down in my chair, letting my backpack fall on the floor beside me. I give the packets in front of me a hateful glare before turning that glare to Jayden. I hope he's getting the message of how absolutely against these problems I am. Isn't it enough that I show up here twice a week? That already takes up so much of my mental energy. I don't think I can do this over the weekend. Jayden ignores my glare, proudly smiling instead. He picks up the packets and fixes them up so that they're neatly stacked in front of me.

"Don't you want to end the semester with good grades?"

I don't answer but Jayden takes my silence as a yes and continues talking. I just sit there, sunken in my seat, listening with my arms crossed and a pout on my face. I stare at the ugly packet in front of me with the words 'Physics 1' printed at the top.

"This is a great way to study for these STEM classes. You should be thanking me instead of looking like a baby who's candy got stolen."

My eyes shift to him, "I would never be dumb enough to let someone steal my candy."

"Exactly, so do the problems, Haley."

I huff but sit up slightly, picking up the pencil Jayden had discarded when he saw me coming. I don't even have to look at Jayden to know he has a smug smile on his lips as he watches me.

"Since when did you get so confident, nerd boy?"

"Since I told you I'm not a nerd. Now, do your work."

"You're mean," I mumble as I lean over the first problem of the Physics packet.

"No, you just distract me too much."

I quickly turn my head to look up to Jayden, a small smile on my face that I'm trying to hide. He must realize what he said because his cheeks turn dark red real quick and his eyes widen. He tries to turn his face so that I'm not able to see him, but it's no use.

"Distracting, huh?"

"No, I, um, no," He doesn't know how to answer, until he finally gives up and looks to me, "A little?"

"Only a little?" I ask, leaning towards him.

His eyes are wide behind his glasses and I maintain the eye contact I was able to catch. I place my hand on his thigh softly, barely even putting force on it but moving it up slowly. I use my other hand to grab his forearm, mainly for stability, but I also give his arm a small squeeze. Jayden is frozen in place as he just watches me. It feels like he's not even breathing. Once I feel like it's been long enough, I fall back into my chair leaning my head back into my hands and looking up to the ceiling.