When A Nerd Dates The Ice King

Chapter 3

Owen

My eyes blink open to two pairs of eyeballs staring straight at me, “Yeah. This is totally normal” I mutter, closing my eyes and turning over, but I could feel the hairs on my arm rise from the stares.

“What do you both want?” I grumbled, my voice slightly hoarse.

“Thought you said relationships were a thing for sad people and you’d never be caught dead in one?” Ryan asked.

I faced them, “and?”

Without a word, Diego shoved his phone in my face and I nearly choked on nothing, sitting upright instantly.

“What is this?” I asked no one in particular.

Ryan shrugged. “We should be asking you instead. You finally decided to settle down” he wiggled his brows suggestively.

“Ew.” My nose scrunched up, “Don’t do that.” I turned my attention back to the post which seemed to have gained hundreds of thousands of views overnight, “CAMPUS ICE DEMON OWEN SNYDER AND POPULAR NERD: THE START OF A NEW LOVE STORY; BADBOY x GOODGIRL” I read the ridiculous title aloud.

“Sounds like something straight out of a fairytale.” Ryan whistled.

I ignored him, just below the text was an image of me helping four eyes put on her helmet, except from the shot it looked like I was leaning in for a kiss, followed by even more ridiculous images of her climbing on my bike.

“I have to say, this is different from your usual taste, what changed? And isn’t this the nerd that follows that other captain around?” Ryan continued his rambles.

I was fully awake now, “shut up” I snapped, “I need to think” I mumbled, my mind already running in circles, this was absolutely not good.

“Aren’t you supposed to be cleaning up your reputation?” Diego finally spoke up, he was the quiet one of the three of us, only speaking when needed.

I ran my finger through my head, “It’s not what it looks like.” I mumbled.

“Hey! Not fair.” Ryan cut in, his eyes gleaming, and lips slightly pouted, “Why does he get a response and I get a shut up?”

“Cause you’re causing him a headache.” Diego responded before I could, “Plus you’re an idiot.”

Ryan glared at him and scoffed, “Says the iceberg. So sorry not all of us walk around looking like the whole world owes us.”

“Whatever you say princess.” Diego shot back.

I groaned, “Not today.” I cut them off, “or at least, not in my room and definitely not this early.” I added, not wanting to deal with their constant bickering.

“So… How did you do it? She hates us.” Ryan asked, plopping down next to me, “Also, how’s your dad taking the news, he won’t drop the funding or make you quit the team because of this right?”

Shit. My father. I threw my blanket off, rushing to put on a sweat shirt and pants, “I need to fix this” I muttered, rushing off without waiting to hear if they heard me.

Craig would flip. Just as I hopped on my bike, my phone beeped, then began ringing. Glancing at the caller ID, I could already imagine the words that would come next.

Sigh. “Here goes nothing.”

I swiped the green button before placing it on my ears, “Hello, Craig.”

“I let you continue with your little hobby and all I ask is that you clean up your terrible reputation and you create more problems instead. Doing the exact opposite of what I asked, is this how a Snyder heir should behave.” He bellowed.

I scoffed quietly, “I’m doing exactly what you asked me to.”

“Don’t play smart with me young man.” he sneered, “Think I don’t know what you’re doing? Don’t forget what happened the last time you tried.”

My grip tightened on the funny, “She’s my girlfriend.” I blurted, “You said to clean up my reputation, well this is it. No more playboy but a devoted lover instead. She’s smart and a top student too.” I added, hoping he buys it,

The other side went silent for a full two minutes, I could feel my hands begin to get sweaty. I hated this feeling, the tightness was back, that dark hole, the silence, my breath slowed and before I could be pulled back into that familiar space, his voice came through.

“Fine. I will let this stand for now. Seems this girl could be useful. Two months, that’s all I will be giving you. I better see results in two months and a pristine name in six months or you know what’s at stake.”

“I-” The phone beeped just before I could speak, I relaxed my grip on the phone, it’s always been like this, he says what he wants then ends the call. I dumped the phone in my pockets before mounting my bike and rushing off with a destination in mind.

Standing in front of the apartment where I had dropped her off yesterday, I still couldn’t believe myself, I really shouldn’t have thought of a better excuse. Well here goes nothing.

I raised my hand and knocked.