*Geek Boy*
Ellie Kent had been watching me jog.
Just the words made my heart pound.
Even at 6:00 in the morning, she was flawless. Golden curls had poured over her shoulders, forming a halo around her glowing face. Her aquamarine blue eyes had been wide, her lips slightly parted in surprise when our eyes met.
I sighed. Wow.
I was currently in one of the university classes my mother had booked for me. But I could barely pay attention. Ellie's face kept appearing in my mind. Her smile from last night was forever imprinted in my skull. A massive grin stretched over my face just from the thought of it.
I had gone on a date with Ellie Kent.
Ellie Kent had gone on a date with me.
No matter how many times I repeated the statement in my mind, I couldn't come to terms with it. I couldn't believe it.
My gaze jumped to my watch. The time was ticking slowly, at eleven. Every second was lengthy, stretching me further away from Ellie.
The memory of her lips pressed to mine flashed through my mind. I groaned quietly, pressing my forehead to my palm.
The professor's voice blurred out as Ellie's voice reverberated through my mind. 'I like you.'
I could hear her perfectly, hear the faint nuances of her light soft voice, hear the way she was just slightly breathless.
I was definitely not going to learn anything today.
Finally, a hour later, the class ended. A low chatter filled the room as the university students made their way out of the classroom.
I stood, taking in the time. 12:00. Only an hour till I met Ellie.
"Mr Johnson, can I speak to you for a moment?" The professor called from the front.
I glanced at the time, frowning.
Ellie.
"Of course," I replied.
I headed down the stairs, towards the professor.
He shuffled some sheets on the table before clearing his throat and looking up at me. "Mr Johnson, you couldn't possibly be the son of David Johnson?"
I froze. My heart stopped.
His name reverberated through my mind, ripping open old wounds.
I nodded, my jaw clenched. My entire body was suddenly stiff.
He smiled. "I thought so! You're a spitting image of your father, young man." He laughed. "Your father and I were in some of the same classes at Harvard. He was an absolutely amazing mathematician. I heard he became an actuarist?"
I nodded. "Yes, sir."
He shook his head. "I always knew he'd be making a lot of money. But I haven't seen him around any conferences or reunions in a long while. What's he up to these days?"
I just stared at him for a moment, body clenched, unsure what to say.
"He's currently in Spain, sir."
"Oh, I see," he mused. "A traveller, that man is. I'm sure he's enjoying himself."
"Sure," I replied.
Maybe he was. I wouldn't know.
"Well, I'm off to get coffee, Â so say hello for me, and instruct him to attend a few conferences. We really miss him over here."
I nodded. "Yes, sir."
Smiling, he left the classroom.
I hadn't spoken to my father in seven years. My father: the man who didn't argue when my mother dragged me away with her after The Incident, ripping our family apart.
I left the room, heading towards my car.
45 minutes now.
45 minutes till I saw Ellie. Till I could hear her laugh, see her smile...
Suddenly, I didn't care about what my father had done.
I pulled out of the parking lot, resisting the urge to floor the car. My phone vibrated from the car seat.
I glanced at the name: Lydia Johnson.
My mother.
My jaw clenched as the professor's questions reverberated in my thoughts. Then I remembered James's face, skin sunken unhealthily over his bones as he asked about her. I remembered the way my mother insulted Ellie. Ellie, the sweetest girl in the entire world.
I ignored it.
Immediately, my phone began vibrating again.
My fingers twitched as I resisted picking it up.
She called a third time.
I Â frowned.
My mother didn't call me often. What if it was an emergency?
Before I could pick it up, the sound of her voice mail filled the car: "William, call me back immediately."
Sighing, I pulled over and quickly called my mother.
She didn't answer.
Of course.
I hung up. I switched my phone off before I tossed it into in the back seat. Sighing, I pulled back onto the road.
My mother was not going to ruin today.
I finally arrived at my house as 12:30. In mere minutes, I'd raced to my room. I scoured my wardrobe, searching for the perfect clothing.
