2023
"Nerd." A word used to completely smash my self-esteem against a wall, embodying the hate I've gathered for myself for doing nothing other than making good grades. It's used to make me feel…horrible for simply being academically good in place of having decent social skills. Even so, I don't deserve the level of verbal abuse I receive from my schoolmates on a daily basis.
I currently sit in geography class, waiting in anticipation for the results of our pop quiz. Sweat collects in places as the heat of the afternoon roams wild in the class. There are drawings of volcanoes on the board, done in marker, and several people are sitting on their desks probably just waiting for the test results like I am, some might just not care. They would smile at a C, not my type of thing though. I must say, the quiz was a glorious surprise, but thankfully, it was all based on what we learned in our last lesson, so I don't see why anyone would fail unless they were simply not paying attention, which is a hundred percent their fault.
The study of vulcanicity is a fascinating topic. One I'd bury my head in for days, whether it was for school or not. Failing this test would break my heart faster than hearing daily insults hurled at me from passers-by on campus could ever do.
The teacher held the papers in her hand, and it seemed like she smiled every time she passed directly in front of my desk. I hope she was proud of my test results. She paced up and down the classroom, while my fingers itched with the urge to run them over my answer sheet, eager to see whatever mark I'd been blessed with.
"I am pleased to announce that the student with the highest score on the pop quiz is... Naomi Brooks."
A lovely smile spread across my lips. My test result was handed to me, with a giant red A at the top corner of the sheet. I straightened my shoulders with pride, gazing at the paper like it was the key to a new home. Joy overwhelmed me as the anticipation melted away with a single, relieved breath. I could almost feel the suffocating air of jealousy, hatred and negative assumptions tearing down the good in the atmosphere. Should I have expected people to applaud this with sincerity? Probably not.
Once again, I succeeded in the one thing I'm good at. Social interaction was never my strong suit, or maybe it was just the fact that people hated me, and I was welcome nowhere. So, I stayed away from them to avoid being treated like garbage—I'd be lying if I said it worked, people stepped on my toes whether I was with them or not.. People constantly invaded my space, bullying me with every insult and form of harassment imaginable.
For me, getting good grades and racking up academic achievements came far easier than making friends. Girls like Brianna—my biggest bully were the social experts and likeable among the masses. She had boys drooling over her and girls worship her like a deity whenever she walked by. Meanwhile, I'm the curly-haired, dull, introverted nerd who wears boring glasses and sweaters all day, doesn't get invited to parties and stays in her room all day working on creating inventions while she's the pretty blonde who can get guys with a snap of her fingers.
The only friend I have is Benjamin Moore. He's the only one who sees more in me than just a nerd. He sees me for the smart, capable person I am. He celebrates my successes, laughs with me in my silly moments, encourages me when I fail, and stands up for me when I'm mocked or ridiculed. His kindness towards me continues to marvel me each passing day.
After class, I stood up, grabbed my bag, and left. I didn't want to stick around and hear anything that might ruin my smile or dampen my mood. My face was aching from all the smiling I did in class today. Some people would argue that it was just a pop-up test, but their arguments would be flawed. The test was based on material Madam Rita covered last week, so there's really no excuse for failing. Yet, they'll talk trash about people who take the time to study and make silly assumptions about how we made it. Not all of us are the same, some of us value hard work and give in our all in everything we do.. I've heard plenty of things being said about me, but I try not to focus on them. They are mere opinions and not a determiner of what life should be. Since my social life is already a disaster, it's best to focus on my studies and hope for better things to head my way.
I was walking down the hall, heading toward the cafeteria, when I heard his voice call out behind me. "Hey, Naomi!" He was practically panting as he jogged to catch up with me.
"Hey Benji, you really need to work out. You can't be panting like a generator from just a little speed walking," I teased.
He scoffed, "You try running from the Junior section all the way here. It's quite a distance, you know how large this school is and I didn't want you to leave me in the dust."
His chest rose and fell with each breath, his voice shaky from exhaustion. Sweat spots were starting to form under his arms and around his neck. The upper buttons of his shirt were undone, and beads of sweat trickled down his Adam's apple and into his shirt. He looked disheveled, his shirt untucked from his trousers.
