The New Guy
1000 Words
It was bizarre to think someone wanted to help me with math. No one ever wanted to help me. People usually ignored me, and those who didn't weren't usually nice. So what was his deal? Was he such an outcast that he had to settle hanging out with me, or did he actually want a friend?
I had butterflies in my stomach the entire class, trying to figure out Nico. It made it too difficult to focus on my creative writing assignment.
I never get so flustered by anyone, even guys, but this was different.
After class, Nico was waiting by the door like he said he would. I was a bit surprised because I half expected this to be a joke, or he'd flake on me.
"Hey, your parents are cool that I come over, right? I probably should have asked earlier."
"No, it's cool." I reassured him. " My parents are at work all day. Um, my Dad's a dentist and my mom's a lawyer, so they're very busy."
"Oh, that's awesome." He smiled, looking at the ground as he walked next to me.
We didn't speak anymore as we walked out to the bus. I felt like the silence was awkward, but he seemed content. I noticed his smile never wavered. Just the corners of his mouth lightly turned up. I didn't realize before, but he had a handsome face. Young, but charismatic and a little mischievous. He looked like he was waiting for someone to discover that he had pulled a prank on them.
"So where did you move here from?" I said, looking away.
"We came here from California. My dad got a better paying job out here." He didn't sound too happy about that.
"Oh. What does he do for work?"
"He's a chiropractor. A glorified masseuse I call him. Only behind his back. He'd be pissed if he heard be say that." He giggled a little at his comment.
"What about your mom?" I asked.
"She's going to school right now. She wants to be a school teacher. She's got about one more year left."
"That's pretty cool." I meant it. I always admired good teachers who seemed to like their job.
I didn't really notice more and more kids leave the bus. I was so engulfed with the conversation we were having. Nico was easy to talk to. I didn't know anything about him, and the more I asked, the more comfortable we got with each other. Finally our stop arrived.
"This is us."
I got off the bus and turned around to smile at the bus driver. Nico did the same and gave her a wave goodbye. She returned the gesture.
We walked the rest of the way to my house. There was no longer any rain. The sun started to come out from behind the gloomy clouds.
When we got inside, Nico made himself at home at the kitchen table, getting papers out of his backpack and spreading them out. I set my bag down and went in the kitchen to grab up some drinks.
I brought us both a can of cola and a bag of goldfish crackers.
"Ah, see, you already know me so well."
"Yeah? Are you a cola addict or something?" I teased.
"Obviously. What else would keep the muscles in shape?" He flexed his arms as wide as he could for me while I laughed, covering my mouth with my hand. I may have snorted a little, causing him to laugh, too. I sat down, still covering my face from embarrassment.
"It's okay. You have a cute laugh." He said, still smiling. His face was red from laughing so much.
"I don't know about that." I uncovered my face. I was certain it was still red from the embarrassing snort.
"Nah, you definitely do. I'm certain. You know I'm a laughing expert. I know these things." He smiled at me bigger than any smile I've seen yet.
I had butterflies in my stomach again. This was just too easy. I had never had a friend like this before. Someone I get along with so well. Someone who's easy to talk to and makes me laugh.
He helped me pull out the math assignment from earlier today and immediately started going over the first equation. I was surprised at how patient he was with me when I didn't get it. He explained slowly and answered all my questions, no matter how stupid they were. I felt a lot more confident after the second equation, and by the third, I was working on it by myself.
"This is a lot easier when you explain it." I said, looking up and meeting his gaze.
He stared back at me and then looked down at my lips. Right them my mom walked through the front door.
"Oh, Kayla, who's this?"
"A friend from school. He just moved here from California." I said, feeling a little awkward.
He stood up to shake her hand. " It's nice to meet you. I'm Nico Vanderbilt."
"Ah, such a gentleman. Well, I'll leave you kids to get back to your homework." She winked at me, which made me even more uncomfortable.
"Gee, thanks, Mom." I said, looking down at my paper.
We finished the rest of our homework quietly. From the corner of my eye, I could see him glass up at me every now and again. I was too embarrassed to say anything.
After we finished, I offered to give him a ride home, but he insisted he'd walk and that he didn't live too far away. I started to think maybe he was uncomfortable and just really good at hiding it from me.
My dad got home a little later, and I could hear him talking with my mom about Nico.
"I think she likes him. He seems nice. I didn't talk with him long." She said.
Maybe she was right. Maybe I did like him. But does he like me?
- Writer
