The Nerdiest Bad Boy [UNDERGOING EDITING]

ᏟᎻᎪᏢᎢᎬᎡ ᎢᏔᎬNᎢY-FᏆᏙᎬ

When I entered my journalism class, I was unexpectedly engulfed into a hug. "Hi, Nick," Arden greeted, grinning broadly at me. "I didn't see you in such a long time!"

I raised my eyebrows as she pulled away. "It's only been a few days."

"A few days too many," she muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," she said swiftly. We walked to our seats and sat down beside each other. "So I heard we're getting a new assignment today."

I nudged her elbow with mine. "Partners?" I asked.

Arden beamed at me. I didn't know why, but her smile was so contagious and I couldn't help but smile back at her. "I'd love to be partners," she said. We continued to smile and just stared at each other. I wanted to look away, but something came over me and I couldn't.

"Good morning everyone," Mr. Dalton said, taking me out of my trance. "I hope you are all doing well."

I shook my head as I tried to focus on what he was saying. What had come over me? That was definitely weird.

"I have an assignment for you all," Mr. Dalton continued. "You will be working on this in groups of two."

Arden nudged my thigh with hers, upon hearing what he said, causing me to let out an involuntary gasp. Arden looked at me with a confused look and I was certain I was redder than a tube of alizarin crimson paint. In simplest terms: I was pretty fucking red.

I tried to focus back on what Mr. Dalton was saying before I could further embarrass myself. "For this assignment, you and your partner will interview each other. You can ask your partner anything about themselves, to further help you get to know them. You will have to create a set of questions, record your partner's answers and write an article about anything. But you have to incorporate what you discovered about your partners in this article as well. This assignment will be due in a few days," Mr. Dalton finished.

"This sounds like so much fun," Arden exclaimed. "I can't wait to interview you!"

I rolled my eyes, but chuckled nonetheless. "I can't wait either. Just the thought of interviewing you is making me giddy."

"Do you want to come over to my house after school?" she asked, ignoring my sarcastic remark. I was about to decline, until Arden spoke up again. "I'll make you whatever you want," she said in a singsong voice.

I cocked an eyebrow. "You can cook?"

Arden looked offended. "Of course I can cook. Just because my father is rich doesn't mean I don't know rudimentary skills."

I smirked down at Arden. "Then I guess you can show me how good of a cook you are."

Arden beamed back at me. "You bet I will."

~*~

After school, I went with Arden to her house. Amanda was a little too happy that I wasn't going home with her. I was certain it was so she could have alone time with Colton. If I came home to see Colton butt naked, then I was going to have to kick some ass.

Since Mr. Daniels was at work and Gavin was at a friend's house, Arden and I had her house to ourselves. I was sprawled across her family room couch, while Arden was busy cooking in the kitchen.

"Nick, come here for a second," Arden called out. "Tell me if the sauce is too spicy." I begrudgingly got up and went to the kitchen. Arden was busy mixing the sauce, but when she saw me, she dipped a spoon inside the bowl and gave it to me. "Try it," she insisted.

I eyed her suspiciously. "What if you're trying to poison me?"

Arden rolled her eyes at my paranoia. "Why would I poison you, Nick? We're friends."