Chain Reaction 3.1.2: Nerd Girl

     Still buzzing about what happened in the park earlier, I come home. Valentino has already gone to school, but I dare my parents to say anything about me blatantly skipping. Dad actually does an 'aren't you going to school, son?' I tell him to bite me.

     Why am I making a big deal out of what happened in the park? I can't stop thinking about it. That girl literally just met me.
     Believe me though, I am NOT complaining. It was like a fantasy come to life.
     Then why am I wigging out? I'm glad no one can see me like this. My friends would tell me to revel in it not freak.
     But... like... why? What was her motivation?
     Oh yeah. Ex-boyfriend. I let out a puff of air and raise my head, staring at the bookshelf in front of me.
     She probably would've done it to anyone. She just wanted revenge.

      So it's no big deal. Just something awesome that happened to me.

     I fall asleep and dream of blue hair.

     Over the next weeks, Lizette hardly notices I exist, reinforcing my conclusion that it meant nothing but a means to an end.
     My dad breaks wide open the conspiracy having to do with the aliens and prison inmates. Sixams come in and arrest every Prexan they can find, and our governments are trying to work together to achieve justice. There's some other stress to do with it, but I decide to stay out of it.
     They have a trial date set for Drake, but they've as of yet to arrest Mike.
     We get an unexpected cold snap for the end of summer/early fall.

     It's Saturday, so I escape the house to go to a park. Kyra and I used to love this park. Another thing about it: It is not the skatepark. I'm avoiding that place for a while. My friend Trey has really pissed me off. I was in charge of the camera, and I totally missed an awesome jump he did--landing perfectly after practically flying like a bird over ten steps. I was distracted by a girl in a tank top. I guess he's got a right to be pissed at me.

     Can I help it if I get... a girl walks into the park ...distracted?
     It's still early. That's one of the reasons I came here. I wasn't expecting anyone else to show up. Not that I mind.
     Is that 'nerd girl'? I think it's that girl that'll probably be valedictorian of our class.
     I decide to get up and see if I'm right.

      I crack a small smile. It is her. Doing her homework. On a Saturday morning.
      I inwardly sigh. I remember back when I used to care about my grades.

     "Heeeeello there." I awkwardly swing my leg over the bench.
     She doesn't even glance up at me. Plumbob, has she always been cute?

      She still hasn't looked up, so I decide to try again.
      "Hi."
      Nothing.
      Her pen scratches away at her notebook.
      What gives? "You know, it's polite to say 'hi' back."

     She sighs exasperatedly and looks at me--finally. "You know, it's impolite to interrupt someone when they're clearly busy with something." Her words slash out at me like a snake, but I don't care. I'm bored. And she's cute.
     "Just thought I'd come over and say hi. I don't know if you know me. We go to the same school. My name's Alaric."
     "I know who you are." Again, biting. She's not even wearing makeup and she's just... cute. Naturally cute.
     Plum! I don't know her name! I'd already implied I recognized her, but I don't know her actual name. My friends and I just refer to her as 'nerd girl.' I know I've heard it, but why can't I remember?!
     She rolls her eyes and goes back to her work.

     She wants me to leave her alone.
     "So what are you working on?" But I'm not going to.
     "Physics."
     "Oh! I like physics." The corner of my mouth goes up in a half-smile. "Need any help?"
     "Don't make me laugh." She's right. I've fallen behind. She could probably run rings around me in any subject. I strangely really like that right now, though.
      I chuckle. "Yeah. You're right. Thought I'd offer, though. You know, give you a differing perspective, help you figure out what's not the answer..." I let my voice trail off.

     "Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Her pretty eyes glare at me. What color are they? They hide behind those glasses. Blue? Green? Grey?
      "Nope." I smile.
      "The skatepark?" she offers.
      "Nah. My friends are all still asleep." Dirk threw a party last night since his parents are out of town. I bailed, not wanting to get into it with Trey. Guy needs to chill.
      "Then maybe you should join them." The more she wants me to leave, the more I want to stay. This is great!
       I get up and walk around the table.

      Her momentary relax does a one-eighty when I sit down next to her. "I thought you were leaving."
     "No, I thought I'd stay." I look at her cheek. She has a kind of mole or freckle or beauty mark. There. Even nature has acknowledged her beauty.
      "In case your neanderthal brain hasn't caught on yet, I want to be alone to study."
      "It's Saturday!" I playfully argue. "And hey! Neanderthal?"
      "It's a race of prehistoric humans which science has discovered passed down some of its genes into a percentage of the population. I believe it contributes to a certain amount of unintelligence and... hairiness."
      Oh, have mercy. This is great. "I know what they are." I still can't exactly place her eye color. Maybe a closer inspection is needed...
      "Recognize them from your family tree, do you?" Her eyes storm at me, but then the act of momentarily biting her lip betrays her.
      "You have an interest in my family tree?" I tease. She may be better in class, but I'm betting I can match her wit for wit.
      "Of course not!" she snaps. I smile. Ruffled, she makes a motion as if to wave me away. "I just want to study in peace." Her phone makes a noise.

     "Boyfriend?" Wait. Does she have a boyfriend?
     "No. I don't have a boyfriend. It's my mom. She can't find the... Wait. It's none of your business." She shoves her phone back in her pocket and pretends to get back to studying. She's too tense, though. I'll bet she's unable to read two lines without getting distracted.
     "You know, maybe you should take a break." I sneak my hand over and quickly close her book.
     "Alaric! Would you please leave!"
     I like her saying my name, and I get up again. But I'm not leaving.

     I plop down on top of her book before she can open it again. "Maybe we should go and get breakfast." I turn towards her. "Hungry?"
     Her voice shakes. Don't know if in fear or anger or both. "Alaric. Please. I need to work on this thesis. I'm trying to get a scholarship. Not all of us are lucky enough to be born rich."
     I spin around some, completely covering her book now, and I lean in and say very quietly, "Maybe not rich, but certainly beautiful."

       She looks up and freezes. They're green.
       Do I kiss her? I've never actually kissed a girl.
       The look in her eyes makes me pause. It's like in her mind she's playing every little girl's fantasy of finding the right man, getting married, and having babies.
       Whoa. Whoa! That's... a little more than I bargained for. I can't do this to her. Instead of kissing her, I run my finger down her jaw, wishing I weren't wearing gloves. I stop at her chin and say the first thing to come to mind. "Take a break. Breakfast?"
      Her face suddenly crumples like she's going to cry. Why? Then she backs her head away, leans back, and does a clumsy job of getting off the bench.
      "Um..." I want to ask her to wait, but I still don't remember her name!
      "I gotta go," she replies, sounding like she can barely get the words out. Plum. What happened?
      "Wait!" I call out, deciding to just leave out the name. Why I didn't think of that sooner, I don't know.
      She doesn't reply but runs out of the park. I belatedly get up and try to go after her, but she vanishes.
      Sighing, I slowly re-enter the park and stare at the picnic table.

     What... just... happened? I was having fun annoying her. She's just so plumbing cute.
      Plum, did I really tell her she's beautiful? My face reddens. Crap. I did. I got a bit carried away. Maybe I wanted to see if it would work. I was sort of thinking on my feet, as it were. How did I let it go that far? I just wanted to mess with her a little bit. I wasn't really trying to be Romeo.
      My eyes focus on her abandoned notebook. She left in such a hurry that she forgot to take it. I walk over and pick it up from the table. She has pretty handwriting.

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