Smartass Jocks and Nerdy Misfits

04 - Beyond Appearances

// Beyond Appearances //

FOUR

GAVIN CARTER

“Gavin!” Eric waved as he caught me from his sight as I got out of the changing rooms.

“Hey guys. How’s things?” I said in immediate response which they shrugged in reply.

We walked our way to the lockers when Andrea suddenly mentioned a hangout over this weekend, “I can’t.”

If Andrea was shocked, she doesn’t show it.

I shrugged and checked my phone, “I’m sorry, I seriously can’t. I plan to hang out with Blythe on Sunday,” I explained which Andrea nodded with understanding.

“You better be off the hook by Monday, Gavin Carter.” She replied with a deadly finality that I only replied her with a short nod.

“Whatever happens just know that Gavin and I are off the hook, since we got permission to use the school pool,” Eric smiled as he placed his arm on my shoulder with a wicked grin.

“Are heading somewhere later?” Zeke asked.

I looked around and saw Finn standing by my locker door, his face buried on a book. “I do. I have to work on this project in advance chemistry with Finn…”

“Finn… Finn Bryton?” It sounded as though it was more of a question to whether that person exist or if I was making it up.

“Yeah, that kid over there.” I pointed discreetly, as if he noticed the stares he looked up and waved at us.

Andrea looked between him and I before she sighed in frustration, “f**k school,” she rolled her eyes and waved away as she and the rest left.

I walked towards my locker and smiled at Finn who greeted me the same way, “Hey Finn… Let’s go?”

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“…Finn?” We were walking out of the school when I noticed him slowed his pace.

I heard silence on the other end, I looked up at Finn and saw him to be deep in his thoughts.

“Dude, Are you there?” I said as I waved at his face.

He noticed and blinked once…twice before he speaks, “Sorry. Did you say something?”

I merely shrugged as I replied, “I said I was tired of life and wanted to end it. I asked if you wanted to join me, you gave me the okay.”

The face Finn made looked as if he believed every word.

I don’t think he got that I was joking.

His face morphed into one that is about to burst, “Are you nuts?! Don’t you know that you are really loved?! How could you think of such a thing?” completely damning to hell.

Damn… He really took it seriously…

“Sorry… I was merely kidding. I didn’t expect you to react so strongly,” I said waving him off.

He breathed heavily looking at me like he wished I dropped dead on the spot.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his expression, gaining unwanted audience from our surroundings.

“Eyes and ears to yourselves, guys.” Finn spoke on my behalf.

I feign yawned as we walked out towards the gate to saw a familiar figure jumping up and down excitedly, “Gavin!!” she shouted making me groan.

It’s Andrea.

I turned to Finn looking apologetic, “Excuse me for a bit,” I said as went to tend to Andrea.

“I thought you left already. What else are you doing here for?”

She made a face, “I just happened to bump into you. I am waiting for Zeke said he has to go back to school, got something to pass at the faculty office.”

I looked at her oddly remembering that my locker is really close to the office, “I didn’t see him, but the faculty was closed already when I was out from class,”

Andrea made an unreadable expression before she brightened all over again when her phone rings, “It’s Zeke, he’s at the parking lot by the car, he’ll turn up in a few.”

I give her a look before I shrugged, “Whatever you say, Marendel.” I said as I went back to where Finn is waiting for me.

“Carter! Don’t forget this Saturday, okay?” she nagged.

“Yes, mom.” I joked making her hit my head lightly before waving me off and running towards Zeke’s car and drove off.

I turned back to Finn clearly absorbed by his phone, “Finn!” I called out making him look at me in question.

“Is it okay with you that we go to my place instead?” I nodded in agreement and we walked towards his house since he said it was merely a few blocks away from school.

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“Welcome…” Finn said in feign glee.

I chuckled as I looked around, “You got a nice place, Finn.” I commented, taking the entire place in… it’s so neat and modern, but still gives a homey feeling.

“Uh- thanks,” Finn said and something in a different language I didn’t understand.

There were then squeals that answered to his call and loud footsteps coming down, I saw two identical girls jumping to Finn’s arms and I chuckled at the sight.

