The Nerd and The Jock - LT Fanfic

16: Bae and A New Routine

16: Bae and A New Routine

The pattern changed one day when I arrived to school on a dreary Thursday morning. Normally, when I walked onto campus, I made my way over to Can and Shay. They were always coupled together at the flagpole, talking casually in front of the school. Sharon would be looking down at Candice, and Candice looking up at Sharon, but their standoff wasn't hostile.

They stood like that only because of their height differences. Shay was the taller of the two, so Candice always had to crane her neck up to look at her and Shay had to look down. It was freaking comical.

The two reminded me of Pinky and the Brain. With Shay's easygoing demeanor and Candice's more domineering one, it was all too easy to link them back to those unique characters in addition to their height differences.

I'd never tell them that though. When I reached their vicinity they'd say hey, I'd greet them back, and the three of us would chat until school began.

Thursday, however, was different from routine. As Mom's truck dropped me off and then lurched out of the parkinglot, I walked forward to meet my friends. I could see them standing at their trademark spot.

So I was walking, ready to greet Pinky and the Brain, when Blaze came out of nowhere. "Watch out!" he yelled. I jumped, and suddenly two arms encircled me.

"Oh, it's you," I said, relieved, when I felt his smooth lips kiss the spot above my ear. There was only one person that did that.

"Of course it's me," was his response. Blaze was grinning -- or at least he sounded like he was. He was hugging me from behind and I couldn't see his face, but I recognized his amused voice when I heard it.

He was such a dork. "You're the only person I know to say watch out when there is no imminent danger," I told him, placing my arms on his. "You know that, right?"

"Now I do. But hey -- that makes me unique."

"Right," I laughed.

"Don't laugh! You know it's true."

Cue the eye roll. "What are you even doing at school so early, Blaze?" Usually he arrived later, accompanied by his raucous entourage.

"Wouldn't you like to know," he responded all too cryptically.

"Does that mean you can't tell me?" I asked, interested now. "Or that or you don't want to?"

"You really wanna know?"

"Of course."

"I knew you came to school early, so I came too. I just wanted to spend time with you before school began."

Who knew the school's biggest jock was so sweet? "Thank you," I murmured, feeling special.

"No problem."

"What about your friends? Not trying to rude here, but they're usually around you."

He chuckled, "How is that being rude?"

"They just act like... fans, sometimes," I replied. Now I was embarrassed, because I didn't want him to think I was calling his friends fans -- even though they kind of were. "Don't you think they'll feel betrayed when they find out you're not with them?"

"Probably," he shrugged. "I don't care. But if they asked why I didn't meet up with them today, you know what I'd say?"

"What?"

He kissed my hair. "I'd tell them I was with my girlfriend."

He paused for a second while I stood there, pleasantly stunned. No way.

If this was his way of asking me to be his, then yes, yes, yes!

He buried his face in my hair like he didn't just call me his girlfriend. "Your hair smells like oranges," he said matter of factly. "I like it."

"Thank you." I added, "Boyfriend."

Our relationship changed, so the pattern changed. My social life wasn't just seeing Blaze between passing periods, in English and at Lunch anymore. Since Thursday I started spending more time with him, on weekends and during his soccer practices. Blaze was a soccer player for our school's team -- team captain, in fact. He'd joined Varsity when he was only a Sophomore and was practically the Lebron of the team.

I watched him one Tuesday afternoon after school. He'd asked me to come along -- of course, I obliged. I sat in the stands facing the school's long, verdant green soccer field. It was sunny out, and hot. The field was full of activity but I kept my eyes on the dreamy team captain.

The team was currently divided. Half of them were running the track, while others were busy kicking into the goals. Blaze was in the latter half.

A goalie passed him the ball. "You're up, man," the kid said. Blaze didn't need any more encouragement.

A grin stretched across his face, he nudged the ball back to him with his toes. Then he stepped back and brought his foot forward. He kicked, the ball soared, and--like usual--it flew into the goal. The goalie's arms shot out to catch it, but missed.

"Dang," the kid muttered.

Sometimes Blaze jogged over to ask how I was doing. He did that now.

"I'm good," I told him, smiling. I'd been doodling hearts around Blaze's name on my notebook -- just sappy stuff, really -- and he tried to peek at it. Instinctively I drew it closer to me, cheeks warming.

"Taking notes on my skills, huh?" He asked eagerly.

"No -- you're so conceited!" I laughed.

"I call it confidence. If I don't have it, who'll have it for me?"

Then he pecked me on the lips and scurried back to practice. I think I drew about half a dozen more hearts.