Falling for the nerd

Chapter four - I want to help you

Elle's POV:

Alex is a great teacher. No matter that we took only five lessons yesterday, I understood everything that he explained to me. Also, he is funny and not that shy around me. Well, he still has on what to work, but he is not like on my first day here. Alex needs to be surrounded by people who will understand him and won't make him feel uncomfortable. Maybe I can help him with that. I don't want to change him, only to show him the other side of things. If he doesn't feel comfortable, I will stop. I won't lie that I like when he is shy. It's kind of cute. Don't tell him that I said that. 

I woke up and got dressed quickly. Later I walked downstairs for breakfast. This time my parents were here. Not like it's something new, but usually, they don't have much time and go early in the morning. 

- Good morning, honey. Did you sleep well? - mom asked me

- Yes, I did. 

- I heart that there was a boy here. Should I be worried? - dad asked

- Yes, he is going to kill me and blame it on you. - I laughed

- I am serious. 

- Me too. Alex can't even kill a bug, but he is a great teacher. I have to give him credits for that. 

- Honey, why do you need a teacher? You have good grades. - mom said

- One word. Physics. 

- I understand. Good luck with that. I know how painful this is for you. 

- It really is, but Alex is helping me a lot. 

- I am glad to hear it. To be honest I thought that I would see more people in our house. 

- What do you mean?

- I meant your friends or you are still working on that?

- Alex is my teacher, but also my friend. For now, I have only him, but I am happy. I met other people as well, but they looked like the ones from my old school and I don't need them. Moreover, they treat Alex awful and I don't like that. 

- Did he do something to them? - dad asked

- No, he didn't do anything. The girls are making fun of him because he is wearing glasses and he is what people call a nerd. The boys are mentally bullying him as well. I mean the popular ones. Let's say that no one wants to talk with him or be near him. This is why I decide to do it. Alex is not bad, but people don't want to see his good side. He is also very shy, which is not helping him. I was thinking to offer him my help, but I don't know will he accept it. I don't want to change him, only to make him more open as a person. If he doesn't want it, ok. I won't pressure him. I am taking it slowly with him. 

- Don't you like his personality? - mom asked 

- I do. Alex is a great person. 

- They why do you want to change him?

- I said that I won't. I just want him to be able to defend himself. 

- I think that if you like him the way he is, you shouldn't be trying to make him change himself. 

- So you are telling me to leave him like that? Mom, these people won't stop bothering him. 

- Yes, but as a friend, you will help him. You will stay by his side and won't let these people get close to him. Isn't this what friends are?

- I understand. I won't do anything to him. 

- Now, eat or you will get late. 

I ate my breakfast and went to school. When I walked in, some people looked at me, but I ignored them. I left the things in my locker and looked for Alex, but I didn't see him. I went to search for him, but I couldn't find him anywhere. I tried to ask a couple of people if they have seen him, but no one wanted to talk with me. In that case, I will find him by myself. Probably he was in the classroom for our first class. I walked there and felt how angriness took all over my body. Jasper and his friends were around Alex. I saw how uneasy this was for him. The first time I left them to get away, but this time I won't. 

- Can I know what are you doing with my best friend?

Yes, it's a game on. Alex has told me that they treat him badly, but I didn't think that it's that often. I will listen to what my mom said and as his friend, I will help him. 

- Your best friend? Nice joke. - Jasper said

- Do you see a smile on my face? I am not joking. Not get off my seat. Otherwise, I will make you and you won't like it. 

- Look, sweetie, no one tells me what to do. 

- Are you sure? You don't know what I am capable of. Don't challenge me.

- And what will you do?

I didn't say anything and slapped him. I may be nice, but I have my limits as well. Don't cross them or the same thing will happen to you. 

- You will pay me for that. 

- I want to know how. You can't slap me. Now go away before I give you another slap. 

With that, he got up with his friends and walked away. I sat down and before Alex could say something, I gave him a hug. I know that this is too much for him, but to be honest I needed one. I felt tears in the corners of my eyes. I quickly wiped them before he can notice. We pulled away and I looked at him. 

- Are you ok? Did he do something to you?

- No, I am fine. Thank you. 

- If anything happens, you will tell me, right?

- Yes, I will. 

I don't know why, but I feel like I care for him more than I will admit. Maybe it's because for the first time I feel that I have a real friend who I don't want to lose. 

- Elle, are you ok? You look sad. 

- I am fine, you don't have to worry about me. 

- Are you sure?

- No. 

More tears came in my eyes and I tried to wipe them before someone else sees me like that. I prefer to keep this state of mines only for myself. I don't like when people see my worst sides. I want them to see my ups, not my downs. 

- Do you want another hug?

- Are you sure that you can handle it?

- I'll be fine. 

Alex gave me one and to be honest this made me feel a little bit better. When we pulled apart, I looked at him and gave him a smile. Usually, when I have a problem, I snuggle in my dad, but I won't do this here. I am sure that Alex has never done this. Moreover, we are in school. I know that these things are not easy for him and I promised myself that I won't pressure him. 

