The Nerdy Girl (White Oak Creek High Book 1)

by Lee Wardlow

  Die Nerdy Girl had been written on my locker room in red lipstick more than once. The maintenance tech Mr. Wilkes had washed it off for me.

  “He told me. Abby, don’t you listen to them. You’re going to go far honey.”

  I just nodded at Mom with tears in my eyes. What else could I do? “I don’t know,” I finally said.

  “Talk to me Abby. I’m here,” Mom said.

  She meant it. She loved me. I put my arms around her and held her. She needed this as much as I did. “I’ll help you zip your dress,” she offered.

  “That would be nice.”

  I tightened my robe and we went down the hall to my room. I couldn’t wear a bra, but my boobs weren’t that big. No one would notice. Mom gave me special covers for my nipples so they wouldn’t show through if I got cold. I was embarrassed. She wasn’t. She wasn’t a teenager though.

  I went into the closet and peeled off the tape from the back of the covers and plastered them over my nipples. Then I put on my underwear. A sexy light blue, lacy pair of panties that no one would see but me.

  I slid my silver, strappy sandals on and buckled them. Then I got my dress off the hanger and slipped into it. I turned towards the mirror and the image that met my eyes surprised me.

  It couldn’t be me. The girl that was reflected in the mirror was beautiful. I tugged the dress over my slender curves and adjusted it on my shoulders. Then I called Mom to the closet to zip me up.

  She smiled at me. In the reflection of the mirror I could see us both, mother and daughter, looking nothing alike but connected in that moment. I had made her happy which made me happy.

  “You look stunning Abby.”

  “I hope Cal thinks so.”

  “I think he will,” she replied.

  The doorbell rang. He was early. I was nervous. I walked out into the hallway and I could see him standing at the bottom of the stairs with Dad talking. Cal hadn’t seen me yet. Mom squeezed my shoulder reassuring me.

  He looked so handsome. His longish hair brushed for a change. I chuckled. His face usually had some scruff on it but tonight he was shaved clean. Then his brown eyes traveled up to the balcony that overlooked our entry and he saw me. His eyes were locked with mine. He smiled revealing those dimples I loved most about him.

  Mom gave me a gentle push. I headed to the steps. I took them slowly. Unsure of the sandals that had heels. When I got to the bottom, he took a step closer to me. Hesitant and unsure of himself which wasn’t like Cal at all.

  “Abby, you look amazing.”

  “Thank you. I twirled in a circle showing Cal my entire dress.

  “Honey, you look beautiful,” Dad told me.

  “Thanks Daddy.”

  He beamed at me. It was okay to call him Daddy when I was happy. We went to the formal living room where the marble fireplace would make a perfect backdrop for the pictures that Mom wanted to take.

  Cal’s suit wasn’t expensive, but it was nice, and the charcoal gray suited the color of my dress. His shirt was white, and his tie was nearly the color of my dress.

  “How did you know?” I asked, looking between it and my dress.

  “Your mom took a picture of the fabric so I could find a tie.”

  He tugged me against him, and we faced my parents. His hands gentle at my hips. Dad cleared his throat. Mom elbowed him to start taking pictures. Once or twice I forgot myself and looked over my shoulder at Cal and Dad took a picture. Those turned out the best. I could see the feeling between us because as I looked up at him, he looked down at me. The love was there for anyone to see who wanted to. I was sure it made Dad uncomfortable, but Mom didn’t notice or care.

  It was time to go to his parent’s house. Mom and Dad told us to have fun. Dad had to throw in, “Not too much.”

  I scowled at that comment. Mom sighed. Tyson had left earlier because they were going in a limo to get food before the dance. His dates were the offensive line. Mom and Dad felt better about that because then nobody was driving, and no girls were involved that could get Ty into trouble. They only had to worry about me.

  Arriving at his parent’s house, I discovered everyone on the front lawn waiting on us. Cal walked around he car as usual and gave me his hand to help me out of the car. Our eyes connected as our fingers touched. I could see his feelings mirrored mine. I squeezed Cal’s hand, needing his reassurance. I was unnerved all over again by the sheer presence of people on the lawn waiting on us, wanting to take pictures.

