The Nerd's Personal Bad Boy

constant fear

Hello, lovelies! :) Please read the A/N below! Enjoy reading! :)

"yes."

She didn't realize until 10 seconds later. Her eyes full of fear and confusion. Daniel who was smiling, felt the same. He had thought she knew already, all the things he did, all the times he tried to show her how he felt, did it all go down the drain?

Instead of appearing hurt, Daniel quickly wore his 'mask', that he did over the years of torment.

"Kidding, sweetheart! that'll never happen because it'll be you asking me." He said

The tension in Claudia's eyes dispersed, "I over reacted, phew." she thought.

the pair waved everything off and deemed it as a joke, but deep inside, they knew it was all but.

When they arrived at school, they bade each other goodye, having no classes together that day. Claudia was relieved though, after the little incident, she needed some time to make it all sink in, she was the type to think things through despite how clumsy she is.

"Ow," she said, kneeling to touch a part of her foot, just below the ankle. Claudia's shoes were new and she hadn't had the chance to break them in yet, everytime she walked, it caused friction and the pain grew stronger.

Claudia sat on a bench by the field, (it was her free period). She examined her foot and wasn't surprised to see a wound, she sighed deeply.

It might seem weird and crazy but this is how she felt about love in general.

"You know it's gonna hurt you, yet you go on with it anyway."

Claudia knew those shoes were gonna cause wounds the moment she wore them, there was a distinct sense of uncomfortability but she just wore them, thinking it'll be okay.

The truth was Claudia was afraid, she lived in constant fear, the fear of love. It was kinda stupid because she never experienced it. She had no backstory of a bad memory of it or a terrible break up. She didn't want to fall in love just because she didn't want to get hurt.

"God, give me a sign!" she yelled

Right on cue, a bird pooped beside her.

"Shit happens," she said

Claudia knew now, ridiculous as it may seem but the bird poop helped.

---

"Dude, pass, I'm open!" yelled Derek, Daniel's basketball team mate

The coach was absent so the team had to practice on their own. The rest of the team went out to get lunch but four remained, they had a 2 on 2 game.

Daniel focused on the ring, not hearing Derek's yells, his breathing heavy, sweat trickling down the side of his face. All he could hear was the steady pace of his heartbeat and the pounding of his head. He stood adjacent to the ring, attempting to shoot from his location, as he threw the ball, it circled around the rim of the ring, looking like a clear shot except it wasn't.

"WHAT THE HELL!" Daniel exclaimed

"whoa, calm down, dude." Derek said

Derek gestured for the other two guys to take 5, they gladly did, not waning to face the wrath of their frustrated team mate.

Daniel sat where he stood, one knee to his chest, his arm on top, while the other leg stretched out.

"So, what's up? You on your period or somethin'?" Derek tried to joke.

Daniel looked at him with a straight face, as if to say 'not the time' Thankfully enough, Derek took the hint.

Daniel was debating whether to tell Derek or not, growing up, Daniel's father has taught him to not grow attached to anyway, friendships. Because 'friends' will bring you down.