Nerds Are Lovable

Bonus: Bad Girls Aren't Shy (Ch. 32.5)

A/N: Hi everyone! This is the long awaited first date chapter. It's umm.... mature. Have fun, it's long :)

It shouldn't be this nerve wracking, this sweat inducing, this jaw clenching.

Please open the door.

The flowers in my hand were filling my nostrils with a weird mixture of smells. The smell of barbecue from the neighbors mixing in with the sweet scent. It made my head hurt, more than it already did from all the overthinking I had been doing since I woke up this morning.

Deciding what to wear was the first issue of the morning. A sweater vest seemed almost too nerdy, but that was what my parents always forced me to wear when we would visit their friends. A tux seemed too over the top, Haley had told me over and over that 'fancy' just didn't suit her. A t-shirt was too lame and a wife beater gives the wrong vibe.

I had settled on a button up after basically destroying my closet and, in turn, my entire room.

The next issue of the day was my hair, that decided to look like a rats nest. My first thought was to just shave it all off. Go buzz cut. But the fear of having a weirdly shaped head scared me away from that terrible idea. Who knows how much my parents picked me up as a child. So I took a shower, combed it out, put some random product in, air dried it, did all the things to hopefully make it look better.

I guess I ended up looking decent after all.

Convincing my mom, however, to let me out past her ridiculous curfew because tomorrow we had a
business breakfast with some guy, Mr. Morris, that was a whole different beast. She'd been extra intense since she realized how close Haley and I have gotten.

I ended up telling her I'd be hanging with Jaxon, she seemed to like him enough. Well, she liked his parents enough I suppose. I don't think she's ever actually talked to Jaxon other than the normal business pleasantries she's required to do.

For the benefit of the company. Everything is for the benefit of the company.

Haley swings the door open, a smile decorating her already beautiful face. Her body is hugged by a silky black dress that cuts off high up on her thigh. She has light pink heels on and her toes were painted, no doubt the work Emma. Her hair was in soft curls, a soft braid on one side. Her makeup was more prominent than usual, we'll maybe it was just the red lipstick. I have no idea.

All I know is that she looks beautiful.

No nasty thoughts, Jayden. And the blush immediately covers my cheeks when my eyes meet hers. Her smile grew as we locked eyes.

"Hi."

"Hi," I exhale, letting my smile and blush grow. 

I grab her hand with the hand that's not holding any flowers and pull her into me. She looks slightly surprised at my actions, but I let this suddenly confidence push me through. I lean slightly forward, holding her cheek, and go in for a kiss.

"These are for you," I smile at her after we separate.

She looks down at the flowers and smiles, "Tulips."

"Roses are overrated," I quote her from one of early conversations.

She nods, "They are and they don't really smell good either."

I smile, grabbing her hand again, "Let's go."

She nods, "What'd you plan for us, Jam?"

"It's a surprise."

She groans and pouts her luscious lips, "Why? I wanna know now."

I give her a soft smirk, guiding her to the car. Haley is basically jumping from anticipation and maybe a little anxiousness. I thought I was a bundle of nerves, well, I am.