The Nerd In Disguise

Chapter 7

It is late at night, my parents were asleep and the house was quiet. I've done everything to sleep but there is no success because my mind won't stop working like a movie, and the scene was the sight of Cameron and Aerin kissing. There were many questions hanging over my head right now and I could not comprehend why i felt this way.

I know Cameron is just being nice enough to help and save me from Aerin and the kiss that happened yesterday was an accident, meaningless and worthless.

So yeah, she can kiss whoever she wants. I don't even care.

I suddenly feel thirsty. Slowly, I rose from bed and walked out my room. All the hair on my body stood by the cold wind from the window. The house is inaudible and consumed by darkness. You know the feeling when you are watching a horror movie? Like if there were eyes looking at you or something was behind you. Oh gosh that was scary but anyway, I should stop thinking about it or else I could slip on the stairs.

Not wasting anytime, I got myself a cold water to sooth my parched throat. My eyes drifted outside to the light post that illuminates those leaves swaying through the wind.

"Lily.." I almost dropped the glass of water i was holding because i was startled when someone spoke, but let a sigh of relief when i saw it was my heavy-eyed Mother. "Why are you here honey?"

"I was thirsty." I told my mom.

She strode gracefully but her eyes never left my face as if she knew something was bothering me. "Do you still remember when you were young." Mother opened the fridge and handed me a glass of milk. "I used to give you milk to help you fall asleep."

"Because milk relaxed me." I said smiling and took a small sip of milk. "Thank you." Mother got herself a water and gave me a thoughtful look. "Why are you looking at me like that mom? Is there something wrong with my face?"

"You tell me Lily." Her voice is full of authority. "As a mother i can easily read your facial expression and feel your mood." Mom brought the glass of water against her bottom lip. "So what's up Elizabeth? Tell me, maybe i can help or give you some sort of advice."

A mother's intuition really is a powerful thing. We don't have to say any words for them to know what we feel but just by looking at you. How i wish we could do the same with someone we like or love. No need to say a word, just instinct.

"Mom." Her name drew slowly out of my mouth as we stared at each other for awhile. "What if someone lied to you?"

"Lie, like what?" Mom asked after a minute or two.

How could i tell her about Cameron especially I felt they like her. "Never mind mom." I surrendered. "It's not worth the time to think about."

"Are you telling me that or yourself?" There was a playful sound in her voice. "I'm not going to force you to speak up if you do not want to Lily." Mother folded her arms over the counter. "But to answer your previous question Lily." My mother's eyes were sparkling hazel with mirth. "It does not matter what kind, how big or small the lie was." I roughly chewed inside my cheek. "A lie will always be lie." When she was downcast her eyes seemed to grow dim and dark. "But you know, there is always truth behind lies and sometimes you just have to learn how to listen with unprejudiced and elongated patience."

But whatever the truth behind Cameron's lies, I don't really want to know. Why would i waste my time talking to her right? Like what i said, we are not friends and definitely not going anywhere.

"Anyway mom." I interrupted the abstruse stillness between us. Mother looked at me expectantly. "Can i please barrow your camera tomorrow?"

"Of course honey." Her brows scrunched together as if she was thinking of something. "Are you going to take a picture of beautiful girls at school?"

"Er.." I felt myself blushing hard. "As much as i would love to but i rather capture some essential object."

"Essential like, Cameron?" Mother cut me off with huge grin plastered on her face.

I wanted to rolled my eyes at her but i decided not to. Sometimes Mother is being persistent of me getting a girlfriend but it is not that easy. It's not like I'm going to choose a dress or something but if i find the girl i really like and we both share the same feeling i will surely not let her go.

"Scenery mom." I corrected and sighed. "I kinda want to explore the school with a camera." Like my father, I also like photography. I love capturing beauty. After a few minutes we both went back to our rooms and this time i fell asleep easily with a decision in my head. What was it? Well I'm going to ignore Cameron from now on.

•••

I did not know that ignoring someone as popular like Cameron would be really difficult. I would advert my eyes and turn around whenever i saw her.

"You are silent today." I heard Leslie ask as we walked towards our second class room together. She was clutching her books against her chest. "Are you sick or hungry?"

