Nerds Are Lovable

40: Nerds are Pro(m)posers

It's been weeks since Jayden and I made our relationship public, and the looks and whispers still persist like the fucking black plague. It's like I can't run away fast enough to ignore or evade all the judgement. I know what people think of me, I know the rumors that are running rampant throughout the school halls.

They think I'm a gold digger, only with Jayden for the superficial reasons. They think he's my sugar daddy. I suck him off for a new dress or necklace. It was a bad call to wear a tight outfit the day after we became official to the entire student body. Whoops, I was just trying to look sexy for the date we had planned after school.

I'm worried for Jayden with these rumors still being the source of everyone's entertainment. Everyone stares at us, whether we're together or alone. Although he's trying his best to act unaffected, he visibly tenses every time we step foot into the school. His eye falls as well as the hand that is usually holding mine. We do continue walking together, but the fun banter and conversation between us quickly dies out. He's reverted back to overstudying himself, holed up constantly in the library even on the days he's not a tutor. I can see him going back into his shell with every new look he gets in his direction. I wish I could shield him from the looks.

I knew this was going to happen. Wherever Haley Jones goes, whispers and gossip follow. No wonder his parents don't want me around, the drama endangers their reputation.

"They'll find something else to focus on soon, Prom is just around the corner," I try to reassure both of us as we walk through the halls.

Prom was in two weeks and slowly the Promposals were ramping up. We just had to wait until someone got rejected, which is awful to think about. But I'm going to be honest, I'd rather someone else get dragged through the fucking high school drama mud than me. I think I've done my time.

Jayden's eyes slowly drift to me as he nods his head, "I know, I just hope it happens soon."

Me too.

"Hey, are you free today?" I ask him, hopeful we can do something just the two of us with no prying eyes.

"I can't, I have a dinner with the board of my dad's company," He sighs.

I make a face, slightly upset that he has to give up time with me for a company he's not even going to take over. But his parents don't know that yet. He keeps saying he's going to do it soon, tell his parents that he's going to Yale and staying with me. Yet that soon keeps getting pushed back later and later. I understand why he's nervous to do so. Why he doesn't want to burst the fragile bubble that is his relationship with his parents. I can't even image how they will react. Well, I know it's not going to be good, whatever it is.

"When are you gonna tell them?" I ask the same question I've been asking since he first told me about his college plans.

He shrugs, giving me the same response as always, "Soon," But then he adds, "I want to take you to Prom before my life blows up."

I smile almost shyly at him, "Didn't take you for a Prom goer."

He smiles back, a soft genuine smile, "Not until I had someone to go with," But then he flusters and stumbles over his words, "But this is not my Promposal, this is not how I want to ask you."

I smile and nod, surprised he's taking this whole high school ordeal so seriously, "I await your real Promposal then."

By lunch, it seems that the rumors have diminished slightly even though I'm still getting plenty of looks, but I always have.

"Chad asked Chloe to Prom," Emma tells me why the rumors of me being a slut have diminished.

"You know what, I'm not surprised. I'm pretty sure he slept with her right before I stumbled into his room," I shiver in response to my own dumb actions, knowing I'm not that broken anymore.