Benjamin—though I like to call him Benji—is in Junior year, 17 years old. He's not a straight-A student, but he's solidly high-average. Sometimes he pretends to be one of the "bad boys," trying to fit in with the cool crowd, but he's really a softie at heart. Standing at 5'11", he's not athletic or particularly muscular, but he's in good shape.Thankfully not pot-bellied or overweight like an old man. His tousled, faded blonde hair fell across his forehead, framing a triangular, chiseled face. There were hints of future facial hair on his upper lip and a small goatee on his chin. His blue, downturned eyes, framed by blonde lashes, gave him a thoughtful look. He had nicely arched eyebrows and a nubian nose that sat above thin, pink lips.
As we walked down the hall toward the cafeteria, I asked, "How was history class?"
A deep groan escaped his throat, so expressive that even a rocket scientist could figure out his answer before he said anything. Don't blame him though, I hate history too.
"So boring. Mrs. Ashley was going on about when Abraham Lincoln farted in 1862 and all these other irrelevant details I couldn't care less about," he grumbled, folding his arms and furrowing his brows.
I burst out laughing, gloating in his misery. Knowing Benji, he probably dozed off during part of the class and still managed to scribble down some notes in his perfect handwriting. He tries to downplay how neat his penmanship is, but honestly, the letters he writes could sing a melodious tune if they were choir members in a temple. His handwriting is simply perfection.
A brief silence settled between us as the hallway began filling up with students, and the sound of chattering overtook the air. Eventually, I broke the silence, "I got an A on the geography pop-up test."
He turned to me with a raised eyebrow, "No surprise there. Getting good grades for you is like counting one, two, three…"
I cut him off before he could finish, "It's not that easy! Do you know how much studying I have to do to get the grades I get?"
He just shrugged in response. I rolled my eyes and tried to speed ahead of him, but who was I kidding? His long legs allowed him to catch up with me faster than my 5'4" frame could manage.
We grabbed our food at the cafeteria and found an empty table to sit at. Without hesitation, I dug into my meal, wasting no time. My stomach had growled at me a couple of times too much to ignore its needs. I simply had to give it what it wanted before it stirred into a beast.
Benji, on the other hand, pulled his tablet out of his bag and turned the screen toward me. There were greasy smudges all over it from his oily French fries fingers. "Have you heard about the new Android Humans?" Benji asked, handing me his tablet. I shook my head, taking it from him. The article on the screen read, "Android Humans: The Next Step in Technological Evolution."
I skimmed through the article, reading aloud, "Androids can now think, talk, and work like normal humans. They even have emotions and look so much like us that they can blend seamlessly into human society."
I glanced up to see Benji wrestling with a chicken thigh. "A robot that can think for itself? I don't know about that," I said, voicing my concern. In the movies, I never saw a robot who had the ability to think for itself not want to gain dominion over humans. They were often more powerful than humans too.
He set the chicken down and took back his tablet, sliding it into his bag. "Come on, Naomi, these things are awesome! Imagine having an Android as a friend—it'd be so cool! I'm sure they have control mechanisms to keep them in check. Plus, they've been out since January, so they're probably everywhere by now. If they were dangerous, the government would've shut them down already," he said, chewing on his fries.
I decided to brush it off. Benji was right—if these Androids were dangerous, we'd have seen signs by now, assuming they're really living among us. Still, a part of me feared they might eventually outdo humans, taking our jobs and maybe even posing a threat. I personally believe that machines shouldn't be able to think for themselves—who's to say they won't turn on us once they get smarter? But that's just my paranoia talking. I might have legitimate concerns too. What if I have spoken to them already without knowing.
Trying to shift the conversation, I mentioned the Science Club I was planning to join. It's a club that brings together people who are passionate about science—to learn, discuss, and immerse themselves in anything science-related. The club is also responsible for picking students to represent the school in external quizzes. I told Benji about the entrance test we had to take today, which would determine if I get in or not. My palms were sweaty just thinking about it, my mind swirling with all the ways I could mess up and be denied a spot.
"I know they'll pick you," Benji said, waving off my worries. "Why would they deny you? Everyone knows you're like a female Isaac Newton in the making."
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. I quickly stuffed the last bits of food into my mouth before rushing off to Social Studies class. At least it was an interesting topic—Adolescent Reproductive Health. The class was always interactive, and unsurprisingly, everyone paid attention. Who wouldn't be glued to their seat when the subject was about sex and all its wonders?
