The Nerd and The Jock - LT Fanfic

3: When Bae Is (Actually) Smart

3. When Bae Is (Actually) Smart

Easing back into the routine of high school was easier than I thought. I even saw Mr. Vince, as I headed to my first class. He was my World History teacher last year. He gave me a smile when he saw me.

He said huskily, "Temara! Nice to see you back."

I looked at his big stomach, at those fat, brown loafers he always wore and his balding head and I couldn't help but agree too. "You too, Mr. Vince."

I only saw Sharon and Candice during passing periods. They didn't have any of my classes so far, and I was kind of bummed out about that. I didn't see Blaze either. I tried to tell myself not to worry about it, but I found myself looking out for his full head of hair every chance I got, or for his telltale mass of groupies that never left his side.

Now, as I walked to English class, I saw Sharon stuffing her notebook into her backpack just outside of a classroom. Since it was passing period, kids poured out of class doors. Some of them turned to talk to each other as soon as they walked out. Others made their way toward their monochrome lockers which, to my surprise, were much better than last year's and sported new, heavy duty locks. Huh. I guess the administrators finally realized that those dingy lockers needed a replacement.

I walked up to Sharon, careful not to collide with the kids filling the hallways.

She noticed me. "Hey," she said, trying to talk over the buzz of conversation already brewing around us.

"Hey," I returned. I saw the classroom number she was just outside of, and glanced down to check my own schedule. Room 201? Hey, this was it. My schedule read Advanced English, with Ms. Sanders. Realization dawned on me. "You have Ms. Sanders?" I asked.

Sharon looked up at me, speaking around a paper she held between her lips. "Yep. You do, too?"

"Yeah," I looked at the paper again, "I guess I do."

"Well, she's mean."

I watched her tuck the paper in her bag, zip it up, and sling it across her shoulders. "Really?"

"Girl, yes. One of those bitter ones."

"What is it this time? No boyfriend?" If me and Shay had the same teacher, we always gave each other a head's up about them. Last year we joked that Mr. Vince reminded us of Mr. Krabs.

"Divorced. I think she still has a picture of her husband on her desk."

"Ouch."

"Tell me about it."

"How do you know?"

"You'll see what I'm talking about when class starts. Trust me."

I sighed. A year with another bitter English teacher? No, thank you. I barely survived last year's, because my Advanced English teacher from my Sophomore year struggled with his sexuality (he was gay). He lashed out on all of us, for whatever reason, and we all suffered his short temper and his heavy prejudices against Shakespeare's heterosexual love stories. I had a feeling I was going to especially dread Ms. Sanders.

"Just kill me now," I groaned, and Sharon laughed.

"What for?" Nicolas' voice appeared behind me so suddenly that I jumped.

"Hell!"

My heart almost burst out my chest. Nicolas was actually there? I gave him a once over, enjoying myself too much as my eyes raked him. Something seemed off. Oh--it was because he was without his usual group of friends. That was surprising, Nicolas without his parade of followers. But I was even more surprised by how much I was relieved to see him. His big, gorgeous Afro was missed. "Did I scare you?" he laughed.