The Nerd [BXB]

12 𖠇 An Unusual Morning in Sunset City

   There is a knock on my door just as I dive into my orange sweatshirt. "It's all good," I call out. "Come in."

   My mother peeks through the gap between the open door, her light-brown curls dangling over her shoulder. "Ready?"

I snatch my bag from the rolling chair near my desk. "Yeah."

She grabs the keys to her Jeep from the kitchen table and hands me a container full of warm mac-n-cheese and a plastic fork.

I grin, holding my breakfast on my hands. "You really know how to keep me healthy."

"Oh, please," she snaps, closing the door behind her. She runs a hand over her black suit as she follows me to the vehicle. "I was in a hurry."

"Don't worry," I let her know, heading to the vehicle. The morning sunlight stings my eyes, forcing me to squint them as I cross the fresh-mowed lawn. "I am not arguing."

She throws her purse to the backseats as soon as she enters the vehicle. "So tell me," she says. "What has been up with you?"

I open the container and stab the mac-n-cheese before bringing it to my mouth. "Is this a mother-and-son bonding moment?"

She nods. "I think that's what they call it."

I chuckle, enjoying the breakfast more than I thought I would. "Well," I say, after gulping the second bite, "I have yet to finish my new book, but I am off to a good start."

"That's great!" she cheers, stopping at a red light. "A writer in the family."

I close my eyes and cross my fingers, gripping my breakfast on the other hand. "Fingers crossed, mom."

"How is it going with the future boyfriend?" she asks, glancing at me for a few seconds before focusing back on the road. "Anything interesting?"

I squint my eyes at her. "Mom, you seem more interested in my love life than my personal achievements."

She shrugs. "I value both."

"Surprisingly enough, we are still talking after a month," I finally let her know, feeling my cheeks warming up. "No one has stuck with me that long."

Her eyebrows sink as she looks at me after parking outside the school. "Don't say that, Theo," she says, facing me. "You are a great boy."

I offer her a smile, resting the almost-empty container on the dashboard. "I'll take it even though you're forced to say that just because you're my mother," I say, opening the door, ready to step out.

"Theo," she calls for me before I am fully out.

I look at her.

"Now that you brought mothers up," she says, chewing the inside of her cheek. "Your momma is planning on coming to Sunset City this weekend."

I raise both eyebrows. "That's great!"

Her eyes are dreary, giving me a glimpse of her fear that my momma might take me away from her. There has always been this constant worry on the back of my mother's head that I will decide to leave her to stay with momma. First, she lost her wife and now she might lose her only son too.

She doesn't want to be alone.

"I love you, mom," I say, somehow hoping that my words cheer her up a little.

She throws me a kiss. "So do I, Theo."

With that, I close the door and watch her drive away. I tug the straps on my backpack before heading into the building in front of me. Seconds later, a scent of vanilla and peaches whiffs over my nose. That is when I look to my sides and see Blaire on my left and Aurora on my right, trotting by my side with their chins up.

"Are we supposed to make some kind of entrance?" I ask them, nearing the front doors.

"When are we not?" Blaire replies, seconds after blowing a bubble with her pink gum and popping it loudly.

Aurora is applying red lipstick, making me worry that she might stump into a pole if she doesn't remove her eyes from the mini-mirror she's holding. "Theo," she says, smacking her lips. "Do you think this color fits me?"

I pucker my bottom lips, shrugging. "I guess." The red does look nicely alongside her sun-kissed skin and big brown eyes.

"It better," she adds. "No pague tanto dinero por nada."

"No te preocupes," I say, gaining her attention. "El rojo se te ve bien."

"Wow, Theo." She grins. "I'm impressed."

I can't help but feel a little proud. "I took Spanish freshman and sophomore year." I start looking around the hallways, expecting to see Genesis coming my way with her blonde hair following behind her. "Where is Genesis?"

Blaire groans, tucking a loose strand of pink hair behind her ear. "Drowned in her own ego," she snaps. "She really likes acting like the Queen bee."

   I open my mouth but decide to close it seconds after. Honestly, their sudden dislike for Genesis marveled me. The three seemed too attached to one another to the point where I considered that they might be sisters. Well, sisters that stab one another's back with snarky comments. Siblings do that, though, don't they?

   If only I had a sibling to prove so.

   "She lasted two months more with him than we did, but that does not give her privileges," Blaire bickers.

That is when it comes back to me the fact that the three have gone out with Harvey prior to him meeting me. Before I am able to ask them a question, Aurora nudges my shoulder and says, "Target coming your way."

Blaire leans close to my ear and whispers, "Captivate him."

With those words, the two walk down opposite hallways, leaving me standing by myself. Harvey waves at me as he gets closer, wearing his letterman and blue jeans.

"Do you ever leave your house without that jacket?" I ask, tugging the hard material on his letterman.

He shakes his head. "I bring it with me even when I shower."

I chuckle, diving my hands into the pockets on my sweatshirt. Meanwhile, he dives his hands into the pockets on his pants.

"I want to apologize," he says, smile fading away. "I know I told you I was going to pick you up, but I fell asleep unexpectedly."

I wave him off. "I already received your apologizes the next day," I remind him. "And, once again, know that it's totally fine."

"I kind of feel guilty," he admits as I proceed to walk to class with him by my side.

"Don't." I look up at him. "Oscar walked me home."

"Oscar Ashford?"

"Yes."

As we take a turn, he brings up: "Was he nice?"

I give him a glance, pushing my glasses up my nose. "Why would he not be?"

Harvey nods at some of his friends that are scattered around the hallway as we walk. "I've heard bad things about him," he explains. "He's got quite a low reputation."

I stop walking and tilt my head to the side.

Harvey does the same a few feet away from me. "What is it, Theo?"

"Don't let the gossip get to you, Harvey," I tell him, actually feeling a glint of exasperation inside of me. "Oscar is a great guy—so get to know him before assuming his reputation."

He remains standing there, glancing down at the white tiles.

"What even is reputation, anyway?" I murmur as I walk past him, scoffing as I enter my English period.

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