After class, I made my way to the Quiz Club, which met in the Science Lab. The room was spacious, with tables arranged as they would be for any exam. I took a seat, arriving early enough to see only a handful of students scattered around. Some looked confident, while others, like me, seemed on edge. The warm room didn't help. The fans were doing little to cool the space, and sweat began to form on my forehead. I fidgeted with my pen and other materials, trying to distract myself from the growing nervousness in my stomach.
It was going to be a Math and Science test. I told myself I was ready. After all, I had won plenty of quizzes and awards before, so passing a single test shouldn't be difficult. But no matter how many times I repeated this to myself, I wasn't convinced. Deep down, I wasn't sure I was ready. I had spent countless hours preparing for this, yet it still didn't feel like enough.
Suddenly, I felt a slight tingling in my head. At first, it was just faint, like tiny vibrations in my skull, easy to ignore. But then they grew stronger and stronger, until I found myself clutching my head, trying to dull the sensation.
The door creaked open, and I looked up to see who might be joining me in the club. My breath caught in my throat. There he was—a guy with black hair, smooth olive skin, and an athletic build that could make anyone weak at the knees. The girls in the room weren't subtle in showing their attraction to him, either and he could definitely tell, he flashed smiles here and there. As for me, the shocks in my head intensified, like my skull was about to explode. I could feel my face contorting from the pain, which seemed to come out of nowhere, but I still couldn't tear my eyes away from him as he walked in with his friend.
He wore an all-black outfit, giving off that classic bad-boy vibe. Meanwhile, his friend looked like the complete opposite—a nerd, just like me. His friend wore a blue plaid shirt tucked into khaki pants. They both took their seats, with the plaid guy sitting directly behind me, while he sat adjacent to me. As usual, he didn't seem to notice me. I tried to ignore the persistent vibrations in my head, resting it in my palm as I stole glances at him. Goosebumps rose on my skin, and suddenly, all the nervousness I had about the test shifted—now I was anxious about him. I've had crushes before, but this one felt... stronger. Almost overwhelming.
"Erm… hi," a voice behind me interrupted my thoughts. I turned around, noticing it was the boy in the plaid shirt. There was a fair distance between my chair and his table.He wasn't bad-looking either. His brunette hair was neatly combed, and his amber eyes had a sharpness to them, enhanced by his glasses. His smooth, clean-shaven face suited him well.
I smiled politely, unsure what to say next.
"Hello," I responded meekly, trying to keep my composure.
"We're both taking this test, and I just wanted to wish you the best of luck," Jeremy said, a warm smile spreading across his face.
I smiled back, thankful for the kindness. "Thank you, good luck to you too," I replied.
"I'm Jeremy, by the way, and you must be...?" He paused, waiting for my name.
"Naomi," I answered simply. As I said it, I realized I hadn't seen these boys around before. Could they be new?
"Ugh, boring. Can we talk to some girls that are actually pretty now?" the boy adjacent to me, his words cutting deeper than they should have. My heart snapped at his comment, though I fought to keep the hurt from showing. If I hadn't heard such things before, maybe I would've been surprised, even angry. But I was used to it. This time, I fought back the tears. No sign of weakness.
"Be nice, Ricardo!" Jeremy scolded him.
Ricardo rolled his eyes, facing forward, completely unapologetic. I took a deep breath, as if bracing myself against the sting of his words.
"I'm really sorry about him," Jeremy apologized, clearly embarrassed by his friend.
I nodded, managing a small smile, though my heart still stung. "It's fine."
A rush of boldness surged through me, and I decided to send a jab back at Ricardo. "It's fine. I believe ugly guys shouldn't be chatting with pretty girls anyway."
He shot me a furious glare, but surprisingly, it didn't intimidate me like I expected. In fact, a small part of me reveled in the moment, enjoying the tiny victory of standing up for myself.
As the lab started filling up, I was surprised by the number of students who showed up. I wouldn't have guessed so many wanted to showcase their brilliance. It seemed everyone was eager to prove themselves today.
However, as the room buzzed with chatter and laughter, the vibrations in my head intensified. My heart raced for two reasons: I couldn't deny my attraction to Ricardo despite his earlier insult, and I felt a wave of frustration wash over me. Getting drawn to someone like him seemed like a recipe for more insults and embarrassment and worsening my insecurities.
Soon, every desk was occupied, and papers were handed out. I glanced at the questions in front of me, a smile creeping onto my face despite the anxiety bubbling beneath. I was nervous about THIS!!! The moment of truth was here, and I was determined to give it my best shot, regardless of the distractions around me. Now looking at the questions, I had all this in the bag
For fuck's sake, the questions should have been a little more challenging. All this stuff about equilibrium and magnetic force felt like preschool material to me. I was just about to get into a groove when the sound of throat clearing disrupted my concentration and drew everyone's attention to the front.
