My Geeky Boyfriend

Chapter Nine

Nervousness is a feeling I wasn't accustomed to; that jittery feeling and I were miles apart. But today, as I pulled into the parking lot, I could swear that I felt just a little dose of it. And it may have increased from being just a little when I spotted Hawk, softly chewing on his lips as he stood awkwardly in the parking lot - an unsure smile on his face as he spotted me. Scattered around him, were students who were 'totally' not interested in watching the drama which they hoped would unfold. Lucky for them, I had an A-grade in drama queen classes.  So, slipping on a smile, I stepped out of my red Maserati and strutted to where Hawk was standing.  

"Hey, you," I said smiling, my arms wrapping themselves around his freakishly thin neck. No kidding, it's a miracle he even had any flesh on him.  

"Hey."  

From the corner of my eye, I could make out the small crowd which was beginning to form in the parking lot. They were practically gawking at us. Could the students at this school be any more obvious?  But since they wanted a show, I guessed I'd have to give them one. 

I kissed Hawk on the lips. And by kissed, I meant slightly brushed my lips against his. But for the students here, that was a big deal judging from their excited chatters, with some even clicking pictures.  

"Just follow my lead," I whispered to Hawk who could only nod at me. I disentangled my arms from his neck and reached for his hands, locking it with mine.  

"SpongeBob, are you nervous?" I teased, even though inside, I was also feeling a tinge of what he was going through.

"No. Definitely not...not nervous," he answered with a chuckle.

If his chuckle didn't betray that he was a bundle of nerves, the way his hand subconsciously tightened around mine, gave it away. 

Not like I blamed him. Being under public scrutiny could be somewhat intimidating, even for a witty geek like Hawk. So, I decided to do something to ease my 'darling' boyfriend of his nerves.  

"So, you decided to lose the characters and go for the Reverend look. Interesting."  

"The Reverend look?" He questioned, looking truly puzzled. 

I used my eyes to gesture to his blue stripe shirt which was buttoned to the very top.  Getting my meaning, a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

"Hey, you told me to dress my best," he whined, making reference to the text I sent him last night.

 "The fact that this is your definition of best, makes this really sad."

"Gee, Stephanie, thanks for the compliment."

"Oh, you can thank me later, cheesecake," I mused, throwing him a small wink before turning my attention to the students around us.  

"Hey people. So, the show's not over yet, anyone wants a picture with the new couple, or maybe an autograph?"  

When they didn't say anything but just stared shifty eyed at me, a small smirk formed on my lips.

"Yeah, I thought so. So, quit staring like idiots and go do whatever the hell you do with your little lives. Come on, chop chop."  

A string of murmurs was what followed, but it slowly dissipated in the same way the students did - each one nudging the other to leave.  

"Ok, now you can thank me," I said with a smug grin to which he smiled.  

"Well, thanks for telling everyone to f**k off without telling them to f**k off."  

"You're welcome."

"Do you want me to walk you to class?"  

"Why would you want to do that?" I asked, to which he gave an exaggerated gasp.

"You can't be serious!"  

When he saw the blank stare I threw him in reply, he added,

"Stephanie, walking your girlfriend to class is like a big couple's thing."  

A big couple's thing? Was he serious? What was the big deal with walking someone to a place which they knew the way to? There was a time Bryce was going on about the walking me to class thing, but I was quick to put an end to it before it even began. Like dude, I know the way to class. 

Gosh, I just realized how that sounded. I really did suck at this relationship stuff.  Hawk must have thought the same thing too because he said, "you really do have a lot to learn."  My reply came as an exaggerated sweet smile alongside an addition of, "yay! I can't wait."

"I know you don't mean that, but I'll hold you to your word," he chimed, sporting a small grin.

"Well, I have to get to class now. Bye, Flutter doodle."  The laugh that left my lips could not be helped.

"Flutter doodle? Seriously?"  

"Was it that bad?"  

"Yup." I answered, trying but failing to stop the laughs that escaped my lips.

"Yeah, it kind of was," he admitted between laughs.  

"How about Round Eyes?"  

"How about 'don't you even try calling me that.'" I answered with a 'sweet' smile.  

"Ok, so I'm guessing Round Eyes is a no," he mused with a soft chuckle.  

"Yup, a big no-no. Anything but that, and those parents' kind of nicknames."  

"Parents kind of nicknames?" He asked, seeming quite amused.  

"Well, you know, 'darling,' 'sweetheart,' 'honey.'" I made a face at the last one.

"Those kinds of names parents use for each other."

"Parents really call each other that?" He questioned again, looking truly surprised, as though he had never heard his parents use those names on each other before.

But I figured he was probably just joking around as always.  So, I shot him a pointed stare, to which he raised his hands in mock surrender - chucking softly as he did.  He left for class soon after, but not before assuring me that he'd think of a better nickname.

Although, I had a feeling it was going to be just as bad as the other two. And the thought made a smile perch on my lips as I headed to my locker.  Wait, my locker!  I almost forget about them. Oh god, I guessed I better start lining up some really good explanations, because I was sure going to need them.

"Hey, bitches," I singsong as I neared them.