I frowned at the clothes I was already wearing: my  tartan shirt and black jeans. They read geek loud and clear, a blatant affirmation of what she probably had yet to realise, that I wasn't good enough for her.
That thought brought back the memory of Justin and Chelsea.
The moment I'd spotted them in the restaurant last night, I'd frozen, concerned about Ellie's reaction.
Ellie's actions played over in my mind. The moment she'd  seen them, she'd stiffened.
My heart had sunk.
Did she not want them to know we were together?
Was she embarrassed by me?
And who could blame her? Why would she want to be seen with someone so completely below her league?
My chest ached just thinking about it.
Yet, what shocked me was how little it mattered. If I could be with Ellie, if I could have her attention, even if it was for a second, I didn't mind if she wanted to keep our relationship a secret from her friends.
Were we even in a relationship?
I exhaled. I crumpled into a chair as my mind was suddenly flooded with her beautiful face, burning red as she looked up at me from beneath those thick lengthy lashes. More than once, she'd bitten her lip, reddening the cupid bow.
Wow.
She'd reacted like that to me. Of all people.
I sighed.
Finally, I pulled out a taut black t-shirt. Unbuttoning my shirt, I headed to the bathroom, ready to take my second shower of the day.
Perfection. I needed to be perfect. Ellie deserved nothing less.
When my shower was over, I finally decided on a clothing combination, pulling on the black t-shirt and black jeans. I sprayed a small amount of cologne.
I stared into the mirror, giving myself a mental pep talk.
Today was the day.
The day I finally asked Ellie the question that had burned my thoughts for the last seven years.
The day I asked her to be my girlfriend.
What would she say when I asked her? Would she refuse? Would she even consider it?
I scanned my appearance.
Wow, I definitely don't deserve Ellie.
Fear manifested as a lump in my throat.
I had done all of this in the wrong order.
A gentleman would have asked her to be his girlfriend first. Then he would have taken her on a date, and after a reasonable amount of time, would have kissed her at  a beautiful venue, instead of in the parking lot during a high school football game.
I groaned.
The proper way, that's what Ellie deserved. That was the respect she was entitled to. Somehow, I kept falling short of the ideal. I kept falling short of Ellie.
When was she going to notice? When was she going to realize that I wasn't good enough for her?
Catherine's words invaded my thoughts, 'Ellie Kent is going to break your heart.'
I sighed. I already knew that, Cath.
From the way I felt about Ellie now--the way my heart pounded, the way my mind raced at the thought of her face, the way I inadvertently grinned at the mention of her name--it was going to hurt when she broke my heart. Badly.
My entire body froze when the sound of the doorbell rang throughout the house.
No matter how much it would hurt when she finally realised I wasn't good enough for her, I would risk it, just to be with her one more day.
My heart thumped rapidly.
I paused, taking in a deep lungful of air.
Before I could over think it, I jogged out of my room and down the stairs.
The memory of my mother's phone call nudged at my mind. Â Her voice mail had sounded panicked, unlike herself.
Finally, I just shook my head. Nothing was going to ruin today.
I opened the door.
*
Hello my wonderfuls! This chapter was shorter than usual, but I'll update the next chapter soon (possibly on friday) to make up for it ;) If you liked it pretty please vote/share and tell me what you think in the comments ;D I think you guys are going to love the next chapter. Trust me ;) Remember when I said there's a lot of drama coming up? Wait till you see what happens, heehee XD
Anyway, what do you guys want to see in this book? Is there someone you want to see more of? Something you want to see more of? Something you want to happen? You guys provide a lot of inspiration for me when I'm writing BATGB. I was on a writing marathon yesterday (I'm ten chapters ahead now heehee) and I was wondering what you guys would think of the next few chapters.
By the way, this chapter is dedicated to an avid commenter who has constantly made me laugh and smile with her reactions ;) Thank you so much for making my day ;)
See you later my alligators ;)
God bless
xxx
Yemi Everest