Bringing the Chic out the Geek

Chapter 3

Monday morning was the worst day of my life. As I guessed they all came straight up to me, all twelve of the popular girls and I literally did not know what to say or think. At first it felt quite accusing when they asked who these cute girls were that I was hanging out with but then they mentioned how they loved the clothes I bought and that they suit me really well. They even went as far to say I have a great sense of fashion. Have they seen me on a normal weekend sporting my hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, unable to change from training due to sheer laziness and comfort. But eventually I just became confused with what they actually meant and were saying to me. I do not belong in a girly world.

In school I was, as normal, pretending to focus but really just writing everything so I could look it over later. To say I did that regularly most people would not believe me but it's true. School bores me as much as it bores anyone. Then again, I do still find a way to revise because I'm bored in the holidays so maybe I am a nerd then. Claire gets all her work completed in term time so that she can actually take the whole of the holidays off. I mean who can actually do that. It's not humanly possible. Yet it's my best friend who I always prefer to think of as a robot. However, she does tell me off way too much for swimming. Yes, I regularly have to copy off her before lessons but when your best friend is the smartest person in the year it's fine, you know you'll get enough marks to stay out of trouble and then once a week, like tonight, I get this heavenly thing called a night off.

Many people seem to have heard of those. Night's off. You see in the life of a swimmer you live and breathe swimming pools, literally. The chlorine hangs around you no matter what you do or how many showers you take. Back to the subjects of nights off. So you see it should be a night where I just breathe and don't sprint complete any homework or have to ensure I remember all my training things half way through a sentence but unfortunately it's worse. Claire comes over which is nice but and I emphasise the but I have to work. Not just work like a normal human but do revision for tests, plus complete all of my homework without even being allowed help or to copy, honestly she knows I don't pay attention. I end up more tired than I already was and craving one of our horrible sets in the pool, which the next morning I definitely regret thinking.

So tonight, we are revising for our maths test. For most people this shouldn't be too bad but I'm not most people and my ability to do maths is that of a five-year-old. Me and maths are not friends, never will be and never want to be. It's a good thing we have been friends for so long because she has to deal with all my stropping and moaning that it's too hard for about six hours before I go to sleep. Luckily she also hears all the gossip from the teachers so I do get rewarded when I work, between you and me I think that and the scary dragon girl that sits opposite me are the only reasons I do. Suddenly she brings up a new topic:

"So, did you know that there is a new boy starting after half term?" Half-term, really? That's half way through the year, what was the point? I would have stayed put and seen the year out. But also, how did he know he was transferring (and more importantly she or the teachers know) that early on? I mean, it's seven weeks away!

"No? So what's he like?" I love new people, maybe one day we will eventually get a new person to our group of two. I mean it's nice but sometimes you need more people.

"Oh, I don't know, I heard troublemaker but smart" Typical. She never sticks around for the real information. What they look like? Why they left? One things for certain though, they won't be joining us anytime soon.

"Oh. Ok."

"Alright, spill. You still haven't told me why Amelia Hartridge came and spoke to you. AMELIA HARTRIDGE. She's the most, stuck-up, self-obsessed girl in school and she was asking you for clothes advice, please you have to tell me" Did I also mention, she hates anyone popular, pretty or who doesn't work enough. So basically everyone. Yet we're still friends.

"Well I went shopping with the group from swimming and she was in the queue behind us as we left"

"I told you that it is bad to shop somewhere modern, not if you want to keep your secret identity hidden and still be able to focus on all your work" Did I also add, she hates fashion of any sort but does still want to help me keep it quiet. Considering I don't have a choice, no one would believe me anyway.

Tomorrow is the big test and let's just say, if I don't sleep well guess who is actually going to fail and get put into maths catch-up that they can't attend until they do better.

Well today's the big day. The clock started one minute ago and I'm stuck on Question 1. Why do I have to bad at Maths? Why can't I just be effortlessly smart, is that too much to ask? I'm quite tired really, my body clock woke me up five times during the night. Maybe I'll shut my eyes for five minutes now...

"Time is up. Put down your pens and pencils and stop writing" Damn. Now I'm stuffed. I didn't even answer one question.