Falling for the nerd

Chapter two - First day of school and new friends

Elle's POV:

Today is my first day of school and to be honest, I am not very excited. Yes, I will meet new people, but I am not sure how this will go. I don't need more fake friends. I mean why my friends left me when I told them that I would move? It's not even in another town. Same town, just a different place. I don't understand people. What do they want from me? I am trying to be myself, but sometimes it's so hard. I can't even express myself with the clothes I am wearing. I want to look like the normal kids my age, but no, I can't do that. 

I woke up and got dressed. I put on a mint green crop top, black ripped jeans, and my favorite short boots with laces. Later I went for breakfast. I wasn't that hungry so I made myself a toast with some cheese. For some reason, I am not in the mood. I sat at the table and at that moment, Martha and Andrew came into the kitchen. I gave them a look and continue eating. 

- Good morning. How are you? Are you excited?

I didn't say anything. I like how energetic Martha is, but I am not like her, and definitely, I am not a morning person. 

- Elle, are you ok?

- Just because you are a morning person, doesn't mean that I am too. 

- I just asked you a question, nothing else. 

- I'm sorry, I'm not in the mood today. 

- If it was only today.

- What?

- I am saying that you are not in the mood the whole week. I thought that you will be happy and look more positive on the new changes, but I guess that you take them differently. 

- I don't like them. Moreover, now I have to start from the beginning. Do you know how hard is it to find real friends?

- I know, but it's not mission impossible. 

- I just don't want the same thing to happen. I get tired. 

- You will never know until you don't try. 

- My parents are at work, right?

- Yes, they are. They have some early business meetings. 

- Like always. Whatever, I will go. I don't want to be late. 

- But you didn't even finish your breakfast. 

- I'm not hungry. 

- The car is ready. - Andrew said

- Thanks, but I prefer to walk. - I said and walked out

When I said that I want to be myself, I really meant it. There is no need to show how rich you are. If I search for something in people, this means that I have to show the same. What's the point if I search for a nice person when I act mean. To be honest I have never been mean to anyone. I know that when you hear a rich person, most people think that we are mean, but I am not or at least I am trying not to be. For me, this thing is not good. I wouldn't like it if someone was mean to me. That's why I don't do it to the others. I hope that I will have luck today. 

In the moment I walked into the school, everybody turned their attention to me. They are looking at me as if I am a fresh piece of meat. One girl came to me. 

- Hi, I am Maddie and these are my friends. Let's go. - she said and grabbed my hand

- Hi, I am Elle. 

- I like that name. - one boy said

- Thanks. 

- This is my boyfriend Jasper. - Maddie said

- We are not really dating. - he said

- Look, I appreciate you guys, but I have to go. I need to go to the principal's office. - I said and left

Great. Just great. By luck, I didn't mean that. This girl and her friends look exactly like the people in my old school. I politely will ignore them, pretending that I am busy. 

I walked to the principal's office and he told me everything that I need to know. After that, I walked to my first class, which is Math. I don't know who is the teacher, but I like the subject. To be honest I like all the subjects except Physics. This is my hardest one and I have never had an A. I just can't understand it. It's way too complicated for me. 

In the breaks, I tried to ignore Maddie and her friends, but it was impossible. Moreover, this boy Jasper is weird. I don't know who is he, but he sucks at first impressions. At least we don't have the same classes. Otherwise, I don't know what I am going to do. They are not that bad, but I don't think that these are good people. Trust me, I have an eye for that. 

I was about to go to my next class when Jasper came. 

- Hey sweetie, are you single?

- I won't tell you. Can't you leave me alone? I need to go to my next class. 

- I will walk you. - he winked me

- Um, no you won't. Just leave the hell alone. - I said and walked away

My lunch break is coming and I am looking forward to it. Maybe I can skip lunch. I don't want to be around these people. They are annoying and clingy. During the whole class, Maddie was explaining to me the difference between good and bad style. At least she told me that I look good. I excused myself only to go to the bathroom. I can't stand her anymore. It's decided. I won't eat lunch.

After this class, I went to the cafeteria only to see how many people are there. In the moment in which I saw Maddie with her friends and Jasper with his, I left. The whole day people are looking at me and greeting me. Not like I mind, but it's too much attention. I went to the football field and sat on one bench. 

- I'm sorry, but this place is taken. 

- What? I'm sorry. I will go away. 

- No, I was kidding. Usually, I am alone here and I was surprised to see someone else. 

- I had to escape. People are following me everywhere. 

- At least I don't have this problem. I am invisible to the people. 

- Why? Oh, and I didn't introduce myself. I am Elle. 

- Nice name. I am Alex and I am also a nerd so you can imagine the rest. 

- I don't see anything wrong with that. To be clever is not something bad. 

- People here don't think the same. You are new, right?

- Yes, how did you know?

- If you weren't you wouldn't be here alone and talking with me. 

- Why wouldn't I talk with you? I don't see anything wrong with you. Why are you alone?

- I don't have friends. I talk sometimes with people from school, but they are not my friends. 

- At least it's not only me.

- You don't have friends? That can't be true. 

- I had, but they left me when I told them that I would move. 

- Are you sure that they were your friends?