"This is a test to determine who is worthy of membership in the science club," the supervisor announced. "The pass mark is 70%. Anyone scoring 69 and below will not qualify. The test is quite simple; I'm sure you've realized that by now. You have two hours to complete it. Start working, everyone, and good luck."
I picked up my pen and got to work, answering the questions to the best of my ability. A few made me think, but I tackled them with confidence and cleared them off my list. Tiny whispers filled the air as students asked each other for answers, though nobody bothered to ask me. The supervisor yelled for silence, but her words barely made a dent in the murmurs around me.
An hour passed, and I finished my test, leaving me time to go over my work repeatedly. As I reviewed my answers, I felt confident that I was definitely going to pass. At least 80 is assured for me. The anticipation of having the papers collected was almost unbearable. I was getting bored with the minutes moving like months.
Then I noticed a burning stare that made the side of my face feel hot, but I didn't want to look over and risk getting lost in his eyes, especially with the way my heart raced whenever I thought about him. Instead, I rested my head on the desk, hoping the cool surface would soothe the pounding in my head.
In what felt like just a blink, the two hours had passed, and the papers were collected. It was finally over, and my senses rejoiced at the thought of freedom. Sure, there was still the marking to consider, but I desperately needed to breathe in some fresh air. The sound of desks screeching against the white tiles filled the room as students got up and began to leave.
I rose to my feet, ready to join the exodus when I heard Jeremy's voice call out my name. I turned around to see him perched on one of the tables. "How was the paper?" he asked.
"It was cool—just a bit too easy for me," I replied with a chuckle.
"I suppose,like why ask what is about the ohm's law" he laughed, the sound light and comforting. The short chorus of laughter faded into a quiet lull as the room emptied around us, leaving just a handful of students lingering behind.
Just then, my body began to vibrate again, that familiar sensation fluttering in my head. I pinched the bridge of my nose, hoping to rub the feeling away, but it didn't help.
"Jeremy, let's go! You convinced me to write this so we could test our strengths. Let's move and go do interesting stuff!"his deep voice erupted from behind me, startling me to the point where my heart jumped in my chest.
A sudden whiff of fresh citrus caught my attention, and I slowly turned to see him.Ricardo,standing there with his arms folded, towering over me. Being dwarfed is a real thing, I feel like a grain of rice right now, standing in the middle of two taller grains. The playful smirk from before was gone, replaced by a more serious expression, but there was still a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Hey, Naomi Brooks, right?" he said, his voice smooth and deep, sending another wave of heat through me. I didn't recall mentioning my last name. "Are you some type of stalker or something? How did you know my last name?" I argued, frowning and returning the same energy thrown at me.
"I hope you fail the test and cry on your mum's lap," he continued, his tone casual, yet somehow intense. "I'd love for you to join the ranks of the mediocre and watch me show you what being smart is all about."
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. Jeremy chimed in before I could find my voice. "She definitely did!Naomi here is a science whiz. She practically breezed through it. Maybe you could learn kindness from her".
Richardo crouched to my eye level. I was staring into his eyes which were green in color. His eyes were thick arched over his eyes plus his long luscious look glorious lashing over his eyes as he blinked. "You might think you are smart Naomi but trust me you are no match for me".
My insides were churning, heat engulfing me, and my heart thudded like a drum, nerves racing at speeds beyond calculation. Worst of all, my head was vibrating like a special toy. As Ricardo leaned in, trying to get his lips close to my ear.
Instantaneously, a strong shock coursed through my body, causing me to stumble and fall onto my chair. My tailbone hit the seat, sending pain radiating through me. I groaned from the aftershock and the pain writhing through my body; I thought I might pass out.
Ricardo seemed equally affected as he shot back, startled. "What happened?" Jeremy asked, confusion etched on his face. "Let's just go," Ricardo replied tersely to Jeremy before storming out of the room.
"Are you okay?" Jeremy probed, concern lacing his voice.
I looked up at him, still recovering from the sting of the electric shock coursing through my body and the aftermath of pain circling my nerves. "I think you should go with Ricardo," I managed to say. He nodded and headed in Ricardo's direction, leaving me alone to gather my thoughts.
THE FUCK WAS THAT!!!