The Nerdiest Bad Boy [UNDERGOING EDITING]

ᏟᎻᎪᏢᎢᎬᎡ ᎢᏔᎬNᎢY-FᎾᏌᎡ

After taking a shower, I strolled out of the bathroom and went to Amanda's room to find something to wear. I whistled a jolly tune as I changed into some comfortable attire. Once I was changed, I cracked open my biology textbook and began to do my homework. I was just beginning to get into my working groove, until my phone rang.

"Hello?" I greeted. "Wait, let me guess who this is. Is it Keaton?" I paused. "No, wait, it's Hayes, right? Amanda, is it you? Nope, it's probably Derrick." The person was about to speak, but I interrupted them. "Is this Arden?"

"It wouldn't kill you to actually check the caller ID before you answered," the person scoffed.

"Theodore!" I said happily. "What's up?"

"What's up is that you think I'm your girlfriend," he responded.

My smile instantly turned into a scowl. "I think I'll just hang up now."

"I'm kidding," he quickly said.

"What good deed did I commit to earn the privilege of getting a phone call from you?" I joked lightheartedly.

"Nicholas, do you think you could come over?" he asked.

"Sure I can. Is everything okay?"

"Not really," he said with a sigh. "I need someone to talk to right now."

"I'll be there soon," I said before hanging up. I slipped on a sweater and headed for the front door. Just as I was about to exit, the door opened and Amanda came in with some of her friends.

"Hey, Nico," she said. "What's the rush?"

"Theodore asked me to come over. He seemed pretty upset." I swiped her car keys from her hand. "Mind if I borrow these?"

Amanda rolled her eyes at me. "There's no point in asking if you already took it."

I chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Mandy."

"Bye," she called over her shoulder.

~*~

I parked Amanda's car on Theodore's driveway and I got out, making sure to lock the car doors this time. I didn't want any other kids sneaking into the car.

I walked up on Theodore's porch and I rang the doorbell. He opened the door, looking like hell. My eyes widened as I took in his appearance. "What happened to you? Did Ms. Manzanilla get married?"

He gave me a flat look. "Not funny, Nicholas." Theodore opened the door wider so I could step inside. He walked up the stairs and I followed. Theodore stopped at his bedroom and we went inside. I flopped down on his desk chair and looked at him expectantly, waiting to hear what was wrong.

Theodore looked at me with sad eyes. "I broke up with Sadie, Nicholas." He fell on his bed, face first.

Albeit I was happy, I was also quite surprised. "You broke up with her? Why?"

Theodore answered, but I couldn't make out what he was saying since his face was pressed against his pillow.

"Can you repeat that? I missed it."

Theodore repeated himself, but it still came out as a blur.

I rubbed my temples. "Theodore, I can't understand what you're saying."

He repeated himself once more, but I couldn't understand a single word.

My patience was running low, and my sympathy for him was wearing out. "Lift up your damn head and speak."

"I broke up with Sadie because she kissed you," he shouted. "There you go. Happy?"

My mouth instantly felt dry and I didn't know what to say. "Theodore, I...I..."