Nerds Are Lovable

44: Nerds Are Bad (Epilogue)

A/N: Hi everyone! Thanks for making it to the end of Nerds Are Lovable. I want to give a special shoutout to mkayex for the immense support!! Would not have finished without you, so this chapter is for you.

For a how small Greenville High is, they sure go all out for graduation. The amount of balloons and streamers and glitter and photo ops going around is enough to make me vomit.

Just let me graduate so I can leave.

"Students, teachers, parents, siblings, and friends," The principal of the school began the ceremony, "We are all gathered here to celebrate these graduates and their accomplishments of today and their achievements yet to come."

And blah blah blah, you're amazing, blah blah blah, kill me now.

"And now, a few words from our valedictorian, Jayden Monroe."

Jayden walks up to the podium where the principal had just been. A couple of index cards in his hand. He hadn't let me hear his speech yet, even though I begged him to practice in front of me. He refused every time, telling me it was unnecessary.

Except for the fact that he hates being the center of attention.

"Fellow students," He begins, "Although we've been together for four years, most of us don't know each other. I definitely don't know all of you, but that's not saying much," There's some spread out laughs at that and Jayden smiles softly before continuing, "However, while we might not all know each other personally, we've all heard these stories: Jaxon Phillips scores the winning touchdown, giving the school its first national championship title. Alison Greene won the national spelling be with the word 'slut'. Amy Keller slept with seven people at the championship party. Phineas Orwell had an orgy but the other members have remained anonymous. Haley Jones and Jayden Monroe, hey that's me, have done it in the janitor's closet... more than once."

Everyone's eyes are wide at Jayden's words, mine included. Some eyes dart to the people next to them, other's try to find the people Jayden called out. Parents are looking at their kids with what can only be described as a mix of confusion, shock, and some discomfort. What in the hell is he doing?

"Funnily enough," Jayden continues, "Only one of those statements is true. The only one caught on camera is Jaxon's impressive run to the end zone. All the others are rumors spread by you all standing before me. And let me just add that these are the rumors I heard only this past week. Now, I can see all of you looking at me like I'm crazy for blabbing about this in front of everyone, but that embarrassment you feel for believing such ridiculous statements, that's exactly how I want you to feel."

I know what he's doing. That dumb lovable nerd.

"It's honestly ridiculous the amount of gossip that travels through this school. I've heard the wildest of stories, and I will admit, I've fallen for a couple of them. I mean, Bridgette Adler sucking her boyfriend off during the ACT makes total sense. And Caleb Hart being gay for Amy Sawyer, a lesbian, is just not how sexuality works. And Haley Jones being a bad girl, we'll just ask her and you'll realize you're wrong."

His eyes manage to meet mine at the end, a soft twinkle in them as he realizes he's been able to get everyone in the crowd uncomfortable.

"So, I ask that if you're going to learn one thing during high school, it be this: don't just assume you know someone that you've never talked to."

And then he just walks off the stage as if he just gave the happiest and most go-lucky speech of his life.

"This boy is crazy," I whisper to myself with a smile on my face.