The Nerd In Disguise

Chapter 10

"So Lily.." Eris trailed off. "What is your hobby aside from reading?"

"Psh..." Cameron huffed and took a bit of her sandwich. "What a primitive question. You could have asked her like, what do you do, which you prefer smooth or hard."

I shot the green eyed girl a menacing glare. "Just eat your food." We are currently eating lunch here at IN-N-OUT as my p*****t to Hera Parker's book to Eris since she does not want to accept the money so i invited her, of course including Cameron to eat.

But you know what, it's really awkward to sit in-between these two colliding children, that won't stop bickering at each other.

"I was just telling her Lily." Cameron defensed with a shrug. "If she is going to be my competition, she should know how to get your attention and make every conversation really interesting."

"What competition are you talking about?" I hissed to Cameron under my breath. This is frustrating. What did they think of me, a trophy? I have to let them know that I'm not yet ready to any kind of relationship since Cameron and I just got from heated confrontation yesterday.

I wanted to avoid her but how can i do that if she was following me wherever i go, like today. Don't tell me, this is all coincidence? Like seriously? I don't want to have problems with Aerin or else she would not stop bothering me with her bitchy face and attitude.

Eris completely ignored her remarked but concentrated more on my face. "I guess your favorite writer is Hera Parker."

"Yeah." I agreed with a smile. "She is." It felt nice and comfortable to talk with the person you have the same passion. "Hera Parker's writing is phenomenal. She let the characters breathe in every chapters especially in her first book. All the ingredient of life were there, It has everything, love, grief, sorrow, romance and happiness."

"My Love From The Star was such a tragic love story." Eris shook her head in dismay. "But it makes you feel like you want to become a better person, not be so selfish and you realize that there were more important things in life."

"Can we talk something not devastating and sad?" Cameron interrupted. "I understand that you guys love to read and all, but we are here to eat and enjoy this free food not to feel blues."

Eris and I got quiet as if an angel had passed by. What Cameron said is correct, it's just that we got really excited because we both love and adore Hera Parker.

"So Eris.." Cameron turned to looked at Eris with those piercing green eyes. "The Goddess of discord and chaos, can you please tell us about yourself."

My eyes drifted to Eris's mouth and saw she brushed her tongue against her bottom lip but i quickly looked away when i felt a nudge in my leg under the table. With a frown, i turned my head towards Cameron but she gave me this kind of look that i can't explain.

"I'm a freshman college in University of California, taking up a bachelor degree in Tourism Management." Eris said without looking. "As you can see, reading is my first love but badminton is life." This time she lifted her head up and stared at us. "How about you girls? Are you still in High School or College?"

"Senior high school in Creighton." It was Cameron who answered. "I'm the head cheerleader in our school but unlike you Eris and Lily. Reading is not my thing but dancing."

"So you want to be a dancer?" I asked with an arched eyebrows. "After High School?"

"Actually no." Cameron gracefully tucked her loose hair behind her ear as she contemplated for awhile. "I always wanted to be a doctor."

"That is interesting." Eris said lowly and shifted her undivided attention to me. "How about you Lily?"

I was about to answer when the ketchup of my burger dropped in my chin. Eris quickly grabbed a tissue and held my chin as she gently wiped the mess on my face. The simple touched of our skin made my heart beats in frantic.

"Hey!" Cameron protested as she hastily stood up with a thick frown on her face. "Don't touch her!"

When Eris is done cleaning my chin, she then turned to fuming Cameron with her arms crossed around her torso. "Why? Are you her girlfriend?"

"No, I'm her mother!" Cameron retorted. "So don't touch Lily!"

"Mother?" Eris said mockingly. "A mother with hidden intention."

I pinched the bridge of my nose when i saw people from the other tables are now looking at us because Cameron and Eris are making a scene. This is embarrassing.

