Nerdy No More

Jenessa's POV: "Hey, babe," my boyfriend, Jermaine, greeted me with a warm smile as he pulled up in front of my house to pick me up for school. "Hey," I replied, grinning back at him as I slid into the front seat of his car. We've been a couple for three months, and now, with the end of our sophomore year looming on the horizon, it felt a little surreal to be here with him. The captain of the swim team, interested in me, of all people, had initially filled me with disbelief. At first, I was filled with skepticism when he asked me out; it seemed too good to be true, a dream from which I might wake up any moment. Yet, as we went on a few dates, I found myself easing into the realization that he was genuinely serious about us. "I can’t wait for these exams to finally be over so we can kick off summer," he sighed dramatically, leaning back in his seat as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. "Yes, I’ve been thinking about applying for a part-time job, though," I replied, adjusting my glasses nervously as I contemplated the extra work. "Why?" he asked with a frown, slightly confused by my sudden need for employment. "To add to my allowance," I explained with a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant. "What my parents give me just isn’t enough these days." In reality, my motivation was more sentimental; I wanted to save up enough money to buy Jermaine a fantastic birthday present just before school starts up again in the fall. I wanted it to be special, something that would show just how much I cared. "It’s just for the summer, you know. My parents don’t have anything planned, so there won’t be a family trip this year. Maybe we'll go somewhere for Christmas break instead," I added, attempting to lighten the mood. Jermaine nodded knowingly. "I’ve got swim camp around mid-July again, and after that, we usually head up to my family's cabin in August," he shared, his eyes lighting up at the thought of summer fun. I quietly nodded in response, unsure of how to maintain the conversation. He hadn’t offered to include me in his summer plans, so I chose not to ask. I didn't want to seem needy or pushy, and I figured it was better to leave things as they were. When we arrived at school, the usual chatter surrounded us as we made our way through the bustling halls. As Jermaine held my hand, I began to collect the bits of whispered comments and stares that followed us. I was starting to feel the sting of the realization that, throughout our relationship, he hadn’t once stepped in to defend me against the endless barrage of teasing and jibes thrown my way. The thought of it hurt more than I cared to admit. "I'll see you at lunch," he said, kissing my forehead gently as we reached my locker, and he handed me my bag. "Sure," I responded, feeling warm from the kiss, but also a bit put out. He quickly rejoined his friends, a group of guys from the swim team, and I found myself standing alone for a moment, feeling the weight of loneliness despite being surrounded by so many people. Avalie, one of the popular girls who wore her mean streak like a badge, approached me with that all-too-familiar smirk of hers. "I don’t get why Jermaine is dating you," she scoffed. "He’s just wasting his time with you. Maybe you're just entertainment for him." I chose to ignore her, turning my head to avoid any further confrontation. "I mean, look at how you dress, and your whole vibe," she continued, her cruel laughter ringing in my ears like a hornet’s nest. "He must be playing you for a laugh. Why else would he even want to be seen with you?" I felt my eyes sting, the tears threatening to spill over, so I turned away from her before they could fall. "Leave her alone, Ava," a voice chimed in unexpectedly. I turned my head to see Levi Dalton, another student whose parents were friends with mine. We had always acknowledged each and hung out as kids because of our parents, but nothing ever came out of it. "Thank goodness the school year is over soon. I won’t have to see your face for three whole months," she spat at me before storming off, leaving Levi to follow behind her. They painted a picture of a different social circle entirely, one far removed from mine. *** At lunchtime, I joined Jermaine at his table, an ironic comfort in choosing to sit among his friends. He smiled when I sat down beside him and leaned over to kiss my cheek. The blush rose to my cheeks, and I could feel myself turning as red as a tomato. "I can’t stop telling you how much I appreciate you," he said, his voice warm and sincere. "You make everything better." I smiled, feeling a rush of affection for him that momentarily drowned out Avalie's cruel words. "Thanks, Jermaine. That means a lot to me," I replied, trying to keep the conversation light despite the heaviness in my chest. As we dug into our lunches, I watched his friends joke and laugh around us, their camaraderie infectious. I wished I could feel more a part of that world, but the nagging feeling of being an outsider lingered. I picked at my salad, my mind wandering back to the morning's encounter with Avalie. "Hey, are you okay?" Jermaine's voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up to find him studying me with concern. "Yeah, just a little tired," I lied, forcing a smile. I didn’t want to burden him with my insecurities, especially when he seemed so carefree. He nodded but didn’t seem entirely convinced. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" he said, reaching for my hand across the table. His touch was grounding, and I felt a flicker of hope that maybe I could share my worries with him someday. "Of course," I replied, squeezing his hand lightly. "I just... I don’t want to bring any negativity into our time together." Jermaine smiled, his eyes brightening. "Well, how about we plan something fun for the weekend? Just the two of us," he suggested, his enthusiasm infectious. My heart raced at the thought. "That sounds amazing! What do you have in mind?" I asked, genuinely excited. "Maybe we can hit up that new arcade that just opened? I heard they have some awesome games," he replied, his smile widening. "Yes! I love arcades!" I exclaimed, feeling the weight of the day lift slightly. The idea of spending time with him, laughing and playing games, made me forget about the harsh words of others, if only for a moment. "Great! It’s a date then," he said, winking at me, and I felt my cheeks heat up again. As lunch continued, I found myself laughing