The Nerd Falls in Love

Nerd

"Astrid!"

I groaned then hid under the covers. I heard footsteps outside my bedroom then my bedroom door creaked open.

"Astrid, get up. You're gonna be late." Mom threw back the covers, making me squint from the sunlight shining through the blinds of my bedroom window.

"Mom, it's Sunday. No school." I replied sleepily. 

I heard my mom chuckle. Why does she find this amusing? She shook my shoulder then whispered in my ear.

"Sweetie, it's Monday. First day at new school? Ring any bells?" My eyes shot open.

I rolled around in bed so fast, I landed on the floor with a thump. I grabbed my phone from the night stand and my eyes widened. it read 7:45 AM.

"Holy sheep! I'm late!" I shouted.

I sprinted to the bathroom and had the fastest shower I've ever had in my entire life. I put on my favorite blue sweater and jeans then put my hair in a messy braid, applied some mascara and a bit of gloss then grabbed my bag and ran downstairs. I heard a bark as I landed in the living room. My bluish-grey Siberian Husky had her tongue out and appeared to be smiling at me.

"Stormfly! Hey, girl! You seem happy today." I said as I patted her head gently. She barked happily at me.

"Hey, sweet pea. I made you some French toast for breakfast." My dad said as he poured coffee into his mug.

"Uh, thanks dad but I'm kinda running a bit behind schedule. Mind throwing it in a lunch bag for me?" I said as I slipped on my white Converse.

"Sure. Heads up!" Dad said as he threw me the lunch bag.

I caught it without a sweat then sent him a smile. "Thanks, dad!" I said then grabbed my keys from the bowl and ran out the door to my car.

I chucked the key into the ignition and started the car. It was the longest 15 minute drive I've ever experienced. As I was passing the intersection, a cat decided to run in front of my bumper so I had to hit the break as fast and as hard as I could. After that I ran into a friend of my mom who wouldn't stop blabbering about this new parrot she got from the pet store and just when I was about to park in the school's last parking slot, some jerk with a sleek black Jeep slid into the spot so I had to park at a nearby coffee shop. I bursted into West Berk High's front doors and ran as fast as I could to the principal's office to get my schedule. I scanned the sheet of paper the principal's assistant handed me. I had History first at 8 am. I checked the time on my phone. 8:23 am. Shit. I ran across the hall and found the room. I smoothed out my hair and sweater before I knocked and entered.

"Well, you're a little early for tomorrow's class, aren't you, Miss, uhm..?" The class laughed and I turned beet red. I faced the teacher.

He looked friendly and warm so I returned his smile and said, "It's Astrid, sir. Astrid Hofferson." The teacher thought for a moment then his eyes widened as if he realized something.

"I've heard that name before. Were you that girl that won the Math Wizard award five times in a row?"

If it was possible to turn redder than a tomato, I would've.

"Yes sir." I whispered timidly as I heard someone from the class cough a "nerd" comment. He then motioned to a seat by the window. A boy with auburn hair and dressed in expensive looking clothes sat to the right of the chair, looking at me smugly. He had that mischievous glint in his forest green eyes that told me to be careful around him.

"Impressive! Hello, Astrid. I'm Sir Gobber. You may now take a seat beside Mr. Haddock there."  The teacher said as he pointed to the guy seated beside my seat.

Everyone's eyes were on me as I walked towards my seat but as I did, the floor suddenly seemed to close in on my face. Before I knew it, I was on the floor, face first. I heard the class gasp, some snickered. I picked myself off the floor and when I turned around, the green-eyed guy's foot was extended in front of him. I glared at him as I took my seat.

He just smirked at me then said, "Hey, nerd."