Nerdgasm | Chaennie

Chapter 4: Library Incident

ROSÉ

"You like her," Lisa says matter-of-factly as she drags me away to her car.

"I do not." It's taking a considerable amount of willpower to not turn back and look at Jennie.

"Do too."

"Lisa, I don't even know her," I say to her back. "That was the first time I've ever spoken to her. I can't like someone that fast."

"Okay." She stops and whirls on me as she halts in her tracks. "Say that to my face," she orders as she peers into my eyes.

"I don't like her. I p-promise." Damn.

"Ha!" With a triumphant smile, she turns back around and continues to lead me away without another word. It's not until we're buckled up and on the road to Nóstima, the Greek restaurant we've been wanting to try, that she speaks again. "Ro, I love you, but you can't lie to save your life, especially to me. You totally like her. Your stutter gave you away."

"I stutter sometimes. That's how I am. You know that."

"And I know you, Rosé. You've done a really great job managing your stutter the last few years, but it usually only comes out when you're feeling a certain way."

I know her well enough to realize she's not going to let this go. "And?"

"Outside of just being weary of stuttering in the first place, the feelings that usually trigger it are anxiety, frustration, or nervousness. Now, tell me, which of those best describes our little interaction with Jennie? Hmm?"

She's giving me the side-eye as she drives, and her smug little smile has me chuckling against my will. "Fine, I can admit I was nervous. I can't help that she's pretty. I think seeing her again after she bumped into me threw me off."

"You should ask her out."

"She's my student."

An unladylike snort is all I get in response as we pull up to the restaurant. Once we're parked, Lisa turns in her seat to face me. "It's not like she's your student, Rosé. You can date. You should date."

"You're crazy. I'll be grading assignments, so even if we did date, it'd be a conflict of interest." I open up the passenger door, and we both head inside to be seated. "And where is all this coming from, you little rule breaker?" Lisa is always been a bit of a rebel. "You've never pushed me to date before."

"Yeah, well, I've never known you to be interested in someone before. At least, not in a long time. This changes things. Besides, I think she'd say yes. The entire time we were talking, she couldn't keep her eyes off you. Something tells me this little interest might be mutual," she says in a singsong voice as she waggles her brows.

I let her words sink in. She did keep looking at me in class, but I'm not entirely sure what that means. For all I know, I had something on my face. It'd make more sense for her to be interested in Kim, just like every other girl in class. Before I can tell Lisa this, our waitress walks up to our table.

"Good afternoon, and welcome to Nóstima. I'm Joy, and I'll be your server today." She's pretty, and she's giving me a big smile as she lays our menus on the table. "Can I get you both started with something to drink?"

"Water with lemon for me, please. Lisa?"

"I'll have the same, please. Thank you."

"Sounds good! Do you know what you'd like to order, or would you like me to give you a moment to go over the menus?"