To Be Free

Nerd Boy Looks Better

"Holy conola oil, I feel so bald!" Sebastian exclaimed while running his fingers through his newly cut hair.

I was staring at him with my mouth open in complete and utter shock. Without his glasses and this new haircut... Nerd boy didn't look half bad.

Of course, he hadn't noticed me staring so I mentally slapped myself and recollected my thoughts. Sebastian had wrinkled his nose and seemed doubtful when I suggested a haircut, but now he swirled it back and grinned in the mirror.

He suddenly turned to me and I was engulfed in an Axe filled hug. My eyes widened in shock as I registered what was happening.

"Thanks for doing this Kat... It really means a lot." He mumbled into my hair.

"Get the hell off of me, dummy... But you're welcome." I winked and took him out to my bike.

"Hey Kat... I didn't get a chance to pay for that. Lemme go back in!" He exclaimed.

I held up a hand, "No need, it's taken care of."

"Awe did you pay for me?"

"Nope. Let's go to my house!"

He jumped right on behind me, ready to go wherever. I chuckled at his eagerness. In a split second I decided to take the longer route to my house that I had accidentally discovered a few years ago, cliché, I know.

The trees began to shade the road and I sighed in contentedness, then breathed in deeply while we passed the lake that sat on the outskirts of town. Sebastian was taking everything in silently.

I slowed down to a stop when we reached a break in the woods on the right side of the road. A small pathway shined a patch of sun on the pavement where I had cleared it out. I stepped off of the bike and just began walking, hoping that Sebastian would know to keep up.
---
He was huffing and puffing like a fat kid trying to run cross country, but he somehow managed to stay with me. I pulled him onto the ground in the middle of a clearing, on a ledge right above a small, crystal clear river.

I smiled softly at the sight of some little river fish attempting to swim upstream against the current. If I were actually some deep thinker, I would make a soft metaphor about the fish showing how life is...

"Hey dumbass, are you good at making metaphors?" I asked Seb.

"Uhh... I guess it depends on what topic it's in. How much I know about it." He shrugged.

"What do those little fish remind you of?"

"They seem to be an example of life. We are always being pushed back by larger forces, but if we're persistent enough, we make it up the river. I think I actually heard that in a Halo game butttt... Yeah"

I didn't say anything and we sat there for a good hour or so.

"So, can I ask you a question?" He stated out of the blue.

"Damn. I was having a peaceful moment. But if you must, go for it."

"Why... Are you so alone? I mean jeepers, you're unbelievably beautiful, you're smarter than you think and your personality, while a little abrasive, is quite enjoyable sometimes."

"Because dearest dumbass, I don't like people, therefore they do not like me. It's a win win. You just happened to almost make it on my bad side before you were saved by a switch in my head."

"A switch in your head? That's not logical."

"Yesss," I sighed, while flopping back into the grass, "I watched Jo glare at my hand when I was about to break your arm. If you weren't you and I wasn't me, I probably would've kissed you right then and there, just to spite her."

He was silent for a moment but he mumbled quietly, "I wouldn't have minded..."

Seeing as how I didn't catch all of what he said, I let it go. After a few more minutes, I beckoned him closer to me. He leaned down near my face and I grabbed his shirt collar. His face was panicked for a moment and then he relaxed and closed his oh so innocent eyes. His lips perked out expectantly. I alllmost laughed, which would have ruined my beautiful spontaneous plans.

I patted his pockets lightly, only to slip his phone out slowly and carefully so that he wouldn't notice, then I pushed him straight off of the ledge and into the river water... Shit, I hope he can swim.

Sebastian's head emerged from the water, and he vaguely reminded me of a girl from the Herbal Essence shampoo commercials. He pushed the longer strands of hair back off of his forehead and wiped the water from his eyes. My heart was melting for a millisecond before he ruined it with a comment.

"Holy chewbacca this water is cold!"

I knew he wouldn't be able to resist ruining the moment, whether he meant to or not. This kid was just puuuure nerd. I sighed and then stood at the very edge of the small ledge. I peered into the water. For this being clear water it sure is hard to see Sebas-

"Ohhh shit!" I yelled as a hand grabbed into my ankle and pulled me into the freezing water.

I pushed myself off of the bottom of the river and glared at a smiling Sebastian.

"Listen here you sick son of a bitch, you just beat me at my own game. You may not live to see another day. No one messes with me! I am the fear-"

My epic rant was cut off as he pushed my head under water once more. I pulled myself back up and wiped the mascara lines from the bottom of my eyes.

"Glad to see you're getting some cahones kid. You have officially passed lesson two today. Next Friday, we start lesson three. Are you scared of needles by any chance?" He narrowed his eyes but I had already pulled myself out of the water.

Sebastian

Holy good lord. I may be a nerdy nobody but shiznet, Kat was beautiful. Her needles question flew right over my head when she pulled herself up onto the bank. I hadn't thought my plan all the way through when I pulled her in the water... Her shirt was almost completely see through now and I had to question my life for a moment before I turned away.

She offered me her small but calloused hand and I graciously took it. All was well while she pulled me up and I was almost to the top when I heard her snort and I was falling again. The cold water engulfed me.

"Rookie mistake." She chuckled.

  I pushed myself up and followed her back to her bike. She reached down on the back to grab her backpack and miraculously had an extra set of clothes for herself. She tossed me a random black shirt from inside of it as well. I slipped my soaked shirt off after she walked away and slid on the one she gave me. It was tighter on my chest and I habitually tried to find the buttons on it. Nerd life problem one hundred and seventy-two.

  She returned wearing a shirt that said some strange thing pertaining to mice and people and a tight pair of black skinny jeans. They made her gluteus maximus look fan-tas-tic. I caught myself staring at her and the graceful, yet purposeful way she moved and did basic activities.

  She turned to me and I felt my cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

"Like what you see?" She smirked.

"Uh. Well yeah. I mean, no. You're g." I stuttered. Golly, I sound ridiculous. I cleared my throat and changed the subject, "So where are we going?"

"I'll drop you off at your house. As previously mentioned, our lesson is next Friday. We'll be meeting on Main Street though. Or I might pick you up. We'll see."

"...for what?"

"You'll find out! Come on loser, let's go."

I squinted at her sudden excitement, this girl was definitely one of a kind. Hopping onto the back, I wrapped my hands around her waist and she sped off. Some inner serial killer/ creepy part of me noticed that she always smelled kind of like coconuts.

  It wasn't overpowering like most of the girls at my school. Her personality wasn't like those girls either, neither were her looks. As a matter of fact, she wasn't like anyone I have ever known. She was just... Kat.