  He tugged me along beside him, holding tightly giving me courage when mine was failing me. This is when my shyness was crippling. I was dressed up and wearing shoes that were throwing me off my balance. I was afraid of falling. In my head, I kept seeing me, sprawled face first on the Cooper’s lawn with everyone laughing at me.

  Dana met us first. “Honey, you look beautiful.” She gave me a hug. Rhonda had the digital camera snapping pictures. Dana got between us. I smiled awkwardly.

  “Danny come here and get in the pictures with us,” she called to him.

  He came to my side and wrapped his arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze. “Smile,” Rhonda told us.

  Bayleigh and Sheena were snapping photos with their phones. “Get out of the picture, Mom and Dad,” Sheena told them.

  “You do look beautiful, Abby,” Dan Cooper told me before he stepped away.

  Cal tugged me to him and wrapped his arm around my waist. “How are you doing?” He asked.

  “I’m fine,” I said looking up at him. His eyes locked on mine and the cameras flashed.

  “Oh, I love that shot,” Dana said looking at the photo that Rhonda showed her.

  Photo after photo was taken of us. Way more than my Mom had taken. Dana had us posing in any way she could think of. “Enough Dana. Let the kids go.”

  “Thank you, Dad.” Cal breathed a sigh of relief.

  He kissed his mother on the cheek. Then Dana hugged me before she let us go. I was starting to feel embraced by his family and I kind of liked it.

  I went to the passenger door and realized that Dan was talking to Cal. He patted his shoulder then released him telling him to have fun. I got in the car and Cal shut the door. He ran around the front of the car and got in.

  “Everything okay?”

  He laughed. “Dad just wanted to remind me that I have another passenger in my car. I needed to drive carefully. No alcohol which he didn’t have to tell me, but he wanted to be sure.”

  “Soon, Tyson will be driving.”

  Cal shot me a look. “But not you?”

  “Not me. Not yet at least.”

  “Why not?” Cal asked. I couldn’t explain why. The thought of taking the driving exam made me ill. It unnerved me. “I can teach you to drive,” he offered.

  “I’m afraid Cal,” I admitted.

  “Abby don’t let anyone make you afraid,” he told me. He gave me that smile that showed his dimples. His usually scruffy face was clean shaven today for homecoming. I loved his scruffiness, but I loved seeing his dimples even more.

  “That’s easy for you to say. Have you ever had a shy moment in your life?”

  Cal chuckled at me. “Can’t say that I have but Abby you have to spread your wings girl. You can’t live your life being afraid that’s no fun,” he teased me.

  I rolled my eyes at him as he turned into the parking lot at the high school. He helped me out of the car. “You look so beautiful tonight Abby.”

  “Thank you.”

  Inside the gym was decorated with helium balloons. A few had floated to the ceiling. Mr. Hill was grumbling about getting them down before gym class on Monday. Streamers dangled from the basketball hoops. Lighted fake trees surrounded us with sparkling lights. Otherwise the gymnasium was dim.

  Small café tables were setup here and there or we could sit in the bleachers. I saw Tyson and his friends across the room hanging in a group with Luke and Delia. We chose to sit at one of the café tables. More intimate and less drama.

  Cal pulled my seat clo
se to his and wrapped his arm around me. I leaned against his chest and enjoyed people watching. We were joined by Coach and Miss Hillard who had been walking around together, talking and monitoring kids in dark corners and dancing on the floor making sure that things weren’t getting out of hand.

  “How’s things going kids?” Miss Hillard asked.

  “Good,” Cal responded.

  “Things quiet for you tonight Abby?” Coach asked.

  I looked around for Aiden. He didn’t seem to be at the dance tonight. “I hope so,” I replied.

  He winked at me. “Me too.”

  Miss Hillard looked at Coach. He draped his arm casually around her seat. “You missed it last night because of your parent’s arrival in town. Abby had some excitement at the farm.”

  “Ah,” she said.

  “Are you two dating?” I blurted out. Then slapped my hand over my mouth, embarrassed by my forwardness.

