Six Boys and One "Nerd"

Chapter 3 - Nerds and Staircases

As soon as the bell rings, I speed out of the Biochem lab as fast as I can and make my way to my locker downstairs. After making a quick stop at my locker I head over to my next class. I walk through the doorway and head to my usual seat in the far back. Luckily none of Miles' friends are in this class which means I can finally relax.  "Okay class, today we will start a new lesson in our books about the Roaring 20's so please take out your American History books and write down all the vocabulary terms you find on page 123." Mr. Randolph announces to the class in an upbeat mood.

       Most of my classmates sigh and groan but I ignore the sudden urge to also do so and instead pull out my weighted textbook. I grab a pencil and index cards in the process. "Pst...pst!" I hear the girl behind me whisper, trying to get my attention. I look back and cock my eyebrow at her. "Can I borrow some index cards? I left mine at home." She whispers and I sigh. I reach down and separate out a small stack of the cards and place them on her desk. She smiles and mutters "thanks". I shift back around and return to my work.

         I get about three-fourths of the way done with my vocabulary words before the bell rings and Mr. Randolph announces that the words we didn't finish are to be finished for Monday. Once again the class groans at the homework assignment and I make my way out of the classroom. I had grabbed my materials for my next class while at my locker earlier so I didn't need to head that way this time. My next class is upstairs so I make my way to the staircase.

         I get about halfway up the long staircase when I hear someone shout "timber!" Before I can react, my legs get kicked out beneath me and I go tumbling down the staircase. My books fly everywhere along with the index cards I had just filled out in American History. Luckily, I landed on my knees and not my skull. I could already feel my body bruising up from each stair that my lengthy body had made contact with.

       I heard the laughter coming from where I used to be whilst ascending the stairs and instantly welled up with anger. I was sick of getting hurt for no reason and nothing being done about it. I could feel tears slipping down my cheeks but I ignored them. I gathered all my books and index cards into a pile and tried to make them look neat. When I heard him making jokes about me to the crowd around him my anger only rose. All it took was a bit more of his laughter for me to snap.

       I arose to my full height and proudly ascended the steep stairs once again. When I made it to the top where Miles had placed himself I planted my body directly in front of him. The crowd seemed startled and died down a little bit. Miles faced turn from one of pride to curiosity. "What's wrong Nerd?" He asked me slowly acting as if he was teaching me how to speak. I roll my eyes and scoff, "nothing is wrong with me, the problem is you." I declare in a vile tone and Miles raises his eyebrow.

        "Oh really? In that case, what exactly is my problem?" He questions in a mocking tone. "I can't really figure it out, to be honest, I just want to know what kind of person in there right mind would pick on another human being just because they are not socially on their level," I state and fold my arms together. I notice Miles clenching his palms and feel my lips rise at the corners. "Maybe because you're a fucking coward and nothing else, I mean we all know your daddy is never coming back and he was the only one that truly protected you." He remarks in a foul tone. I feel my expression harden and my blood boil at the comment. Suddenly it seems like the rest of the world fades away and all I see is Miles Lennox.

         "Don't you ever fucking talk about my father like that again!" I shout in a voice I didn't know I possessed. My temper snaps and I feel my hands bring themselves up to his chest and forcefully push him down the stairs. All it took was the utter silence from the surrounding crowd and the sudden fear in Miles's eyes before he unwillingly tumbled down the staircase for me to realize what I had done. I guess it was just simply my personality that made me instantly regret what I had done. I barrel down the stairs and land next to his limp body.

       "Miles, I...I'm sorry I didn't mean it." I blurt out to him and feel my cheeks unwillingly dampen from the sudden flow of tears. Miles' group of friends bound down the stairs and rush towards him but hang back as soon as they catch sight of me kneeling over him. I catch sight of his unnaturally bent leg and suddenly feel sick to my stomach. When I finally feel a pulse radiate through this body I sigh in relief. I realize that my tears are soaking both mine and Miles' shirt so I back away from him in order to wipe up my tears. The boys cautiously step around me and make there way over to Miles.

        A few of the boys look as if they actually want to comfort me but I'm probably just imagining it. Brantley, whom is the captain of the basketball team grips the front half of Miles and motions for Sebastian, captain of the lacrosse team, to grip his legs with special care on the unnaturally bent leg. They mutter a count off and lift Miles off the ground and slowly make their way to the nurse's office.

         Jeremiah, star baseball player and also my lab partner, grabs Miles' abandoned book bag and follows closely behind along with Asher, best running back for our football team and the school's most well-known troublemaker. Miles has a close-knit group of friends that would do anything for one another. They all have their own personalities but somehow get along through thick and thin. Easton, my twin brother, is also part of the group but he isn't anywhere in sight. I think he had a big test today though so he's probably still finishing up. I take a deep breath to help myself calm down and head away from them knowing that I would probably only cause more damage.