They hugged Finn as if their life depended on it, snuggling into his arms comfortably, it almost made me think I should try it out myself, “They’re really cute. Your siblings?” looking at them.

He nodded looking at his siblings with so much love, “That I know without you telling me,” he replied as he tried to let his siblings to pry off him.

They listened and pulled away, finally noticing my presence, “Who is he, Onii? A friend?” one of the little them asked.

“A friend of mine from school he’s name is Gavin. Gav, these are my siblings. Jenna and Kena,” Finn said pointing at the girl closest to me as Jenna and the one still in his arms as Kena.

I waved and smiled at them, “Hello.”

As we walked around his house, his sisters started vomiting information to me, I felt like I already knew Finn’s life story.

Kena chuckled as she nodded from what her sister said in enthusiastic agreement, “Brother wasn’t always like this, he was like mama and papa always out of the house. Now he is always in the house like a loser,” my eyes widened at the choice of words picked.

Finn shrugged, “I don’t like wasting my time anymore.”

His siblings left us as soon as we reached his room, “I don’t think socializing is a waste. It’s a hassle though, I’ll be honest, but it’ll help you build connections and memories that’ll help your life.”

“That is the most unexpected thing I have ever heard you say, Carter. I am starting to actually like you,” he smiled genuinely making my heart beat just a bit.

I bowed deeply trying to play the situation, “I aim to please, your highness.” He dismissed me as he chuckled and gestured us over to his computer.

Damn, heart. That was a close one.

FINN BRYTON

“Which one will you take? Forensic or Biochemistry?” he continued looking at me.

I went closer and typed a few things on the computer, to the site I usually head to when I did my research on a subject, “I don’t know… I am pretty much okay with anything, but if we’d go to interest, I’d choose Forensic Chemistry.” He fiddled with my computer again and moved away afterwards for me to see the screen.

“Forensic deals mostly with application of chemistry to get clues or evidences that would be found on a crime scene –Total CSI s**t really,” I stated.

I shrugged, “Then I can deal with Biochemistry, do you know what that is?” I tested.

I honestly can’t believe that he’s the top of the class… it seemed too unbelievable!

“Biochemistry is basically the chemical processes of a living organism –Dive into it a little further you could reach Organic Chemistry which Arthur and Lila are assigned to report about.” He said as he went and looked into his bag for something and produced with a pair of glasses and puts them on.

Silence…

“So, you take Biochemistry and I can have Forensic? Maybe we can help each other…” as if suddenly wanted me to freeze, I only noticed how hazel colored his eyes were that seemed to pop with his glasses on, “Um… Is something on my face?” Gavin asked awkwardly a wave of pink slowly appeared in his cheeks.

I shook my head and laughed, “Sorry. I was just surprise you wear glasses is all.”

He shrugged as he flipped through a page and got his notebook and jotted a few notes, “I get that a lot, but I don’t usually use it unless I read.”

“Oh.” I managed to say after a while and smiled at how surprising he is.

“Does my wearing glasses that amazing enough to make you smile?” he commented looking as if he was thinking himself. “For the question you gave earlier… You okay with it?”

What he said really shocked me, “Yeah, I’m up for it.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t make us fail,” he winked and smiled as I nodded.

He made a face and I realized I nodded as if I believed that he could flunk us in this project when he is the top of class… “I… I don’t mean to be mean or an- “I was cut off by his boisterous laughter filling the room and making me stop and stare at his reaction. Is he happy I insulted him?

“You still feel like it’s unbelievable that I top the class?” he said in a teasing tone.

“Well… if you put it nicely, I do.” I replied looking at him cautiously.

“I accept the challenge!” he said standing up with amused glint.

“What challenge? I didn’t say anything.”

He rolled his eyes at me as he sat back on my bed, “I’ll prove to you that even I can be a nerdy nerd if I wanted to,” he said and then it was my turn to laugh.

“Fine, whatever you say.”

“So, then you take Biochemistry and I take Forensic Chemistry? Unless you prefer the other one, I’m cool to switch either way.” I nodded.

“I’m good, I don’t mind taking Biochemistry instead. Let’s finish this by Monday? We can show each of our outputs to the other to compare, reduce, and add notes,” he nodded and went back to his paper writing a few things.