  Miss Hillard turned pink. Even I could see that in the dimness of the gym. Cal looked at me and then he looked at Coach Mac. “Nah, Abby. They’re just friends. Miss Hillard is at Coach’s house every Friday night after the game.”

  Coach burst out laughing. Miss Hillard elbowed him in the ribs. I rolled my eyes at Cal. “They’re dating Cal.”

  “We are, Cal,” Miss Hillard agreed. “We keep it low key since we work together.”

  “Wow, I had no idea.” He sounded dumbfounded.

  “Abby has that sixth sense all women do, Cal.”

  It was the casual way he placed his arm around her chair that made me think they were seeing each other. The comfortableness he had with her. The same way that Cal treated me.

  Coach was smiling at Miss Hillard. “I go to everyone of Mac’s games,” Miss Hillard informed us. “Then I’m at the farm every Friday night. Nobody suspected until you Abby.”

  “I’m a hopeless romantic. I love, love. I guess.”

  Cal squeezed me harder. I knew what he was thinking. He wanted this to last beyond high school. Our feelings were intense. They were strong to us, but I didn’t know how this would work after graduation if our relationship lasted that long.

  A slow song started. One that was beautiful. One of my favorites. I glanced slightly at Cal. Hoping he would ask me to dance. He didn’t notice. I didn’t want to ask him.

  “Calvert, ask your girl to dance.” Coach had noticed me. He knew what I wanted.

  “Coach, I may be good on the field, but I have two left feet,” he groaned.

  “Cal, you can rock your ass back and forth now get out there with your girl. She wants to dance.”

  He walked me to the middle of a pack of kids and took me in his arms. Cal looked so handsome in his suit. I told him so. “I’m uncomfortable,” he complained.

  My hands slid up his biceps and clasped around his neck and he tugged me tighter to him. His forehead rested against mine. “I love you, Abby.” He kissed me beneath the sparkly lights hanging over our heads.

  The school had gone all out. At my old school, we had no decorations except for a twinkling ball that spun around in the middle of the gym. We didn’t dress like this either just for Homecoming. This was more like a prom.

  Cal stopped kissing me. “We need to just dance,” he informed me.

  I gazed up at him. “Do you mind waiting?” I asked referring to our sex life or lack of one.

  He kissed my nose. “I’ll wait forever Abby.” My eyes closed. “I’ve got a good thing. When you’re ready. I’m ready. I’m not one of those guys that thinks like Luke put out or I’ll find it somewhere else.”

  I nodded and rested my head in the crook of Cal’s neck. He did what Coach told him. He rocked us in a slow, gentle circle. We were barely moving. His hands were clasped at the curve of my butt.

  “I just want to be with you, Abby.”

  I nodded my head against his chest. “I feel the same way, Cal.”

  He kissed my temple and we rocked the rest of the song in the middle of the dance floor as if there was no one else but us.

  Later, we sat at our table alone. Tyson joined us for a while. He and Cal talked next week’s game. I leaned into Cal with my shoes off, just enjoying the sound of the music.

  The night was almost over. I decided to go to the bathroom. I excused myself. Cal offered to go with me. “I can go alone. Weren’t you just telling me in the car to spread my wings?”

  “I was,” he agreed but I could see he was still concerned and wanted to protect me after last night.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  I headed out the gymnasium door to the girl’s bathroom. The halls were empty. Many kids had gone home or to someone’s house for an after-homecoming party. I slipped into a stall and hiked up my dress careful that none of it went into the toilet.

  While I was fighting with the dress, I heard their voices. Distinctive and familiar. Snide and rude. I knew exactly who they were and that they had followed me in here on purpose.

  “Did you see her dress?”

  “It wasn’t flattering at all,” another replied.

  I couldn’t tell the insults apart from inside the stall. I sat still determined to not go anywhere until they left. They made fun of my hairstyle. My make-up too.

  “I don’t understand why Cal is with her. Even with her contact lenses she’s just cute. Not pretty like you,” one said to someone else and I wondered who that someone might be.

  “Luke said it’s because of the pussy. Cal’s always liked a challenge. He’ll wear her down. Then he’ll get tired of her after she gives in and he’ll dump her. He always does.”