"Oh, I'm not sick or anything." I tossed my head back and raised my eyes to the sky. "I'm just thinking." She was about to say something but i continue talking. "Where to go to take great pictures because i brought my camera with me."

Leslie contemplated for awhile but her pretty face broke into a lovely smile when she looked at me again. "Oh there is a garden outside our school, students here mostly spend their lunch there."

"Oh gosh really?" I asked excitedly with stars in my eyes.

Leslie could not help but laugh at me. "Let's go there after our class. I will show you around." We entered our second class and were greeted by flying pieces of papers, bottles and notebooks. "Jesus!" My friend gasped as we settled into our seats at the back. "The room is a mess."

"More like a battlefield." I corrected. "What are they, grade school?"

Leslie chuckled. "No, they are minions." We both laughed. "Have you seen Grey today?"

Oh, speaking of Grey he didn't go to school today and i wonder why. "No, I haven't seen him. Maybe he is just hanging around." I stared hard on my friend's pretty face. "Do you still like him?"

"Not anymore." Leslie replied without looking at me. "Because i started to like someone's else."

I shot Leslie a look. "Who is the lucky guy?"

Her hair cascaded down her shoulders as she slowly leaned closer to me. "Can i change my menu this time?"

I was about to say something when everything seemed to stop the moment i saw a glimpse of Cameron entering the room. The lights behind her were making her beauty more inferior to any human being in my eyes right now. She wore a fitted black dress with polka dots showing her perfectly alabaster skin and her strawberry hair gently caressed it's way down her neck, reaching to just below her shoulder blades but did you know where i got lost at? It's her hypnotizing emerald green eyes that were hiding many emotions.

"Close your mouth Lily." Leslie teased making me blush furiously. I quickly looked away from Cameron who is striding adroitly towards us. "You might catch butterflies not flies."

"Leslie..." I spoke between my clenched teeth with my red face.

"Okay okay." Leslie whispered lowly when Cameron is already sitting next to me. "I will shut up now." She took out her phone and started scrolling up and down her social media account but i knew her ears were wide open.

There were no words spoken between Cameron and I but i could feel the weight of her stare on my face. She knew there was something wrong but could not wrap it around her fingers. We are better this way.

Our teacher came in and gave a short quiz which is not surprising because she wanted to punish those bastards who won't stop throwing papers and bickering like there were at the market.

"Okay listen up." Our teacher told while looking down at her laptop on the table. "I will give you 10 simple science questions you should be able to pass with flying colors." Her announcement earned a loud groan from the class but she does not care. "Are you guys ready?" No one answered. "Okay, question number 1." We all looked at our teacher like she is the most wanted person on earth. "Why does a year consist of 365 days and a day of 24 hours?"

"Easy." Leslie whispered with a smirk tagged at the corner of her red lips. "A year, 365 days, is the time it takes for the Earth to travel around the Sun. A day, 24 hours, is the time it takes for the Earth to spin around once on its axis."

"I said write your answer not broadcasting it." Teacher muttered under breath harshly. She continued giving us questions from easy to the hardest.

There were moment i stopped writing just to stare at Cameron. She is cute when is frowning when thinking hard. Cameron must have felt someone looking because she dramatically looked up to me through her eyelashes and caught my eyes. My face turned more red and I averted my attention back to the front.

"Last question." Teacher adjusted her eyeglasses with a satisfaying look. "Why is the Moon sometimes out in the day?"

I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from smiling when i heard Cameron cursed under her breath in different languages.

Well, the Moon does not produce its own light- we see it when light coming from the sun is reflected off of the surface of the moon. Whenever the Moon reflects the Sun's rays we can see it —even in the day time. Just like in pool—it all depends on the angle! When the moon and sun are on the same side of Earth, the moon is 'out' in the day; when the moon and sun are on opposite sides of the Earth, the moon is 'out' at night.

My hand started writing something my mind could remember from the book i have read before about the question. Just like the stars, the moon is always 'out.' Celestial objects do not go anywhere during the day, they are just outshone by the Sun and any remaining light is scattered by our atmosphere. When the sun, Earth and moon align correctly, enough light is reflected off the moon's surface to be seen from Earth, even during the day.