“With that problem out… Can we talk about what you saw in the library?”

His expression turned scared and his skin immediately paled as my words sunk in.

“I-I didn’t mean to walk in your friend’s f**k fest I swear! I was just going to get a book for my history class and saw that the aisle was preoccupied by her and her friend.” He said fast as if it was a speed talking contest.

Does he not know that the guy from that time was me?

“Wait… Explain to me in detail what you know from that time,” I ordered.

He then told me about how he was caught sleeping during his history class and was said to report on Indian family history because of it, walked into the library to get the book conveniently at the aisle where he saw Bethany doing it with a guy, he doesn’t know… So he doesn’t know it was really me.

“So if I told you that the reason I am telling you this isn’t because of Bethany… What would you do?”

He gave a confused look, “Isn’t the reason you’re telling me this is because of her?”

I shrugged, “You tell or you don’t. not a lot of people would believe you,” I tell him which he considered and agreed to.

“Then why confront me, I wasn’t planning on telling anyone either –If that’s what you’re worried about,” I chuckled.

Even though he seems like a stereotypical Jock, he is seriously innocent and pure.

“I am telling you because you gave me blue balls.” His eyes narrowed in thought before they widened in realization.

“Y-you’re the guy from that time!? I am so sorry!” I waved him off.

“It’s okay, but damn you really gave me a hard time though,” I chuckled.

He was red in embarrassment, “I am still sorry though. I’ll make it up to you I swear it.”

I opened my mouth when his expression looked like he made up his mind.

I sighed in defeat, “Fine, since I clearly can’t stop you. I owe too –for that accident in the library and the hallways.”

He suddenly jolts upright when he heard his phone started buzzing rapidly, “s**t!” he exclaimed as he stood up.

“You clearly need to go...” Looking at his distraught face.

He shrugged nonchalantly, “I know you’ll miss me too bro,” he gestured with his face making me laugh.

I stand with him fixing myself a bit, “I’ll escort you out, since I am the gentleman,” I joked and he rolled his eyes but didn’t decline the offer.

I followed him out of the house and stopped at the fence, “I’ll guess we can continue this on Saturday?” I suggested.

“Yeah, maybe in the morning?” he said.

I was about to object when I recalled the others wanting me to join to that lake house, “No problem, I already told you my number last time so if you cancel, tell me beforehand.” I said he nodded in reply as he turned to walk away, so I did too.

“That didn’t seem so hard was it?” he said as he walked a few blocks away from my house. I didn’t turn as he spoke.

“Which part?” I asked loudly enough for him to hear.

“The spending with me.” How should I reply to that?

I turned around to see him already facing me, “it wasn’t so bad…You are different than I originally expected,” I said the last part hesitantly…carefully.

He smirks and looks amused slightly, “different… Should I be offended?” he asked and I shook my head.

“Different in a good way…Weird but good” I said making him laugh.

“Weird is good,” he joked, “Send my regards to your little sisters,” he continued as he left and I continued to stare at him as he fades from my view.

As I walked to the house I saw Jenna and Kena playing in the living room, “Where did your fwend go?” they asked.

“He left and said regards to both of you,” making them both give me a toothy smile in return.

I continued to walk my way to the kitchen to see my parents already in, “hey guys! I didn’t know you were already in, I was in the house the entire time” I greeted and they returned.

“We heard from the girls,” my dad said not meeting my eyes.

My mom nodded, “We didn’t want to disturb you both with your school project.”

My dad scoffed as I anticipated he would, “School project? Is that how they call it these days?” I could tell he was in a pissing me mood, but I am no saint.

“It’s actually still called f*****g, dad. If I do f**k someone, I’ll make sure to contact you.” I walked back to the living room before they could react, straight to my room and recalled the encounter that happened in my room a good few minutes ago.

I heard my phone buzz… I looked at it and smiled, alarm...dip dip dip.

I grabbed my bag and placed my usual things and went back down.

“Mom! Dad! I’ll head out for a bit! I brought my phone so call me if anything important happens!” I called over them as I closed the door shut.

I need to relax a bit tonight…