THE NERDY GIRL

👓 Chapter 28 - Alone

The look on her face was that of disappointment. Her frown was intense and her hurt was transparent. Her heart felt like it was pierced by a thousand needles.

"I trusted you, Tristan! " she shouted, even more hurt. She had even trusted him enough to allow him into her home and share the story about her father.

He shifted his head "Well, you shouldn't have, Nerd. "

At first she thought he felt remorse, but now his face held a cold look.

Emotionless.

She felt stupid. Stupid for pouring out her heart and soul to the nincompoop in front of her. He looked concerned the day she told him everything about her father, for once in a long time she had known him, he looked sincere. Like he would suck away her pain and guard her like a knight. His eyes were soft green, the color of the quiet sea. She thought she was beginning to see the real him, the genuine Tristan that cried with his mother in their kitchen the other day.. The broken kid..

But now, all she could see facing her was icy green eyes, so cold it could freeze her soul. And his signature smirk wasn't in it's position. This wasn't the Tristan she knew...

"I asked you to stay away from her! " Nathan roared like a wounded lion. He looked like he pitied her, but she didn't need pity. He looked like he was apologizing for something she was at that moment unclear of. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to be with people who didn't add joy to her.

She didn't know if it was reflex or something came over her body as she walked out of the room.

She felt betrayed.

She's a toy to me...

Now she realized who and what Tristan took her for. She couldn't believe she was going to have feelings for the hopeless jerk. He used her as a card to get back at Nathan for Rachel...

She couldn't help but wonder if Nathan was using her too. To make Rachel jealous for running off with Tristan. Her ears had heard enough today and she felt bad for herself. Nathan must've considered her a charity case and she felt humiliated.

Was that really what he thought of me? A charity case?

She didn't need anyone's help anymore. This wasn't some cliché story where the bullied girl gets a knight in shining amour. The more she thought about all the help Nathan offered her, she felt sad.

Weeks before, she would jump into his arm and praise him. He was her one true friend but she never knew she was just a part of a bigger story.

Rachel's story... Their love triangle...

She was determined to be on her own now. She didn't want anyone's help and she could fight for herself, after all she survived her whole life without anyone sticking up for her. She had stood up to Rachel once, even Tristan. So, she didn't want anyone receiving glory for anything.

She felt like telling Nathan that she didn't need his help but didn't. But one way or the other he would realize it.

Her inner voice kept telling her she didn't belong here and she couldn't suppress it. She couldn't disbelieve the feeling.

When the final bell rung, she picked her bag and left school. She wanted to get engaged with her real life outside school and work hard so she could finally leave this hell of a school.

Mona was worried about her and tried her best to cheer her up.

"Let me drop you off! I finally get to see Travis and give him an autograph from my mom! What do you think?! " She cheered.