He's A Nerd {marcel styles}

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Let's Get This Over With

*Marcel's POV*

I walked into the English classroom, ready to face the substitute. They normally liked me, so I wasn't worried. I just hoped we'd get a serious sub. Someone who thought learning was important, not a young 20-something year old who texted their friends on their iPhone the whole class.

I sat down at my desk in the back and analyzed our substitute. It was a man, which wasn't very common. He looked 21, so he probably skipped a few grades and looked easy-going. I just hope he could teach well.

"Hello class, I'm Mr. Malik." he introduced.

"Hi, Mr. Malik." I expected the class to grumble that statement, and half the class did, but it seemed like most of the girls were a bit happier about saying hello.

Weird.

Halfway through the class, Ryleigh came in. I started to blush and couldn't help but stare at her. She looked really good, her long wavy air falling in lengths up to the small of her back.

"Hi, Mrs. Reeder told me to give these to you." she told Mr. Malik. She eyed him, and then started to twirl her hair around her finger.

Was she flirting with him?

"Why thank you." replied Mr. Malik politely, and smiled a 1,000 watt grin. He didn't seem to catch on.

"No problem." giggled Ryleigh as she left the classroom.

God, she looked so pretty when she laughed.

★ ★

After the lesson, Jacob, my project partner, approached me. He had a cool aura about him, full of confidence. He was the kind of guy that I wanted to be.

"Hey, Marcel, right? I'm Jacob. So for the project, I was thinking we could go over to my house after school and just try and finish it today, so that we aren't rushing to do it at the last minute."

"That sounds great, what's your address?"

"It's fine, I can drive you there. Meet me by the bike racks after school?" he offered.

"Sounds like a plan." I replied, breathing out a sigh of relief. Even though I didn't get Rose, at least I got someone who does work.

★ ★

"So this is the living room, where we can work on the project." Jacob gestured to the large room displayed in front of us. "Want some soda?" he asked, walking into the kitchen in the next room. I placed my backpack down on a sleek black leather couch, and followed him.

"Sure, do you have Coke?"

"Yep." He grabbed two Cokes and we walked into the living room and sat at his computer desk.

"So, before we start, I realize that this is kind of awkward, because we barely know each other. So first let's just talk."

After a bit of conversation, I confessed to Jacob my crush on Ryleigh.

"So you like Ryleigh, but you think she wouldn't like you if you guys got to know each other?" Jacob clarified.

"Basically. I'm such a dork and she's... her." I sighed, exasperated, and took a a sip of my Coke.

"First, you aren't a dork, and I'm sure if she got to know you she'd like you. I'm friends with her, so maybe I can spark a friendship between you guys. But first, I need to help you with your style. You have to get yourself some confidence, man! I'm going to give you a total makeover. I'll be like Regina George, except without the bitchyness and cat fights."

"I don't know, I like my clothes. And besides, shouldn't Ryleigh like me for me?" I questioned, nervous.

"She will, but you should at least look good wooing her!" Jacob said.

"Okay, you got me. I'm in. Now let's actually do some work."

★ ★

I looked at my closet. Was my sense of fashion that bad? I liked my comfy sweater vests. They were, well, me. But maybe Jacob was right, and I did need to change things up a bit. We had made plans to go to the mall tomorrow to 'restyle' me, as he put it.

We had finished the project, so that was one less thing I had to worry about. I had already finished all of my homework, so I decided to call Rose. She picked up after the third ring.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice smooth.

"Hi Rose, just calling to talk." I explained.

"Okay, so what do you want to talk about?"

My brain wandered over to today's English class.

"What was up with the girls in English today? You guys were acting pretty strange. Was it something with the substitute? I noticed when Ryleigh came in, she was acting strange as well. Know anything?" I questioned, genuinely wanting to know.

"Well, how do I explain this simply... Mr. Malik, he's kind of hot. And hormonal teenage girls, go crazy around hot guys."

Well, that made sense.

"So, did you go crazy over Mr. Malik?"

"No, I know I have no chance at all with him. He's our teacher for God's sake!"

At least Rose had some sense. At that moment my sister came into my room.

"Rose, could you hang on a second?" I asked.

"Sure."

I placed the phone on my desk and looked up at my sister.

"Hi. What do you need?"

"Listen, I know this is really stupid, but I need boy advice, and I heard you were talking to Rose. Can I cut in?" she asked. My fourteen year old sister practically worshipped Rose.

"Fine." I grumbled and picked up the phone. "Rose- Kallie wants to talk to you. Sorry."

"No, it's fine. Put her on." she replied.

I handed the phone to Kallie and shooed her out of my room. God, all I wanted was to talk to Rose, but Kallie had to go in with her problems. But- boy advice? I wonder what that's about.

I logged onto my computer and started to check my email, and write back to Mr. Fischer about our math topic.

★ ★

"Thanks Rose. Bye." Kallie said, and handed the phone back to me. When I was sure Kallie had gone back to her room, I spoke.

"What was that about?" I asked, confused.

"She just has a crush."

"On who?" I tend to be overprotective of Kallie, she was my little sister after all.

"You know how all substitutes sub for different classes thought the high school? Well there was one today that kind of caught Kallie's eye."

I groaned. "Not him."

"Sorry Marcel. She likes Mr. Malik."

*********************************************************************************

Updates are going to be longer I promise. Dedicated to @hafsak1D for being the first to vote on the chapter. Maybe there's a dedication it it for you if you comment. #please

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xoxo

-Em