*Geek Boy*
I stared after Ellie. She'd sped through the doorway as if she was on fire, whisking away the blazing glow of sunshine she carried around with her.
I glanced down as my foot nudged something unfamiliar. I bent, picking up the sheet she'd forgotten.
"Mr Johnson?"
I met Mr Meyer's gaze.
He frowned at me. "Are you alright? You've been acting odd."
Nope, I just crossed paths with an angel. I could still feel Ellie's hand beneath mine. Her skin was so soft. The way her face had burned red in class today was forever emblazoned in my mind. I imagined trailing a finger over her cheek, watching pink permeate the cream.
"I'm fine, sir."
Mr Meyer watched me for a moment, before arranging the files on his desk. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you about an incredible opportunity. Harvard is hosting a mathematician's camp in a few months time. It's a fully sponsored two-week residential at the university. We were advised to send our best students and I believe you would be a suitable candidate." He slid a stack of stapled sheets towards me. "Read through it, fill it out, then get back to me. By the end of the day preferably. If you want, you may invite Miss Wilson, she is the second most intelligent pupil in this class."
I picked up the stack. "Alright, sir."
"I strongly recommend you attend. It could provide a myriad of opportunities." He gestured to the door. "You are excused."
I nodded and headed out of the room.
"What did he want to talk to you about?"
Catherine Wilson stood next to the door, leaning against the plaster wall. She straightened as I emerged.
Catherine was one of my closest friends. My parents had known her parents before The Incident that led to us moving here. When I was ten we were practically forced together through family dinners, play dates and social events.
I shrugged, glancing down at the stack. The uppermost page was a form. "Stuff," I said as I continued walking.
Catherine reached for the form, tugging it out of my hands and scanning her eyes over it. "Woah. Harvard, huh?" She blew a breath.
"Meyer said you can attend," I added.
Catherine rolled her eyes. "As an after thought obviously. I don't blame him, you're crazy smart." She glanced down at my hands again, blinking rapidly. "What's that?"
I glanced at Ellie's sheet. It was burning my hand, periodically sending electric sensations up my wrist. Just imagining her holding it was enough to make my heart speed up. I could smell her perfume on it faintlyâfruity, feminine.
I chuckled as I finally noticed what was on the sheet: pictures of Ellie and her friends. In all the images, her and her best friendsâGemma Henderson, Layla Chang and Madison Jeffersonâmade silly expressions. My eyes instantly latched onto her face. In the first one, she stuck her tongue out at me, her eyes glimmering like aquamarine stars.
Goodness, she was adorable.
Catherine stared at me.
I blinked at her. "What is it?"
Catherine shook her head, her brows furrowed. "You're smiling," she muttered. "Whatever." She snorted. "She's absolutely ridiculous isn't she? I mean, she's obviously an idiot but joined our class. She's just wasting our time. Can you believe she fell asleep? She looked like such a dunce."
"I thought she looked cute."
Catherine halted. I slowed when I realized she wasn't moving.
She was glaring at me. "Please don't tell me you're falling for the dumb blonde."
I frowned. "She's not dumb."
"Will!"
"What?" I shoved a hand through my hair. "It's not like that." Okay, maybe it was. "She reminded me of a little kid when she was sleeping. Like your little brother." Not really. OK, not at all. Definitely not all.
When she was sleeping, she looked like a princess right out of a fairy-tale. She'd looked so peaceful, a sharp contrast to the frustrated expression she'd worn throughout the lesson. I hoped I could help her as a tutor, then maybe she'd look that peaceful all the time.
On that matter, how would I be able to tutor her if I couldn't peel my eyes off her face?
Speaking of which, I was going to tutor her. Alone. While talking to her. For the first time in seven years.
I really couldn't handle this much excitement in one day.
"Oh." Catherine's shoulders visibly relaxed. Abruptly, she scowled. "You think my little brother is cute when he's sleeping? If you compared her to that snotty monster, you must really hate her."
I didn't correct her; my head was still swimming from the thought that had just registered. I was tutoring Ellie Kent. Ellie Kent. The girl I'd been crushing on for seven years.
Catherine strode towards me, grabbing my hand. "Come on then, lets get to lunch."
I followed after her, my mind still filled with Ellie's face as she slept.
She was so beautiful.
I glanced up when we reached the canteen. As if by their own accord, my eyes found her. She sat at a table in the middle, with the rest of the popular crowd. She was grinning as she spoke with Madison Jefferson. In between bouts of speech, she jabbed a melon piece from her fruit mix, popping it between perfect glossed lips.
Her hair was whisked into a ponytail, displaying both the natural highlights, a mix of golden and pale honey blonde, and her darker roots. The style complimented her cheekbones, scaled high beneath her flawless skin. Her eyes, the deepest blue known to man, were bordered by thick luxurious lashes. She wrinkled her perfect nose at something Madison said, before giggling.
