Geeky Gary

2

I spend most of the next day breezing through my classes, oddly eager to get to Spanish, one of the two classes I have with Gary.

I look up from my paper and catch Gary staring. I flash a smile and he quickly looks down at his desk.

He's so nerdy with his glasses and weird science shirts I don't really understand.. But he's adorable.

I see Eric get up from his desk and stomp his way over to Gary.

He sits down next to Gary and says something I'm not able to make out. Eric then puts his hand on Gary's shoulder and even from my seat I can see how strong of a grip Eric has on Gary's shoulder.

Eric says one more thing in Gary's ear then swipes his hand over the desk and Gary's stuff goes falling to the ground.

"Eric stop!" I yell.

"You.. Stay out of this." he says turning his back on me.

I grab Eric's shoulder and spin him around to face me, "You," I say poking him in the chest "can't tell me what to do. I'm tired of you thinking that you own me! We are over!! Get that through your big fat head!" I scream.

"Fine.. Stick up for your nerdy boyfriend then." he says leaving the room.

I roll my eyes and bend down to help Gary with his stuff.

"No it's fine, I got it.." Gary sighs while scooping up his papers.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with him.. I just wish he would leave you alone, and leave me alone too." I tell Gary.

"Until that happens I'm just going to have to deal with it." Gary says before leaving the classroom.
I watch him leave then start to wonder where the hell our teacher is.

"Mariana, where'd Ms. Sanchez go?" I ask.

"I don't know.. Who cares? It's almost lunch anyways." Mariana says wrapping her arm around mine, "Everyone else is gone, so let's go."

We make our way down the hall to Mariana's locker so she can check her makeup.
She adds a bit more mascara to her eyes and spends the next few minutes gawking in her tiny mirror.

"Okay you're makeup is fine.. Let's go, the other classes are getting out." I say closing her locker.

Mariana and I are standing in the lunch line and I see Gary on the other side of the cafeteria. He looks up and catches me looking at him. I look away but I already know he saw me.

"So what's going on with you and Gary?" Mariana asks.

"What do you mean?" I say trying to act natural.

"In class I saw the two of you sneaking glances at each other.. And you rushed over to him when Eric was being an ass, what's going on!" She says shaking my shoulders.

"What, I can't be nice?" I say and Mariana raises her eyebrows.

"Okay okay, I'll tell you." I take a deep breath.
Mariana is my best friend, but when I tell her stuff she tends to repeat it out loud for the world to hear.. Not that it's a big secret or I'm embarrassed of Gary, but I tell her anyways.

"So Mr. Way basically forced me to get a tutor, Gary, and I went over to his house yesterday.."

"And what happened?" Mariana asks

"Well we studied for about an hour."

"And.." Mariana nudges me.

"We stopped. I was bored. I told them that he was cute.. Oh my gosh you should see him without his glasses." I tell her.
"But we didn't do much, we talked. And I found out he's a little musician. He played his guitar for me. He's sweet."

"Oh my gosh Eva, do you like Gary Adams!" She says, her face all twisted.

"Quit talking so loud, and stop making that ugly face." I laugh. "It's not a big deal, I just hungout with him and had a good time. That's all"

Mariana and I finally get our lunch and head to our usual table to meet the rest of our crew.
"What's up Ethan." Mariana says as we sit down, she has a small crush on him. "Hey Mariana." Ethan says back.

"So Eva.." Ethan starts, "Eric told me what happened between him and Gary, and about you saving him. So are you his little guardian angel now?" He says before taking a bite out of his pizza.

"Oh come on, why is everyone so worked up? Eric was being an asshole." I say.

"He thinks you have a thing for Gary.." Ethan starts, "Is that true?" Ethan gives me an odd look.

I roll my eyes. "Everyone needs to chill. And why do you sound like you're on his side Ethan? Remember what he did to me?" I say reminding him of the horrors that happened not too long ago.

"Yeah, I remember. You also banished him and Chloe from the table. But look, he's back with his groupies." Ethan says pointing over my shoulder.

I turn around and see Eric sitting on top of a table surrounded by girls from every grade. "Dick.." I mumble under my breath.

I look past him and see Gary at a table behind Eric with all of his friends. He's making some crazy hand gestures while talking with his group.
One of his friends taps his shoulder and as he turns to face him he catches a quick glimpse of me. I quickly turn around to face my own friends again.