Nerds Are Lovable

31: Nerds Are Nervous

I thought about texting Jayden to apologize wasn't personal enough. A text felt wrong after how harsh I was to his face, and to his parents. Making his mom like me just got that much harder. I mean, let's be real, Mrs. Monroe was never going to like me. Tolerate me, maybe one day. I waited all week till Friday rolled around. I knew where he'd be on Friday, he was always in the same place, at the same table, in the same chair.

I took a deep breath, just now realizing how nervous I actually was. Since meeting Jayden, this had been the longest we had spent not talking to each other. We hadn't even seen each other. It felt like he was purposefully avoiding me, which he probably was. He thought I never wanted to talk to him again.

I walk through the library, having the path to Jayden memorized. I catch sight of him first. He's hunched over some homework, his books sprawled everywhere. He looked the same as he always did. His glasses covered my view to his eyes, not that I would've been able to see them anyway. I stand there silently for a couple seconds, watching him, before clearing my throat. His head snaps to me when he hears me and his eyes go wide in shock. His mouth falls open slightly, but I can tell there's a smile fighting to appear.

"Haley?" He asks as if he doesn't believe I'm actually in front of him.

Hearing his voice again affects me more than I realized. I feel my stomach burst into butterflies. I walk up to the chair I always sit in next to him and plop down, turning my body to face him. He's still staring at me with a shocked expression. I can't help but smile at his adorable face.

"Hi Jam."

He doesn't say anything back, just stares at me, but this time he lets the smile overtake his features. It's soft, a little nervous, like he's happy to see me but confused as to why I'm here.

I decide to speak up again, "I'm not one for apologies, but you deserve one," I brush my hands through my hair, hoping that'll ease the butterflies in my stomach, "I shouldn't have snapped at you and stormed off and then not talked to you. I feel like I became the Haley all the rumors make me out to be."

"I'm sorry too," Jayden speaks up, "I was so mean. I said things, I was so inconsiderate. I was just frustrated at the situation. This whole ordeal with my dad, we've fought about it several times, more often now. I took it all out on you, and that was unfair of me."

I smile at his words, understanding his frustration with his father, "We didn't talk for so long," I state.

He nods, "I thought you didn't want to."

"I assumed that's what you thought," I give him a knowing smile.

He gives me a confused look, "You knew?"

"Not to sound cliche, but you're not like other boys, Jam," I look away from him for a second, letting out a breath, "You care about my feelings."

"Of course I do, Haley, I like you," His blush intensifies as he says the words, "I thought you would never want to even see my face again, I thought I had messed up."

"You didn't," I assure him, "I might've fucked it with your parents though."

"Oh don't worry, my mom had plenty to say about that," There's almost an amused look in Jayden's eyes, "You should probably not come over for a bit."

I laugh slightly, "What if I sneak in? Would that be better?"

Jayden's eyes go wide, "You want to sneak into my house?"

"Preferably your room," I shrug, "You know, so I can hang out with this boy I like."

If it was even possible, Jayden's blush turns redder and he turns to face away from me. He doesn't say anything for a couple of seconds, I'm assuming he's processing what I said. I smile at the back of his head, having missed our interactions.