Nerds Are Lovable

27: Nerds Are Sneaky

If I run away now I can make it home before midnight and celebrate Christmas with my dad. Hell, being alone on the street would be better than watching the sight in front of me unfold. I could feel the anger building up, like an overflowing bag that you can't close anymore, it was too late.

I grab a champagne flute from the next waiter that passes by, forgoing my 'no drinking' rule as I chug the sweet alcohol in one go. I can feel my fists tightening at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. It's almost a relaxing feeling.

"I fucking hate Jenny," I hear Jaxon breathe out beside me.

For a second, I let my gaze leave Jayden and Jenny, looking to Jaxon, "Me fucking too."

I can feel my bubbling emotions reach my cheeks as I continue to watch the couple. My cheeks were burning and my eyes were threatening to fill up with tears. I don't even dare to look back to Jaxon cause that would probably be enough to make the tears start rolling down my cheeks. I didn't want to feel this distraught at the sight, but I did. It felt like a knife to the gut. It felt like a piano fell from the 10th floor and landed on me. It felt like an anchor was attached to my ankle and was bringing me down with it.

Why am I feeling like this?

I knew I was starting to like Jayden. I knew it like I knew that my own mother was dead. It was an unattainable feeling, something that was always there but never felt real. How could I, Haley Jones, have fallen for a nerd?

Jenny seems to feel the daggers Jaxon and I are shooting at her. She turns to look at us, sending us a wink and a kiss before turning back to Jayden. That only made me want to slap her even more.

"I'm," I stutter slightly, "I'm just gonna go."

I knew it was pathetic to leave. I felt pathetic. But let's be real, Mrs. Monroe didn't even want me at her party so who was I to stay. Especially when the guy that invited me had another girl hanging off his shoulders. I felt humiliated and definitely out of place. I felt used and then discarded like a paper napkin. And I was a paper napkin when everyone else here was an embroidered cotton napkin.

Great analogy, Haley.

My eyes felt glazed over as I walk over to the exit. Thankfully, the Monroe's were no longer at the entrance to the party so I wouldn't have to deal with that extreme humiliation.

"Haley!" I hear a cute voice yell.

I shake my head, trying my best to rid myself of the emotions I'm currently feeling. Turning around, I feel two small arms wrap around me in a hug. I smile down at the little girl and hug her back.

"Bella! I've been looking for you."

"We've gotta run, Haley," She tells me, still hugging me, "I ran away from my mom and I don't want her to find me."

I offer her a small laugh, looking around to see if I catch sight of Mrs. Monroe anywhere. Not having much luck, I squat down to be at eye level with Bella.

"Why'd you run away?" I ask her, giving her a smile and squeeze at her arms to reassure her.

Bella looks around, scared that her mom would whisk her away at any moment, "It's bed time, I don't wanna go to bed."

I laugh lightly at her big scared eyes and pouting lips. She was adorable. Her hands were intertwined together as her fingers fiddled with each other. She kept swaying front and back on her feet, making her red dress sway with her.

"Bella," I tell her softly, her wandering eyes shoot to me, "Your mom is doing what's best for you. You know that, right?"

Bella slowly nods at me, still not fully convinced at my words.