along with Jermaine and his friends, the atmosphere lightening. For the first time that day, I felt a sense of belonging, even if it was fleeting. But just as I was starting to relax, I caught sight of Avalie and her crew across the cafeteria, whispering and shooting glances in my direction. The familiar knot tightened in my stomach. "Ignore them," Jermaine said, noticing my shift in mood. "They don’t matter." I nodded, grateful for his support, but the words still stung. I wanted to believe him, to let go of their opinions, but it was hard when they echoed in my mind like a broken record. The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, and Jermaine stood up, pulling me to my feet. "Ready for history?" he asked, his hand still intertwined with mine. "Yeah, let’s go," I replied, trying to muster some enthusiasm. As we walked to class, I felt a flicker of determination. Maybe I could find a way to rise above the negativity, to focus on the good things—like Jermaine and the summer ahead. And as we entered the classroom, I squeezed his hand a little tighter, reminding myself that I was worth more than the words of someone like Avalie. I had Jermaine, and that was something to hold onto. As we settled into our seats, I tried to shake off the lingering shadows of doubt that Avalie had cast over my day. Jermaine leaned closer, whispering something funny about our history teacher, Mr. Thompson, who had a tendency to ramble on about ancient civilizations like they were the most thrilling topic in the world. I couldn’t help but giggle, the sound breaking through the tension that had wound itself around me. “See? That’s better,” he said, flashing me a charming grin. I felt my heart flutter at his attention, and for a moment, I allowed myself to forget about the whispers and the stares. The class began, and as Mr. Thompson droned on about the Roman Empire, I found my mind drifting back to the weekend plans with Jermaine. The thought of the arcade filled me with excitement. I can already picture us battling it out in racing games, sharing laughter as we try to outscore each other. Maybe I could even win a stuffed animal for him—something silly but sweet that would remind him of our day together. **** After what felt like an eternity, the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class. I gathered my things and stood up, relieved to escape the confines of the classroom. Jermaine walked beside me, his presence a comforting anchor in the bustling hallway. “Want to grab a smoothie before practice?” He asked, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “Absolutely! That sounds perfect,” I replied, feeling a rush of happiness at the thought of spending more time with him. We made our way to the small café just off-campus, where the smell of fresh fruit and sweet smoothies wafted through the air. As we entered, I spotted a few of Jermaine’s swim team friends at a table, their laughter echoing around the room. I felt a slight twinge of anxiety but pushed it aside. Jermaine was there with me, and that was what mattered. “Hey, guys!” Jermaine called out, waving as we approached the counter. They looked over, and I could see a mix of recognition and curiosity in their eyes. I tried to stand tall, reminding myself that I was here for Jermaine, not for their judgment. “Jermaine, you’re actually bringing her around?” One of them teased, a playful smirk on his face. I felt my cheeks flush, but Jermaine just chuckled, unfazed. “Yeah, I am. Deal with it,” he shot back, his tone light but firm. I felt a swell of gratitude for his easy confidence, and it made me feel a little more at ease. As we placed our orders, I focused on the menu, pretending to be engrossed in the options, but I couldn’t help but overhear snippets of their conversation. They joked about swim meets and summer plans, and I felt a pang of longing to be included in that world, to share in their camaraderie. When our smoothies were ready, we took them to a table nearby, and Jermaine leaned back, taking a long sip from his cup. “So, what’s your favorite game? I need to know what I’m up against this weekend,” he said, grinning at me. I laughed, feeling the warmth of his attention wash over me. “I’m pretty good at racing games, but I can hold my own in air hockey too,” I replied, my competitive spirit igniting. “Air hockey? Challenge accepted!” He said, raising an eyebrow in mock seriousness. “Just don’t cry when I wipe the floor with you.” “Oh, it’s on!” I shot back, feeling a rush of adrenaline at the friendly banter. The thought of spending the day with him, teasing and laughing, made the earlier hurt fade into the background. After finishing our smoothies, we walked back to school, hand in hand. I felt lighter, the weight of Avalie’s words slowly lifting as I focused on the present moment. Jermaine’s laughter and easy confidence were infectious, and I found myself smiling more than I had all day. “Ready for the rest of the day?” He asked as we approached the entrance. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. The afternoon stretched ahead of us, filled with classes and the anticipation of the weekend. As we walked through the halls, I caught sight of Avalie again, her eyes narrowing as she spotted me with Jermaine. I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar knot in my stomach tighten. But this time, I held my head high, reminding myself that I was more than her cruel words. I had Jermaine, and that was more than enough. “Hey, let’s not let anyone ruin our day, okay?” Jermaine said, squeezing my hand gently. I nodded, grateful for his support and determination to keep things light between us. The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and laughter. I found myself genuinely enjoying the time spent with Jermaine and his friends, even if I felt like an outsider at times. Each shared joke and smile built up my confidence, helping me to push aside the negativity that had threatened to overshadow my day. As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I had made it through, and now I had the weekend to look forward to. Jermaine walked me to my locker, and I felt a flutter of excitement at the thought of our arcade date. “See you tomorrow?” He asked, leaning against the lockers with that charming smile of his. “Definitely,” I replied, my heart racing. “Great! I can’t wait,” he said, leaning in for one last kiss. It was sweet and warm, and as he pulled away, I felt a spark of hope ignite within me.