When our teacher left after the quiz Leslie and I stormed out the classroom and completely ignoring those desperate call of Cameron. It did not took so long when we arrived at the garden. My jaw dropped by the sight, there where different kinds of plants, trees and of course flower bed.

A gust of cold wind chill my skin beneath and tousels my hair to the ringlets. This is so relaxing and peaceful, I feel the happiness of my life bubble up from within.

"Wait for me here Lily." Leslie told me. "I will buy us food. I'm starving." She cutely looked down her belly with a pout.

I laughed at her and nodded my head. "No problem. I will be okay here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." I slowly unzipped my bag and took my mother's precious camera. "Don't worry about me, I'm a black belt in karate." Of course it was a joke.

Leslie stopped walking. "Oh wait Lily." She turned to me. "What do you want to eat?"

"Anything Leslie." Then i handed her money.

"No Lily-"

"Leslie.." I beathed out deeply. The air smell like a cotton candy. "Let me treat you because you showed me this beautiful place. So buy anything you want."

Leslie looked like she is having an internal battle but took the money with little smile. "Fine." She tucked her stray hair behind her ears. "No specific craving?"

"Girls.. bring me smoking girls!" I told her jokingly.

Leslie playfully shoved my shoulder. "You can't eat them here." She played along while walking away. "Be safe. I will be right back!"

My eyes drank all the marvelous details around me as i started taking pictures here and there, left and right. I was totally drowning with excitement and completely forgotten the time.

When i got tired i decided to sit down on the grass and checked the pictures i took. My father will be very happy if i showed these to him. He will be---

I froze when someone put their hand to cover my eyes. "Leslie?" But there was no response from her. I tried taking the hands off my face but the person was too strong for me. "Hey. Take your hand off me!" Irritation is evident in my voice. "Please or else.."

"Or else what Lily?" A very flirty and seductive voice spoke against my ear making the hairs at the back of my neck rose up like magic.

"C- Cameron." I stuttered like an i***t. Gosh. Lily pull yourself together. I felt her soft hand slowly uncovered my eyes. I turned around and air hitched inside my throat as i come face to face the trully sight to behold Cameron. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

I watched Cameron gently sit next to me and tucked the hair behind her cute ears. "To ask you something."

"Ask what?"

Cameron gave me a sideway glance with those mesmerizing green eyes. "Why are you ignoring me?" I saw something flash through her eyes but quickly vanished in thin air. "You thought i did not noticed?"

One lonely leaf landed on my thigh. "There is no problem." And then Cameron gently slide the tips of her finger on my thigh as she grabbed for the leaf. "We are cool."

Cameron picked up the leaf and twirls it by its stem and looked at it while asking "If nothing is the problem then why are you ignoring me Lily? Did i do something wrong?"

My face just blushes lightly because i can still feel a trace of electricity on my thigh were Cameron's fingers grazed. "You didn't do anything." Then I looked up at the sky. I'm not going to tell her the truth because i didn't want her to think that I'm jealous or so. I just don't want trouble.

"I don't believe you." Cameron glanced at me first before looking at the sky as well. I felt her has gotten a bit closer to me. "But i know you came to the party." My heart leaped out. Did she knows that i saw them kissing? That will be awkward. "Grey told me."

I let a huge sigh as a relief. "Yeah but i didn't see you." Cameron turned her head at me with a mouth slightly ajar. "I was looking for you." Sometimes i hate myself for speaking itself, i should stop talking now or else.. I felt Cameron gently grabbed my chin as we stare into each others eyes with my heart beats in frantic. I honestly don't know what is going on but i felt an invisible pull making me leaning in and so does Cameron.

But when our lips are only inches apart i suddenly remember my mother told me last night. I squeezed shut my eyes and painfully pulled away from those sweet luscious lips of Cameron and silently stood up.

"Lily.." Cameron drew out with a pure disappointment and confusion written over her face.

There is no way i will let her to take advantage of me again then lie to my face. "Don't worry." I let a shaky breath. "We are good." I grabbed my camera and bag. "Anyway. Belated happy birthday!" I tried to smile. "I have to go." Then i walked away with something broke inside me.