Stuck Between The Pages

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO: CRUSH

He's given me enough homework to last ten years. I'm gonna die of nerdism.
-Mark A. Cooper

I'm used to people thinking I can't do many things right, that I'm not smart but I also happen to know that there are things I'm really good at. 

See, I don't think that we should lie to people or tell them they did things right when they didn't, or they're good at something when they're not. That really doesn't help anyone and it sets people back in the long run. 

But I also know that if you keep telling people they're a failure or messed up or can't do things right, after a while they'll start agreeing.

Apparently Mr. Jael doesn't care who he thinks is dumb- -though at this point I doubt he thinks I'm just a stupid jock- -because he assigns the entire class to do math exercises with their partners.

None of us got them done before the last bell of the day rang -once again making me curse my schedule change.

First hour was so much easier.

"So..." I turn towards Robin. "Where do you want to go to finish this?"

"Have you ever heard of a library?" She asks, voice full of sass. "Because we can go there but I'm bringing my best friend."

I can't help but to scoff, "Scared to be left alone with me?"

"I'm not scared of you," Pale eyes narrow at me as she pushes her glasses up on her nose, hands holding tight to her book. One that I know has a new poem in it. "Meet me at the library at five, I have things to do."

"Do you actually have things to do or do you just want to get this over with as fast as you can?"

The nerd stays silent, a light frown on her lips.

Nudging her up at the elbow, I grin when she finally stands. "Come on, Four-eyes, we need to get a move on."

"Whatever, Jock-Strap," Robin sighs, giving me a look. "I didn't know your time was so important to you."

"Keep up Birdie, time isn't real."

Leaving school as fast as I can, I pick up the triplets in a rush to make it home, to Benji and Ry's practice and then back to the library. Which, thankfully, my step-mom is actually home tonight so she's watching the kids.

Benjamin and Rylie are both soccer players and on the same team. Benji is the goalie and Ry is normally the one the team relies on to score goals, meanwhile when Elijah isn't too busy doing the math he loves so much- -he's a junior mathlete- -he's their own personal cheerleader.

He even made a jersey with both their numbers on it -the catch being it's hot pink, a color neither of his siblings like.

So Eli is supporting them, just in the most annoying way possible.

You can tell we're related.

They're all old enough to stay at home alone for an hour, at eleven, and since it will be just Elijah I'm not worried about him doing anything he's not supposed to.

Though, Benji and Ry being at practice together has ended in trouble.

I'm just hoping that nothing happens while I'm at the library, which includes the anxiety making heart-pounding sight of my crush still thinking I'm stupid.

I know that I'm smart.

But she doesn't.

Proof enough of that is how her pale eyes widen when she sees me come around the corner, as if she couldn't believe I could physically walk into a building full of books.