"Stop it please." I pleaded. Why some people are the human version of migraine. Cameron was about to say something when her phone rang, she exused herself and walked outside the diner. Eris and I sat back down but did not talk, we just continue to eat until Cameron came back with an upset face. "Is everything okay?"

Cameron rolled her eyes. "Yeah, just Grey to inform about our dinner with parents." We all finished the food and went out the diner. "Hey Lily. Do you want me to drop you off?" The green eyed girl asked while we are walking back to the book store.

I burried my hand inside my pocket and took a shrap breath. "Thank you but i have my car." As if on cue, we stopped in front of my brand new car Alfa Romeo Guilia. "So.."

"Nice car." Eris whispered while looking at my car. "Alfa Romeo Guilia is an expensive car." Her face broke into lovely smile showing me her perfect set of white pearls. "Goodbye for now Lily."

I was about to say something when Cameron yelled from the car next to me. "Let's go Lily!"

My eyes rolled and I sighed . Why can't she just leave me alone? We are not living at the same house so why make me hurry?

"Alright." I took a deep breath and stared at Eris. "It's nice to meet you Eris and thank you really for the book." Her eyes were gliters in amusment. "See you when i see you."

•••

The sunlights streaming through the curtains and touched my face while i was busy watching my parents working here in one of the huge and famous studio photography i have ever seen. The wall is painted of white, the ceiling is high, there is a giant south facing windows. A background is set in the middle, plenty of lighting control, flashes heads monolights, honey combs with wide angle reflections, snoots and barn doors, softbaxes and light banks.

This is the perfect place for a photographer like my father who is clicking his camera here and there just capturing the beauty of mother as a model. I could not deny that i feel amazed by how strong their relationship is since mother has plenty of admirers.

"Lovely aren't they?" Someone spoke next to me. I turned to looked and saw John. He look so professional with his black suit. "When i first met your mother Elena. She just.. exactly like you."

"How so?"

John silently occupied the wooden chair beside me. "Innocent and really shy." There is a smile in his voice while remember the moments with Mother. "Elena was so terrified to try and explore things." I just stayed quiet and waited for more words. "She even failed to qualify as my model."

A frown set on my face. "What happened?"

"Elena begged me." John leaned back and looked up in the ceiling as if he was seeing something i could not see. "To give her one last chance." Now, my focus is on him and seemingly interested of the story he was talking to about Mother. "By the look of her face terrified me."John gestured my mother's facial reaction that made me gigled. "So i gave her what she asked for."

"Then she passed?" I asked expectantly.

John smiled sweetly. "Obviously but i still taught her everything from the smallest to bigger details about modeling until she can finally spread her wings and fly away."

Father pulled ceiling railings lighting and place them above my mother's head to give a regal effect.

"Mom always wanted to be a model." I stated with a smile.

"She is." John agreed. "Because modelling is her passion." Well, for me, passion and hobby are different. When you do what you love to do at a moderate level, you can call it hobby but when you go all out with it, engrained your body and soul then that is passion. "And Elena always wanted a daughter to follow her footsteps."

"She wanted me to follow her?" The smile on my face slowly turned into a frown then confusion. "Why didn't she tell me that?"

"Elena does not want to force you in modeling if you don't like it Elizabeth." John replied and looked at me. "She lets you decide for yourself, she wants you to be happy as long as you know what is right and your limitation."

I was out of words. What can i say? I have a beautiful and loving family that accepted me for who i am and respect my decision.

"Lily!" My father called my name while beckoning his hand. "Come here!"

"Go and enjoy the photoshoot with your Mom!" John told me smiling.

I did not have time to ask why because a staff came to me and started to put foundation, make up and lipstick on my face.

"What is happening?" I asked Mother while standing next to her in front of the camera.

Mother is so beautiful with black shiny gown while i was wearing a simple floral dress. I'm nothing compared to her, she is a Goddess and I'm just a mortal.

"You are going to have a photo shoot with me." Mother told me. "We are going to be the cover of ELLE Magazine next month."