  I stared at the ceiling lights so I wouldn’t cry. I reminded myself of what Dana Cooper had said about me and Cal. I reminded myself of Cal’s own words. I trusted him. They knew I was in here and right now they were trying to make me not trust him.

  To hell with them. I got up. Flushed the toilet. Walked out the stall and ignored their feigned surprise. I washed my hands and grabbed a paper towel. I dropped the used towel in the basket and tried to leave. At the last minute, Delia blocked my path.

  I chewed on the inside of my cheek. I just wanted to get out of here. When she didn’t move, I moved her, shoving her into the wall. Then I bolted out of the restroom and ran to the gym door. I got there just as the girls caught up to me. Delia’s best friend, Star grabbed me by the hair yanking me backwards.

  “Shove Delia again bitch and I’ll personally beat your ass,” she snarled in my face.

  She released me quickly just as the gym door opened. “Girls is there a problem?” Miss Hillard asked.

  “No problem,” Star said smiling politely.

  Miss Hillard looked at me. Waiting for me to agree with Star. Telling on them would do nothing to help my cause no matter what Coach Mac thought. I glanced over Miss Hillard’s shoulder, saw Coach and I knew that he knew something wasn’t right. My heart pounded in my ears. My scalp burned.

  “Everything is fine,” I said and slipped by Miss Hillard.

  I glanced over my shoulder and saw Coach watching me. I turned and walked quickly to Tyson and Cal still engrossed in their football conversation.

  “Hey babe, you okay?” Cal asked noticing that something wasn’t quite right either.

  “I just have a headache,” I reassured him which wasn’t a lie.

  “Could I hitch a ride home with you guys?” My brother asked.

  I wanted to talk to Cal about what happened in the bathroom. I had promised him last night I wouldn’t hide anything from him again. I wouldn’t talk to him in front of Tyson because I didn’t want any more stories being carried to my mother.

  In the driveway, I whispered goodnight and meet me in the pool house. I kissed Cal gently. Then as I got out of the car, I saw his confusion. His surprise. “I need to talk to you,” I added.

  He nodded. Then I got out of the car and headed inside with Tyson it was nearing one in the morning. Cal couldn’t come into the house this late. Dad would have had a cow.

  Chapter 13


  I went straight to my room. At the door, Dad stuck his head out of his room, “Have a good time?”

  “I did,” I responded. Tyson had already disappeared into his room. His door was shut tight. I shrugged at Dad. “I don’t know if he did. He hung out with the guys all night then us at the end.”

  “That’s fine by me.” Dad chuckled at his joke then went into his bedroom. “Goodnight.” I heard him say before he shut the door.

  In my own room, I changed out of my dress. Took down my hair and brushed it out then washed my face. In my pajama pants and tank top I started to head out of my room then grabbed a hoody. It was late in the night and the Fall air in Ohio was chilly. My feet were bare, but they made no noise on the hardwood floors.

  I slipped downstairs. No one was wiser. My room was the only one that faced the pool house. That’s why I chose the pool house. No one would see me slipping outside.

  Mom and Dad’s windows faced the woods and the front. Tyson’s room was the same on the opposite side of the house. Then we had another bedroom downstairs.

  I walked through the mudroom and slipped outside circling the patio. In the pool house, Cal was stretched out on a chaise lounge. He held his arms out to me and I slid easily into his embrace.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Where did you park?” I asked.

  “That’s what you’re concerned about?”

  I laughed. I didn’t want anything to happen to the Impala. I knew how much he loved that car.

  “I parked on the street behind yours and walked through the neighbor’s yard. I’m agile luckily. He has a chain link fence I had to hurdle. Now tell me what is wrong.”

  I didn’t want to tell him what they said about him. I made it clear that I trusted him before I did. I didn’t believe what they said but I had promised to tell him everything going forward. He tugged my chin up, forcing me to look at him when I struggled over the word pussy. His eyes were intense.

  “It’s a game Abby that these girls like to play. I wouldn’t date Delia, so she snagged Johnny. I don’t like their games or their snobbery. I don’t like the little clique they have.”