He's My Nerd (Harry Styles as Marcel fanfic)

Chapter 5

Rosalind's POV

To be fair, Marcel was a pretty good work partner. I mean, we didn't gossip or giggle, but we got the work done that needed doing and so were free to do whatever we wished for the rest of the period as we were far ahead of everyone else. There wasn't anything to do though, so I stayed beside Marcel and prepared for an awkward silence.

"Um, R-Rosalind?" He murmered.

"Yeah?" I stared down at the desk.

"I understand that you don't want to be seen with me, so I just wanted you to know that you don't have to stay sitting here." He spoke very quietly.

I ignored what he said and asked him a question. "Why are you always so quiet?"

He didn't answer at first so I just sighed and stared doodling up my arm. I was startled when he spoke. "It's because I dont think you want to be seen speaking to me, so I'm keeping quiet for you."

"But you're always quiet, whether you're with me or not."

"I don't like to speak because what ever I say, people start an argument with me about it, and I usually end up with a bust lip or a black eye because of it, so I don't talk."

That made me look at him. His eyes were sad. They were also very green. I had never noiced before. He had really nice eyes. 

"You have nice eyes." I blurted.

Oops. I never meant to say that. I looked away quickly and so did he. I would have given anything in that moment, to know what he was thinking. I decided my only chance of finding out was to ask him.

"What are you thinking?" I wondered aloud to him.

He began to babble very quietly, but his voice was still high and I found it amusing. "I'm thinking that there's this girl sat beside me who just said I have nice eyes. I'm thinking hers are nice too but if I say that then her boyfriend will beat me up. I'm also thinking that she's kind and the first person to ever treat me like a human, but she doen't want to, and I'm wondering why." He took a breath. "Maybe she just feels sorry for me. Maybe she wants to like me but doesn't. Maybe she really does care, but tries not to." He turned to look at me. "What are you thinking?"

"Okay, uh," I thought about what he said, running through it all again in my brain. "I'm thinking about everything you just said and trying to explain it. You should know I don't have a boyfriend but even if I did I would  never allow him to hurt anyone. I don't care what people say, you are a human, which is why I treat you like one. And I want to be nice to you, because I think that behind your sweater vests and straight trousers and practical shoes and glasses there is someone who has a lot more to him than anyone would think. I think he has secrets and fears, but I also think he can be strong and would give anything to punch someone back, but doesnt want to stoop to their level. Am I right?"

"You're good at reading people." He informed me. So I was right. "How did you remember everything I said?"

"I've been doodling on my arm for ages. Some of the words you said just ended up there I guess." I tried to brush it off with a laugh. 

I showed him the messy scrawl on my arm, pointing to the main points like 'boyfriend', 'human' and 'eyes'. 

"You missed one," Marcel informed me, pointing to the last point written in the smallest and messiest writing. It said 'do I care?'

I sighed.

"Well?" He whispered. "Do you?"

Despite wanting to tell him no and save my reputation. I gave in. I wasn't going to lie to him, or myself any more. "Yeah," I whispered back. "I guess I do."

Marcel's POV

I was afraid of why she missed out the last point. We both knew it was there, but neither of us wanted to bring it up. 'Do I care?' It said. I knew the answer was no, which was why she left it out. I honestly don't know what came over me, but suddenly I felt that I wanted an answer.

She was writing her name on her wrist in her swirly handwriting. She glanced up as I spoke. "Well? Do you?"

I immedieately regretted asking, prepearing myself for the painful little word. I harldy knew her, yet I already liked her and she was the first person to ever be nice, even for a minute or so. 

Her answer shocked me. "Yeah, I guess so." 

She told me she cared. 

This girl, this pretty girl beside me just told me she cared.

Of course, I knew she didn't care much, if at all really, but if she was lying, she at least tried to spare my feelings which meant she did care, even a tiny bit.

I couldn't help but smile. She smiled back.

"I'm sorry I was ever mean to you Marcel. I never wanted to be. I never said or did anything, but I watched everyone else and that's bad enough. You don't deserve it."

"Why are you suddenly bothered now though?"

I could see her thinking about that. "I don't know. I guess... I guess it's because I found you at your weakest, and I never even meant to be friends with you, but today I had to work with you and I've seen a different Marcel. A less weak Marcel. A Marcel who can actually smile, and I'm intrigued."

I'd never thought of myself as intriguing before. Different yes, quiet yes, good at hiding yes, but intriguing? Never in a million years.

"You're a puzzle." she said.

"I'm what?"

"A puzzle. I know there's more than just weak Marcel and smiley Marcel. I'm going to find out what else you're hiding."

The bell rang loud and shrill and she got up to leave.

I sat in the class for a few seconds, gathering my things. 

What if she didn't like all the different sides of me? What if she didn't like what I hid behind the long sleeves and the well ironed trousers? What if she found the real me?

My problem was, I'd never had a real friend before. I probably would get closer to her, and do anything not to lose her. 

I was afraid of her finding my vulnerabilities. I didn't like that.

A/N heyyyyyyy:D

THANKYOU SO SO MUCH FOR READING ILY

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Love,

Katie xx