"What?" My eyes went wide. "Are you serious?"

Mother chuckled and gently tucked my hair behind my ears. "Yes Lily. Of course with your father." We both looked at my father who is already changed, from a simple shirt to a suit. He looks really dazzling. "I'm sorry if this really sudden."

"Mom.." I refrained her to speak. After what John told me, i want to do something to make her proud of me. "I would really love to do this with you."

The reaction of my mother is priceless, spectacular. We all pose in front of the camera and the smile in our faces is the mirror how happy our family.

•••

What comes to your mind when you heard the word Monday? Well for me, Monday means school and boring classes. Heck, just few more months i will finish high school then let us see what is going to happen after that.

As usual, the school hallway is crowded of people. My ears filled with the sound of multiple conversations going off at once, lockers opening and closing, music playing without headphones.

Also, there was the couple that was always making out, the cliquey girls and jocks on the side of the halls. There parade of band geeks with their huge instrument cases, aerospace tech kids who never did anything but make paper airplanes and boats.

"b***h!" Someone bumped into me and made me stumbled on my feet but when i looked up, all i can see is Aerin's face with devilishly smile. "Oh hi nerdy."

All people in the hallway stopped and stared at us. "I'm sorry." I mumbled as i hang my head trying to avoid an eyecontact with the Queen Bee. "I don't want any trouble."

"Who wants trouble?" Aerin retorted . She picked up my collar and fixed it. "You won't get into any trouble if you know where to stand here at school." Her voice is cold like in temperature in mountain everest. "Are we clear?"

"Yeah." I replied and tighten my arms around my books.

Aerin was about to say something when the bell rang. "I'm watching you." She said before leaving with her minions.

I brushed my fingers through my hair while dashing towards my locker but sigh when i saw the beautiful sight of Cameron leaning against my locker.

What a miracle that Cameron is not in her cheerleading uniform but in a cute baby blue dress, exposing her alabaster skin and creamy legs while her strawberry haislr is perfectly combed around her beautiful face.

Agh. If Aerin found out that i went out with Cameron yesterday, the Queen Bee will probably ruin my life here.

"Good morning Lily." Cameron greeted happily with those striking green eyes.

"Morning, what are you doing here?" I silently opened my locker and placed my books inside. "You are supposed to be with your girlfriend."

"Ha?" Cameron asked in confusion. "What girlfriend are you talking about?"

My eyebrows knitted before facing Cameron. "Please Cameron, i don't want any trouble with you and Aerin." And instead of talking to me, Cameron just bursted out laughing as if i told her a really good joke. "What is funny?"

"Oh gosh." Cameron gently wiped the tears. "That was gold Lily!" But then she slowly turning into a serious mode. "She is not my girlfriend or anything." I just looked at her face blankly, trying to figure out if I'm going to believe her or not. "We are like a sisters."

"Don't lie to my face." I muttered my breath. "I saw you kissing Aerin the night on your birthday."

Cameron slapped her head. "Lily! Is that the reason why you have been giving me a cold shoulder lately?" I did not say anything. "It was only a dare from spin the the bottle!"

Should i believe her or not?

"Okay yes, Aerin has a crush on me and everyone knows it." Cameron explained with a serious face. "But she is only a best friend for me, no more, no less." I felt hypnotized when my eyes drifted to Cameron's red luscious lips. "F*ck me if I'm wrong." She stepped closer to me making my heart beats fast. "But I think you want to kiss me Lily."

I felt my face grow hot and looked away. "It is not going to happen."

"Oh?" Cameron said in a sing song voice but before i could say anything. A flower of Lilies suddenly appeared between us. "I got you lilies." I bit my lower lips to prevent myself from smiling. "Do you know what Lily means?"

"What?" I asked in a small voice with a blushed on my face.

"Lily means," Cameron placed the lily in my hand. "I dare you to love me."