- If you want we can cancel the lesson today.

- No, I am fine. I need to study anyways. If you have plans, there's no problem. 

- Me and plans are words, which do not belong in one sentence. - he laughed

- If you say so. 

Soon more students came into the room. The teacher came as well and we started the lesson. I don't like when people see me like that, but I hope that Alex is the only one who saw it. Just because you are rich, this doesn't mean that you are happy. To be honest for me the rich people are the unhappy ones. People don't like to be around you, because they think that you are mean and you can't value the small things. I am not like them, but I feel like no one sees it. I didn't choose to be rich or to be born in a family like mine. 

After school, Alex and I walked home. I left him in the backyard and I walked into the kitchen. Martha looked at me, but I ignored her. 

- Hey, are you ok? Did something happen in school?

- I am fine. Nothing new. 

- Ok. You know that with me you can share anything. I won't tell anyone. 

- Thanks, Martha. It's just... people don't stop bullying Alex and I don't like it. I don't know what to do to make them stop. Also, I slapped a boy today. 

- You did what? Why?

- He was mean with Alex and I just couldn't stand more to watch this and just slapped him. It's not a big deal. He won't be my first one. 

- I see that you care a lot for Alex. Is there something else?

- What? No. Alex is my friend and teacher. Nothing else. 

- You said it, not me. I am glad that you have found a friend for who you care so much.

 - I do and this time I won't let him walk away - I said and left

I went to the backyard back to Alex, who already has pulled out all the books, which we need. I sat down next to him and we started with the first lesson. I couldn't concentrate at all. Maybe I should've postponed the lesson to another day. Alex looked at me and I gave him a smile. He doesn't need to know that I am barely listening to him. 

- Elle, I think that we should stop.

- But why?

- Because you are not listening to me. You're here, but your mind isn't. 

- That's not true.

- What is the last thing that I said?

- I... I'm sorry. Today isn't my day. 

- Yeah, I can see. Will you tell me what is going on?

- I don't know. I just don't feel in good mood. You won't leave, right?

- After the lesson, I will. 

- No, I meant me. You are the only friend who left me. 

- I am not leaving, don't worry. I can't miss the opportunity to have a friend. - he chuckled

- Thank you. I needed to hear that. 

- Do you want a hug?

I nodded my head and he gave me one. I don't know what is wrong with me today, but I feel a little bit low. Usually, I am in the mood, but not every day. I hope that my parents will come home early. I need to snuggle in dad so bad. Even when I am not talking, he knows that there is a problem. 

Alex and I continued to study for like two hours. I offered him to stay for dinner, but he denied. I guess that I will eat with Martha and Andrew again. Not like this is something new. I eat very often with them. I was about to sit at the table when I heard the front door. I looked up to see my parents. In that moment a smile grew on my face. It's like someone has heard me. 

- W-what are you doing here? I thought that you won't come for dinner.

- Well, we decide to spend some time with you. Don't you want us to be here? - mom asked me

- Of course that I want. 

All of us ate dinner and talked. They asked me for my day and I gave them the short version, without many details. I don't want to talk about this now. Later dad went into the living room and I left to help Martha with the dishes. She was again telling me her theory that I might like Alex and I told her that I don't. 

When I was done, I walked into the living room to see my dad, who was sleeping. I was about to go away when he called me. 

- Elle, are you ok?

- Not really. 

I have never lied to my parents and I always tell them when something's wrong. 

- Do you want to tell me what has happened?

I didn't say anything, sat down next to him, and snuggled as usual. 

- Did Alex do something to you? - he asked, which made me look at him

- No, he didn't do anything. 

- They why you look like that? Usually, you are happy. 

- I don't like the way people in school are treating him. He doesn't deserve it. Moreover, he is not even talking with anyone else except me. I don't see what is their problem with him. 

- Maybe it will take them some time to understand that Alex is not that bad. 

- This is not something new for him. He told me that this is for a long time. I don't know what to do to help him. What I did today wasn't very classy, but he deserved it.

- What have you done this time?

- Nothing special. I just slapped one boy. 

- I guess that he has done something. 

- He and his friends were mean with Alex. For some reason, I got angry and just did it. 

- Look, I know that you may not agree with everything that people are doing, but you can't just slap people like that. 

- But Alex is my friend and I want to defend him. 

- I know, but there are many other ways in which you can do that. I just don't want you to get in trouble. 

- Ok, the next time when something like this happens, I will leave them to do what they want. 

- I didn't say that. 

- But that's what it sounded like. - I said and left

I went into my room and laid on my bed. I don't know why it affected me like that, but I didn't like what Jasper and his friends were doing to Alex. I got under the covers and fall asleep. I will try to not think about this. I hope that nothing like this will happen tomorrow. As much as I like to save Alex, I don't what this to be every day. He doesn't deserve this. Don't worry Alex, I won't let this happen again.