The Nerd and The Jock - LT Fanfic

7: Bae, feat. the Grinches

7: Bae, feat. The Grinches

"Boy alert," Can declared. Exhibit A of our boredom: talking about boys. It was Wednesday, lunch again; today, however, wasn't just any regular day. Today was Club Day. There was no day more cool, more widely participated in and looked forward to in all of North High history. Club Day allowed for kids to choose from all the thirty-seven different clubs offered at school. The presidents of the clubs usually informed potential members what there was to know about their club and if interested enough, the kids joined. The fun part wasn't persuading people to join your club; it was, actually, meeting the people. Most of us wouldn't admit it, but Club Day was usually the reason why we met new friends.

My friends and I were a part of an academic-based club. We sat at this unfolded table with classroom chairs outside of the cafeteria, our club name creatively scrawled on a poster taped to our table's front. We had admitted a bunch of kids to the club but as lunch dragged along, our focus to the task at hand drifted. "He's nine o'clock," Candice informed us, still on the topic of boys, "coming with his group of friends through the Arts building."

Me and Shay looked up to see Nicolas and his twin in the distance. "You think he'll come over here? Nicolas, I mean?" Shay said.

Candice shrugged her shoulders, tracing her fingers along a plastic, academic trophy that gleamed on top of our table. The trophy was there to draw people to us--and to show off. "Maybe. Maybe not. Wanna bet?"

"Sure," Shay said.

"Yeah," I jumped in.

Candice hummed. "I think...I think he's gonna come over here."

"I don't know. He laughing pretty hard at whatever that blonde said," I told her. "He's having a good time."

"Who the freak is he talking to anyway?" Shay squinted a little. "No, I think he's coming over here."

"So far the bet is two to one," Candice announced. "Anyone willing to back out?"

"Nope," I said while Shay said, "No ma'am."

Candice smiled. "Let's wait and see."

* * *

It was when I was explaining to this particularly pimply Sophomore about our club that I felt a tall presence loom over us. Candice nudged me with an elbow and Shay cleared her throat, but I was too distracted talking to the kid.

"Advanced Scholars is a club for kids who take Advanced classes," I was saying. "If you have over a four point oh GPA, then the club is strongly recommended."

The kid shuffled his feet. "What if you have neither?"

"Then...it's not recommended. Sorry."

The Sophomore nodded to himself, said thanks and wandered away. I watched him go.

"Are you sad because the kid wasn't able to join?" someone asked.

I looked up to see the inquirer. Again, Blaze was without his friends. Today he was wearing a Harvard hoodie, which made him look especially delectable because it outlined the slightest hints of toned chest and arms. Shay had to nudge me to stop my drooling. Guess who was suddenly happy that she lost the bet?

"Yeah," I said, coming back to reality. "Yeah, kind of."

His eyes sparkled. "Why?"

"Because Advanced Scholars would be cool if it allowed other kids too. Not everyone, just a few exceptions."

"Everything isn't for everyone," he said, lifting my hand. Just when I thought he'd do it again--kiss my hand--he placed my hand to the side and chose a pen. "Where do I sign?"

"There." I gestured and he signed. "You don't want to know about the club you're getting into?" I asked him.

"What was your club name again?" He said this while busily filling out the joining form.

"Club for the Advanced Scholars."

"That's nerdy."

When I didn't say anything, he looked up at me. "Oh, you don't like me using that word, huh? 'Nerd'?"

I heard Candice cough out a slick, "Duh, Blaze," while she and Shay pretended to mind their business. Amused by my friends, I was about to respond--but something told me to look behind him. I didn't know exactly what told me. I just suddenly sensed it all: fake tans, overly-expensive perfume, thottish clothing, too much makeup, an overabundance of saltiness and a slight, but still there touch of ashiness--it was overwhelming how I could sense tackiness from where I sat. My face drained of all humor as my eyes set on the two mean girls I saw the other day.

They approached our table, resembling moody old ladies as they frowned at my friends and I. I nudged squad. Shay breathed a quiet "Oh no," and Can stiffened beside me. Blaze, confused as to why I didn't respond, followed my gaze past his shoulder to look at the girls behind him. They were wearing matching scowls at first, but upon noticing Blaze their faces brightened and formed into expressions so friendly I would have thought they were the nicest girls in the world. But I knew better.

Any traces of spite on their faces was gone in an instant, but I knew they were still as grumpy and begruding as the Grinch who stole Christmas.