Nerd Boy (COMPLETED)

17. Apple Pie and Pills.

"Ok, so you want to know why I've got such a bad rep?" She spoke before I could throw out my first question, I'm guessing she has had a few Q&A's in the last few years.

"Well, yes. But I was going to start with the easy questions. Like what's your favourite animal?" I asked trying to start slow and build up the questions; I didn't want her bolting out the door and leaving me stranded without a ride home or worse have my mother say 'I told you so'.

"Seriously? My favourite Animal. Do you want to know what type of pet I would like? She stared at me, and I just nodded my head. "Well, I would love to get a rabbit someday."

"Really! a rabbit I was expecting you to say a snake or a spider." I know I have just stereotypical her appearance into a bad girl with tattoo box.

She rolls her eyes at me; I find this rather cute.

"What about colour, do you have a favourite or as an artist do you love all colours?

"Wow, Nerd Boy, now we are hitting the hard questions, are you trying to learn all my secrets in one night? I smile I don't answer her, and this time she shakes her head and sighs.

"Purple, and yes, I do like lots of different colours." Purdy looked out the booth window and let out an exasperated puff of air along with a sigh. I was about to say that maybe I shouldn't ask her any more questions tonight when she turned around on her seat and started talking to me.

Purdy talked about how her signature style was dark and similar to the pieces I saw in art class. However, when she goes to Janey's house, she does landscapes and woodland pictures. But she keeps them all there because the collection is not complete as she only works on them when she is there.

"So what age are you?" regretting my words the moment I said them, I suddenly remembered being told not to ask females their age.

"Almost 20, my birthday is a couple of weeks after yours." She claimed and didn't seem bothered about being asked.

"Oh. I didn't realise. How come you missed so much school." My questions were now starting to resemble a conversation and not an interrogation.

"I went a bit off the rails for a while. I got very angry with my parents for being drug addicts and killing themselves, and if someone even looked at me funny, I misused my boxing skills and floored them. At the time, I thought I was invincible." She looked embarrassed, probably thinking of the hurt she caused people.

Denise came with my food; I wasted no time and started speaking around a mouthful of fries, I asked. "How did you sort yourself out?"

"Getting arrested, being in jail." She said so matter-of-factly, and I was amazed at how calm she was saying this to me, someone, she hardly knows.

"What the...really what happened?" My brain and mouth weren't working in tandem, and I rushed out an apology. "Sorry you caught me by surprise, you don't have to explain yourself."

"It's ok Steven, I don't mind telling you, and you will find out that in our community most people know everyone and everyone's business. So be prepared." Purdy paused for a few moments, and as she gathered her thoughts or perhaps her nerve, I concentrated on the delicious food and wondered if I would be greedy to order seconds.

"I got set up by a few boys in the last school I attended," she went quiet again, and I didn't dare interrupt her, after a few moments she started talking again. "I always ran track after school you know trying to shake off the anger and my bad temper, and it did help probably because it tired me out. The school's track team was pathetic, so usually, it was only me running after school, which suited me fine. After an extra-long run and a workout that evening, I was exhausted, and I headed to the locker room when four boys attacked me in showers." Purdy paused to sip her water. She glanced out the window again; I wasn't sure if I wanted her to continue bad things were now running through my hyperactive brain.