- Now that you say it, I'm not. - I chuckled

I have no idea who is this boy, but I like him. He seems normal and sadly, he is alone. In that moment an idea came to my mind. Since we are both lonely, we can be friends. I will have one, he too. 

- I am used to being alone. It's nothing new for me. 

- If you want, I will make you a deal. - I said

- What deal? - Alex asked me

- I don't have friends, you too. If you become my friend, I will be your friend. What do you think?

- Are you sure that you want this?

- Yeah, why not? I am not asking you on a date or something. Just to be my friend. 

- Let me tell you something and then you might change your mind. If you want me to be your friend, you have to get used to mentally bullying from the popular boys and jokes from the girls. Also, people will look at you differently and no one will talk with you if they see you talking with me. So to ask you again. Are you sure that you want this?

- Do people here really treat you like that?

- Yes, but how I said I am used to it. 

- Well, I don't care. I want you to be my friend and I am not giving up. 

- Don't say that I didn't warn you. 

- Can I know why you are here? I mean won't you eat lunch.

- You see the bag there in the trashcan?

- Yes, what about it?

- There was my lunch before I ate it. 

- You eat lunch here? But why? I know that you don't have friends, but this doesn't mean that you can't be around people. 

- Look, nobody likes me and nobody wants to be around me. I feel better when I am alone. 

With that, I felt how my heart broke in two. That's horrible. My friends weren't the best, but at least they were with me. I feel bad for him. Alex looks so innocent and a little bit cute if I have to be honest. Yes, he wears glasses, but me too. Well, only when I read books, but still. This is another reason why I want him as my friend. He is not a bad person, but people here treat him like that. 

- That's horrible. Look, my next class will start soon and I don't want to be late. Will you come with me? 

- I... I can't do that. 

- Please. I don't care what people will say about me. 

- Ok, then. What is your next class?

- I have Physics.

- I guess that we have the same one. 

- Awesome. Let's go then. - I said and grabbed his hand

In the moment we walked in, people looked at me. I guess that he was right. I looked at Alex, who has nodded his head down. I lifted it and made him look at me. I'm not that scary, am I?

- Hey, everything will be ok. There is nothing wrong with you. Let's go now. 

Both of us walked into the classroom only to receive more looks. What is wrong with these people? I ignored them and sat next to Alex. He gave me a sad smile, which I returned. Soon the teacher came. Welcome to my hell. I don't understand anything of what she is saying. 

- Your initial test will be after two weeks. It will contain everything from the last year. - the teacher said

- Elle, are you ok? Why are you looking like that? - Alex asked me

- What? I am fine. Don't worry. 

No, I am not fine. I don't want another C on my test. My best grade on this subject was C+. I have always tried to be a perfect student, but this will never happen. 

At the end of the class, I waited for everybody to leave, so I can talk with the teacher. 

- Excuse me, can I ask something?

- Sure, you can ask everything. - the teacher said

- Look, the test is after two weeks and my best grade on this subject was C+. Is there any chance that you or whoever it is can help me? I want to have better grades, but I don't understand much of what we are studying. I am really trying, but it's really hard for me. 

- I can give you some problems to solve, but if you don't know the theory, you can't solve them. If you want, I can recommend you one student who can help you. 

- Really? That awesome. Who is he or she?

- It's Alex Adams. He is the best in my class and I am sure that he can help you. 

- Thanks. I will talk with him. I hope that he will accept. 

- I am sure that he will. Alex likes to help others. 

Of course, that Alex can solve my problem. He is smart and definitely better than me. I hope that he won't deny it. Otherwise, I have to search for someone else. I walked out and went to search for him. Luckily, he was near his locker. I walked up to him with a smile and puppy eyes. 

- Why are you looking at me like that?

- Can I ask you for a favor? I know that it's my first day, but I really need help. The teacher said that you can help me. 

- It depends. For what do you need me?

- I need a Physics teacher and she recommended you. Can you help me?

- How bad are you and do you really want to study? I am tired of people who don't show even minimum effort. 

- My best grade was C+, but I want more. I will do everything that you want. Please, I really need help. This is my worst subject. My other greats are good. 

- In that case, I guess that I can help you. 

- Really?

- Yes, but only if you study. Otherwise, I am quitting. 

- Ok, no problem. Thank you. - I said and gave him a hug

I guess that this was way too much for him. Maybe I should go slowly with him. What if I become his teacher as well? He will teach me Physics and social skills. Alex needs to be more open, but only if he wants to. I won't pressure him. 

- Hey, do you want me to be your social skills teacher?

- Which means?

- I will make you more open as a person and you won't be that shy anymore. Well, only if you want to. I am not obligating you. 

- I appreciate that, but for now I am good. 

- At least I tried. I hope that you are not mad at me. I only wanted to help you. 

- It's fine, I am not mad. We better go or we'll be late. 

Both of us walked to our next class. We compared our schedules and it turned out that we have the same classes. At least I won't be alone. I don't know what people don't like about him. I am glad that he is my friend. For me, there is nothing wrong with him. Maybe he needs to be more open, but at his place, probably I was going to be the same. I hope that this time I can keep him. I don't want to lose another friend.