Surrounding her were her multitude of friends, wearing their usual uniform of designer clothes, cheerleading uniforms, or varsity jackets. And she fit perfectly. She was the prize jewel adorning the crown. She shone like the sun, pouring happiness on the people lucky enought to be near her.
You could see it clearly. The way everyone leaned in, almost as if gravity pulled them towards her. You could see how her infectious laughter made them sit up straighter. You could see the way the guys glanced over nervously when she lifted manicured nails to brush her hair behind her shoulder, then cast a million watt smile at her best friend. That million watt grin that stole my heart all those years ago.
The best and most ironic part? She was blissfully unaware of her effect on everyone surrounding her.
She was so out of my league.
And that was an understatement.
Ellie Kent, head-cheerleader and the most beautiful girl in school. The girl I'd been crushing on for seven years. I couldn't have picked anyone more unattainable if I'd tried.
Suddenly, she glanced up, catching my gaze. For a moment, the world slowed as we stared at each other. My breath froze in my chest. I waited. I watched her, hoping for a glimmer of acknowledgement in those beautiful eyes.
Then she glanced down, at Catherine and I's locked hands, before she quickly turned away.
I struggled to regain my breath.
Catherine and I perched down at our usual table in the back corner, near the wall-encompassing windows. I headed towards the seat facing the lunchroom, giving me a perfect view of Ellie's long blonde hair and petite frame. I reached for my lunch as my eyes scanned her, noting that she was dressed nicer than usual today. Though, she always looked perfect.
Seconds later, Nerissa Chang plopped herself into the seat opposite me. "Hiya."
"Hey," Catherine mumbled through a mouthful of food.
I glanced at Nerissa, daughter of the principal and Layla Chang's twin sister.
"Hey," I replied.
A burst of laughter from the centre of the room stopped her from responding. Nerissa rolled her eyes, glancing back at Ellie and her friends. Ellie was looking up at Gemma Henderson as Gemma told a story with wild animated gestures. I watched as a slow smile slid onto Ellie's face, making her skin glowâlike the first beam of sunshine after a pitch dark night.
I would kill to be the one making her smile.
"Why are all the cheerleaders so excitable today?" Catherine grumbled.
Nerissa pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "I overheard Layla talking to one of them last night about Ellie Kent." She spent a ridiculous amount of time clearing her throat before speaking again. "Apparently, Justin Markson is planning to ask Ellie out and they were discussing battle plans."
"She wants to go out with him?" The words rushed out before I could stop them.
Not that I was good enough for her, but a player quarterback wasn't much better.
Both Catherine and Nerissa stared at me as if I'd grown another head.
Damage control, damage control, damage control.
I cleared my throat. "Just curious," I muttered, taking a bite from my sandwich.
After a beat, Nerissa spoke. "I wouldn't know. From what I garnered, Ellie's friends are planning out her love life without her knowledge. You know, laying seeds for the relationship between the head cheerleader and the star quarterback. To be honest, everyone could see that relationship coming from a mile awayâit's so cliche it hurts. So, obviously, they're particularly excitable today."
I glanced back at Ellie, who was completely ignorant of their plans.
Catherine smirked. "The two deserve each other. Dumb jocks and dumb cheerleaders make pretty dumb babies."
"She's not dumb," I said.
Both of them stared at me again.
"She takes AP classes," I explained. "And she never gets below a B."
They kept staring.
"Not that grades are the only way to determine intelligence."
The shocked silence was beginning to strangle me.
"Mr Meyer gave me a form for a mathematics camp."
Nerissa brightened, finally snapping out of her daze. "Oh, Mrs Kensington gave me one too! It's going to be amazing!"
As Nerissa dissolved into discussing the trip's itinerary, my gaze slid to Ellie. Would she really go out with Justin Markson?
I felt a squeeze on my wrist and glanced at Catherine. Her expression was weary.
Had she caught me looking at Ellie?
"Don't do anything stupid OK?" Then she shot me an unsure smile and turned back to Nerissa. Her features smoothed out, almost as if she'd never said anything.
I glanced at Ellie. Our eyes locked for a moment, then, rapidly, she turned back to her table. Back to her friends.
The greatest mathematicians knew how to follow logic. What was our logic? I was the geek and Ellie was the cheerleader. We were from two different worlds.
Yep, I wouldn't do anything stupid.
But I was tempted.
***
I hope you liked that ;) Thank you so much for reading and have an absolutely fantabulous day :)
BTW, this chapter is dedicated to Misha1997 for her constant votes and comments ;)
God bless xxx
Yemi Everest