Stuck Between The Pages

Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE: REASON

My best definition of a nerd: someone who asks you to explain an aphorism. 
-Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Keagan's

There's a soccer game right after school for Rylie and Benji, and then right after that Benji has a football game too.

Meaning I might be there for four hours, then I have to help them with homework, make dinner and get them to bed before I even do my own homework.

This is something I'm skipping football practice for- -even if Friday practices are usually the worst one to skip because we have a game the next day- -but it's not something I'll regret doing, mostly because I don't have a game tomorrow because the other team pulled out last minute.

Doesn't mean coach won't be mad.

I'm not going to be the reason nobody shows up for the triplets or make them think they're not worth it.

"I can't study with you guys today." I tell them, making Nell raise an eyebrow.

"We're studying?" She glances at her best friend. "You said this was work for a class."

Giving her a small, confused look I glanced at Robin too. "No...we didn't have to do work after class since the second week. This is just studying. Birdie said Mister Jael suggested that we study with partners so that we don't fail any tests."

"Anyway." Robin clears her throat, seeming to be a bit flustered for a reason I can't think of. "Do you have a party to go to or something?"

Fuck it, if she's going to stereotype me I'm going to at least enjoy it.

So I shrug, smirking as I look her up and down. "What do you think?"

"It's a possibility, um..." The nerd gulps, blue eyes wide. "Can you work on Monday?"

My smirk widens as I wink, "You'll find out on Monday."

I might be having a bit too much fun with this.

But if everyone thinks I'm a douche-bag at first glance then I might as well act like one- -respectfully, I hate the guys who treat women like shit because they think it's hot- -and get her to blush a few times.

"Hey Birdie," I wave to her on my way out, knowing Benji told me his boyfriend is coming to watch the game. "See you later."

She just stares after me, confused.

During the entire time from the end of school to the start of the game, I was anxious about seeing Robin again.

Mostly because after getting yelled at by my coach because I can't take time off from my personal life- -he knows I'm raising the triplets, and I know he's more mad about that than at me- -my anxiety's higher than normal.

It's actually her little brother, Joey, who recognized me first.

That made things better.

Him and Eli are standing on the edge of the field in matching hot pink jerseys, but unlike Elijah's who has both his sibling's numbers on them, Joey only has Benji's number on it.

"Hey guys," I ruffle their hair, making Eli scowl at me. "If either of you get cold, I have blankets in the car and if Ry or Benji start to get cold let me know, I brought extra jackets and shit for them."

Elijah rolls his eyes at me, "We're fine, Dad."

Instead of meaning it this time, he's teasing me, but the jolt in my chest at being called it remains the same.