My First Broken Heart

Chapter 5:The Nerd and the Jocks

                                                                                THEN

As soon as I entered the house, I tossed my school bag on the couch and heard my phone ringing. I dug it up from my bag’s pocket, looked at the screen and saw an unknown number. I ignored it. I was not in the habit of accepting calls from unknown people who might just be looking for textmates. Anyway, if it’s anything important, the caller will text or try to call again.

“ Mom.” I called out as I entered the kitchen. I called out three more times but got no answer. I went to the refrigerator to get a glass of water and saw a note stuck at the door. Mom and Dad were apparently out for the afternoon with some friends. The note said that dinner was in the ref and a few seconds in the microwave oven will take care of it.

After grabbing an apple, I climbed up to my room. I was still holding my phone when it rang again. The same unknown digits. I refused to answer. After a few minutes, the insistent tune rang again.

“Hello,” I said, a bit bored as I lay in bed and closed my eyes.

“Hey, Cass?” I heard Matchbox twenty playing in the background.

“Yeah,” I answered.  

“Hi! Its Nick.”

My eyes flew open. “Hey. What’s up?”

“What are you doing now? Are you home?” Instead of directly asking about the article, he was making small talk. Is this his way of getting his way in everything?

“I’m home, resting a bit before making my homework. “ I said as I sprawled in bed. “Just a wild guess. You flirted with my best friend to get my number.” I blurted with a little sting in my voice.

I could almost picture him wincing. “I wasn’t… ok, Im sorry. I may have coax her a bit to get your number, guilty. But can you blame me? I have been asking around about you and the impression I get is one of Miss Snob. I thought I couldn’t convince you to do this for us.”

I felt my face heat up. “Miss Snob,huh,” I snorted. He just put a label on me. I knew I have never been the most social person. But I was never a snob. I can bee friendly and fun, too. Talk about a total jerk. It took all my willpower not to turn off my phone at that instant.

“Look, Im sorry. I guess I was an ass. What can I do to make it up to you?” He said, pleadingly.

“Nothing. Just let me do this job with your band and I’m out."  As soon as the words were out, I had a feeling I was making a bad decision. But I would be lying if I say I didn’t have Mark on my mind when I said yes.

I heard the smile in his voice when he said, “ Oh, thank you! You’re not gonna regret this. ” I grunted. “ I owe you one.” And then I was listening to a dial tone. The jerk had just hung up on me.

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The next morning, Nick’s face was the first I saw as I was entering the school’s gate. When he walked towards me, I knew he was waiting for me.

“Good morning, Cass! You look great today,” he greeted as he touched my hair near my right ear, a gesture that sent tremors down my back. I swatted his hand and glared at him.

“Spare me your sweet lines, Casanova. Miss Snob won’t buckle,” I said. If my frosty frown won’t freeze him on his feet, my sharp tone surely would.

He walked beside. “I’m sorry, Cass. I was a jerk last night and I got no excuse. It didn’t mean anything. “Nick’s shoulders sagged. Then he grabbed my books and held unto it. From the look of it in his arms, he didn’t intend to let it go.  Does this mean he’s going to walk me to class? Tongues will wag, I tell you. And that was something I didn’t need.