But all I got in return were blank stares, and a c****d brow from Eliza - a clear sign that there was no escaping this one.  

"Ok, fine," I sighed.

"I know you're all a bit surprised by what happened yesterday."

"A bit?"  

"Fine, maybe a lot," I replied to Beck.

"And I won't say I don't understand why. I mean, I know it seems like it just came out of the blue."  

"Yeah, it does. Just a few days ago, you were still hung up on Bryce, and now this. It's really strange, B."  

Tell me about it. 

But of course, I could not tell Eliza that. Because then, I'd have to tell them about my deal with Hawk, and that was a total no-no. So, I settled for the next best thing.  

"I know it seems weird. Believe me, I also didn't expect that something like this would happen, but it just did. You know, Hawk and I..."

God, this conversation would be less weird if Hawk had a nicer name.  

"We are not exactly what people would envision a couple to be, but we are. Yes, he might be somewhat...reserved, and he likes to keep a low profile."  

I had to give it to myself though.

"Reserved" and "low profile" were great euphemisms for really unpopular.  

"But he's a great person."  

Perhaps great was a bit of a stretch. Maybe good person, good enough? Heck, I didn't even know him enough to be able to tell.  

"He really understands me."  

He understands that all I want right now is to love Bryce.  

"He's the kind of guy I need around me."  

Obviously. Because I'm pretty sure no other guy is running a "how to fall in love" class.  

"And if that surprises you, I understand. You shouldn't have had to find out about me and Hawk like that. I should have told you before anyone else, but I didn't. And for that I, well I..."  

Gosh this was pretty hard. Releasing a small breath, I let out the two magic words which now that I thought about it, I had never uttered to them before.

"I'm sorry."  

A moment of silence followed my explanation, with my friends still staring blankly at me. And then...  

"Oh my god, Stephanie! I never knew you had this side to you," Eliza beamed, tugging excitedly at my arm like a kid who just got extra mall candy.

"I've never heard you talk this way about anyone before. You must really like him."  

What the actual...  

"It's true. I mean, we guessed it when you marched like a movie heroine to the hallway and said,

"Hey Hawk, want to date me?"

If I wasn't feeling as I was now, I would have laughed at Sam's ridiculous imitation of my voice. But at the moment, all I could do was stare dumbfounded at my friends. And just when I thought I could not get any more confused, Beck's monotone voice floated through my ears.  "At first, I thought you were pulling a prank on him, well, after I thought you were under some kind of possession. But that thought changed a few minutes ago when unfortunately for me, my eyes beheld a ridiculously cute picture of you and Hawk smiling and staring at each other in the parking lot."  

Though she made a cringey face at the last part, I knew that was Beck's way of appreciating the picture.  

"All that time of making silly excuses like preparing for an assignment with Mikayla Durant during lunch break," Eliza mused with a knowing smile. 

Wait a sec, a knowing smile? What exactly did she know? And not just her, why did Beck and Sam have the same expressions on?  

"Or when you seemed too focused in Mrs. Lashley's class," Beck singsong. 

Beck singsong? Beck didn't do singsong. The girl could tell you your favorite male lead died, and she'd say it like she's reading a shopping list. And yes, I was speaking from experience.  But now? What the hell was happening to my friends?  

"You must have been thinking about Hawk in Mrs. Lashley's class. And when you ran off that day during lunch, you must have gone to see him. You have been secretly seeing each other for a while now, right?"  

I could not answer Sam even if I tried. It was with much difficulty that I didn't choke on my own saliva after hearing her. What the... 

I was thinking of Hawk in Mrs. Lashley's class? We were seeing each other secretly. How ridiculous was that? I had to say something to correct their thinking.  

"Well, actually," I started. 

But wait a sec. If you thought about it, they weren't exactly out of line. That day in Mrs. Lashley's class, I was thinking of Hawk's words about that love stuff. And during lunch break, I did make up that assignment story so I could go see Hawk. 

Oh my god, why didn't I think of this before? This was awesome! I got to lie to my friends without actually lying to them. What more could a girl ask for?  I suppressed a grin, settling for a 'shy' expression instead when I said,

"Yeah, that's why."  

"Awww, that's so cute!"

And of course, that was Eliza, nudging at my sides with a playful grin on her face.  

"Yeah. Now can we not talk about this anymore? It's so embarrassing, really."  

But if anything, that just served to make them laugh, and I could only throw playful glares at them.  

"Alright, let's not embarrass Stephanie anymore."

I was just on the verge of saying a "thank you" to Sam before she had to add, "but I just have one question. Do you and him, you know, do it?"

You've got to be kidding me.  Me and Hawk doing it? The very idea of it seemed so ridiculous, I had to struggle to hold back from laughing. But to them, my reply was, "you know what, I'm out of here."

And saying that, I walked away, leaving three laughing girls who were quick to catch up with me. And despite myself, I could not help joining in. 

As we walked to class, with my friends teasing me about Hawk, I realized something - maybe, just maybe this whole fake dating thing wasn't so bad after all. And besides, it'd be just for a while.

Only until we both got what we wanted.  And till then, I could sit back and enjoy laughing inside, as my friends thought of the weirdest things about my 'relationship.'