Of Shields & Trees [BxB]

13 | The Nerd Is Back

It was a Monday unlike any other. I haven't felt this nervous and jittery in years and I had no idea why. I knew the school. I've been there before. I was probably going to get the same old teachers, the same old boring classmates. So what the fuck was I so anxious about?

I started classes in the afternoon so I had plenty of time to fuss over which pair of jeans I should wear, since the shirt and sweater were the same for all students anyway, how to style my nest of a hair, whether my old sneakers are polished enough or not. You know, the stuff I shouldn't probably give a flying fuck about, and yet I did.

Mr. Andonov has already went to school so Kalina was more than willing to walk me there. It was surprisingly close to their apartment. It made you wonder why Mr. Andonov went there by car.

She stopped a few steps away from the entrance and wished me luck, waving awkwardly goodbye as I bravely went inside. I knew where my first period was at, I knew this school as the back of my hand. It felt strangely familiar, yet distant. As if going there was just a dream I haven't had in a while.

I've had this feeling a lot lately. As if I was dreaming. I was going through the motions without really being there. I mean, my body was present, but my spirit still struggled to catch up.

The first familiar face I saw was Alejo's. He almost passed me in the hallway on his way to class and then did a double take, his bright amber eyes open wide. "Rado?" His full lips moved like a fish out of water. "It is you! You bastard!" He screeched. "Where were you? I was worried sick about you, you damn morron!" He slapped my arm, glaring daggers at me. "And what was that jealous girlfriend bullshit? The first message I get from you in months and you... You!" He ended his rant short and engulfed me in a hug. Totally unexpected. And uncalled for. And it felt nice. To have someone worry about me. I had no idea he cared that much.

I wrapped my arms around him, noticing he's gotten shorter since I last saw him. Or perhaps I've gotten taller? Yeah, that was more likely.

I ruffled his short brown hair, enjoying the familiar flowery scent of his shampoo. "I missed you, too."

"Then why didn't you call?" He let me go, back to his mad bitchy self. Maybe I should've gotten him that damn friendship bracelet after all. You know, as a peace offering.

"Come on, now! I'm here now, ain't I?" I look down at him with a kind smile on my face.

"What happened? Where were you?" He started the interrogation I was dreading so much.

"I was... sick," I answered, rubbing my neck in an awkward fashion. "I didn't have my laptop with me at the hospital." Ok, this wasn't a lie. I can do this!

"Hospital?" Alejo screeched again.

"Yeah... It was... bad. But I'm better now! See?" I lifted my hands up as if to show I was at one piece. It was true. I've never felt better in my life. No bruises to cover or to remind me how I got them. I felt good. Whole. Safe. I felt alive. And I smiled. Not the usual timid smile I always gave to people. This was a full on grin. It was genuine. And it did the trick. Alejo believed me. And he didn't pester me for more information.

We walked together towards our classroom, like in the good old days, him blabbing about the gossip that I've missed, me nodding as if I cared who did who in this fucked up school. It was like I never left.

Yana, the infamous gossip girl, stuck to us like glue as soon as she saw a new face. It took her a while to recognise me either.

"You've gotten so much taller! And bulkier, too!" She emphasised by squeezing the life out of my bicep.

I removed her talons with a grunt.

I caught sight of Angel, sitting at his usual spot, on the front row next to his boyfriend. I gave him an awkward wave while he gaped at me in wonder, his black wavy hair styled on the side and falling freely over his left eye.