When I Joined the Dork Side

Chapter Six

With shaking hands, I took the roll of tape and my glasses from James as his so-called 'revenge' became clear to me. Was he really going to try to inflict every humiliating and embarrassing experience I had caused him back on me? I swallowed uneasily, I couldn't even remember every excruciatingly awkward situation I had put him and his friends through - but I knew there were a lot - and suddenly I wished I could rewind the last three years and fix things.

Being a bully was never a part of my original plan (as a person who had once been teased themselves, it was the last thing I had wanted to do). But in order for me to be on top I had to put people in their place and, over time, watching Jeff dunk kids' heads in the toilet and freshman cowering in our presence became tolerable to watch.

I fumbled with the tape, trying to hold the two halves of my glasses in one hand and the tape in the other. At first I was going to refuse to play James' game, leave his offer and revenge on the table and deny him of his triumph. Unfortunately, I underestimated my blindness. My vision tilted, the glasses and table just below me so fuzzy my hands were grasping at empty space. I felt my ears grow searing hot as Rodger let out a snicker. I didn't know what was more humiliating, the fact that I was incapacitated without my contacts or that I had walked right into their little game.

"Let me." I felt a body press up to the side of me, hands reaching towards the glasses and tape. While I was struggling for a solid minute with ripping the tape, James had the two halves back together in moments. He handed them back to me but he didn't seem as smug as before. Almost caring, like we had went swimming and he was handing me a towel to dry off with.

I grabbed them from him hesitantly. "Thanks." My voice was just above a whisper and I thought it was funny that I just told the boy who broke my glasses 'thank you'. Normal-Alice would have screamed at him and ordered Jeff to punch him. But I thought it was nice of him to not let me sit there cluelessly, unable to fix my own glasses - it was better than how I left him in the cafeteria; shards of prescription glass on the floor, him on his knees trying to hopelessly put them together as the entire student body laughed.

Opening the temples, I shoved the glasses onto my face. My vision picked up substantially and the graininess subsided. I almost felt relieved. Almost. I looked around the room, feeling everyone's eyes roam my face. I could feel the masking tape slip down my nose, likely taking off a layer of foundation with it.

I turned back to James, who was now seated beside me again. My mouth opened, I didn't know what to say.

Yell at him.

Apologize.

Yell at him.

Apologize.

I studied him, unlike the others he didn't seem all that interested in the geeky new accessory I was now modelling. I coughed, trying to get his attention, but he remained slouched in the chair. His Star Trek tee was rumpled and his pants looked to be a size too small. My gaze wandered up to his face. He had an olive skin tone with honey brown eyes and hair. I realized, with a bit of startle, how good looking he was once I saw underneath the glasses, wardrobe and gelled hair. My eyes shifted down to his long, full lips and....

"Done staring?" I jumped back, realizing he had spoken. He didn't move his head and he was still typing in a rapid manor.

"I wasn't staring." I said dumbly, forgetting my entire vocabulary list and logic skills for the fiftieth time that day.

He moved his head, momentarily shifting his focus from the computer to me. James didn't say anything and I felt myself begin to fidget under his scrutinizing gaze.

Desperate to make conversation, I mumbled, "You're a Trekker, eh?"

He took a moment before responding in a soft, barely audible voice, "HIja'.Dunmo' nuH 'ej nov."

Oh my gosh. I can't believe he just answered my question in Klingon... and I can't believe I actually understood what he said. Wait, was this his way of testing my nerdiness? On one hand, feigning ignorance and pretending I had no clue what language he was speaking would be far less humiliating. But really, what was the point? He already knew I was a geek, speaking Klingon wouldn't change it.

Without looking up at him, I responded slowly; trying to recall the vocabulary, "teH vIHtaHbogh nov. 'ach pagh qang SoH nuH."

He smiled. Genuinely this time. And it filled me with a strange tingling sensation and I suddenly became more conscious about the fact that I just responded to him in Klingon. Thank goodness everyone else was out of earshot because, if the picture didn't convince them I was a total dweeb, then that would have done the trick.

When the bell finally rang we snapped out of our trances. He started packing up his messenger bag (which was overflowing with handheld gadgets, hard drives and books) while I picked up my pastel Prada purse off of the floor.

"See you tomorrow, Princess." James said as he passed by me on the way out the door and I found my lips working their way into a smile. Why was I no longer bothered by the fact that he was using Jeff's nickname?

Jeff.... The mention of my quarterback boyfriend waiting for me in the cafeteria sent my stomach into spirals. I almost forgot about the glasses and James' revenge. I had two options: wear the glasses and die a slow, humiliating death; don't wear the glasses and accidentally kill myself while walking down the stairs.

I was still in the physics classroom when it was five minutes into lunch. The hallways were empty; surely everyone was in the cafeteria by now. Slowly, I rose from my seat and headed to the door. I walked down the barren hallway, checking every thirty seconds for the sound of approaching footsteps. I kept my head low. Focusing all my attention on my lavender heels (which were really quite stunning when paired with my lacy mini skirt) as I descended the stairwell. Instead of heading towards the cafeteria, I made my way to the front office. Just in front of the door were two receptionists. Being as quiet as possible, I crept out of my hiding spot and made my way towards the door.

"Wait just a minute young lady, you haven't signed out yet." The receptionist croaked from behind the table.

And for the first time in my entire high school career, I bolted through the front doors and ditched.