The Nerd and the Jock (1st bk of Nerd Series)

Chapter 25- Blake

I watched Bailey while we walked through the crowds of people, interacting with the kids in a way that had me think she was a great mother and a great person. A smile was on my lips while she ducked her head to listen intently to what Michael said before she nodded and replied.

"You like her, don't you?" Ryan asked, and I was shocked that a kid, well two kids, of hers were by my side. He folded his arms across his chest and scowled, and I raised an eyebrow.

"Ya, we know," Chrissy said, mimicking her brother's posture. She narrowed her eyes and scowled, and I raised my eyebrow in question. "We aren't blind."

"Mimi isn't either," Ryan said. He shrugged and studied me, daring me to disagree with what he said.

"Are you two ganging up on me?" I asked, not answering their question. I raised an eyebrow and studied the two of them, my heart pounding in my chest. "What is this all about?"

"We are wondering what your plans are with our adopted mother," Ryan said. He raised an eyebrow. "Why are you hanging out with her so much? I thought you hated her."

I sighed and moved a hand through my hair. "I did," I replied, and he raised an eyebrow. "I thought she was super annoying and just weird."

"What changed?" Chrissy asked. She cocked her head and studied me. Curiosity filled her eyes, and I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking.

"I got to know her. I got to see behind the disguise she wore and found out that she was a smart and sassy person." I couldn't help but smile when I thought about her, how she put others before herself and made sure that the kids were safe and happy.

"You do like her," Ryan pointed out. He cocked his head and studied me. "Dare I say; you love her?" He raised an eyebrow.

My breath caught in my throat when he said. Did I love her? Was that the reason I was still hanging around her, even though the project had been turned a while ago, and I understood everything that was going on in school?

"Well?" Chrissy asked, raising an eyebrow too. She cocked her head and studied me. "Do you love her?"

"Are you two having a party back there or what?" Bailey asked, calling from where she was located with Mimi, Michael, Sky, and Trevor by her side. She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head, her brown hair glistening in the sunlight streaming through the trees. "I mean, it sounds like you three are having a separate party."

"We aren't," Ryan called back. He looked at me and scowled. "I'm watching you, Bud," he said, narrowing his eyes at me, and I couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by the young male. "Whatever game you are playing with her better stop," he warned. "You're either in, or you're out. There is no in between."

"Ya," Chrissy said. "So, if you love her or not, then you best get facts straight. We know people." She gestured to herself and Ryan. "We can get someone to wipe the floor with your face."

"And it's not Bailey because she won't do it." He narrowed his eyes further, and I couldn't help but wonder how he would react when his sister started dating if he acted like this to me. "Not yet, at least."

"Not unless you do something stupid, and then, she will wipe the floor with your face."

"Guys!" Bailey exclaimed, her voice slightly different. She scowled and narrowed her eyes. "Come on. Let's go. Mimi wants to go see the pandas."

"Ya!" she exclaimed. Her eyes grew wide, and I could tell that she was very excited about going to see the pandas. "And I have to go pee!"

Bailey rolled her eyes and scowled. "TMI," she replied.

"Ok!" Ryan said. "We're coming." He looked at me. "This conversation isn't over yet," he warned, and with that, he left with Chrissy following him.

I trailed after them and stuffed my hands into my pockets. My mind was going around a mile a minute while I replayed the whole conversation repeatedly, trying to see what information I was missing.

Did I love her? Was that why I was still here and didn't care about the kids? Could I see myself in a future relationship with her?

And the answer to all three of those questions was: yes. I could.

***

I followed the group while we went to see the pandas after Mimi's pee break. My hands were stuffed into my pockets, and I was lost in thought while I walked. I had no idea how I had fallen in love with her, but I was.

I had no idea how to tell her that I was in love with her or if she was even in love with me. I had no idea if she wanted a relationship at this point, especially since she was taking care of four young kids and trying to graduate high school. I mean, I had no idea if she had time for one either.

Bailey slowed down until she was by my side. She watched her kids for a while before she looked at me, concern filling her eyes. "Are you ok?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and cocking her head while she studied me. "You've been very quiet and reclusive while we've been here."

I shrugged. "I'm ok," I replied. I cleared my throat and licked my lips. I opened my mouth to say something but closed it instead.

"You know that I don't believe, right?" she asked, while she cocked her head further. "I know that you are not ok, Blake."

I raised an eyebrow and cocked my head. "Oh, really?" I asked, and she nodded. "How do you know that?"

"Because you look to have been fighting yourself," she replied. She shrugged and turned her gaze to watch the kids. "You've also hadn't said anything about certain facts about certain animals. Nor have you tried to tease me any."

"Why would I tease you?" I asked. "I thought that was Trevor's job."

She shrugged. "I think it became both of your jobs," she replied. "I mean, you have been hanging around me more than you did in the past."

"And yet you're still a mystery to me," I replied. I studied her and wondered what she was hiding. I knew that she could cook, dance, and fight, but was there something else? I felt as if she was like an onion, having many layers that I had to peel back to find the true female underneath.

Bailey smirked. "Hmph," she replied. She looked at me with eyes of gray. A strand of hair fell out of her ponytail, and I had the urge to move it out of her face but didn't. She sighed and tucked the strand of hair behind her ear. "I thought you liked mysteries, Blake," she said.

"I do," I replied. But not about someone that I think I can see my life with, I added, silently biting my lip. I cleared my throat and looked away from her and at the kids to see that both Ryan and Chrissy were staring at us.

Ryan scowled and made the signal for 'I'm watching you' toward me, earning a snort from Bailey. He smiled at Bailey and waved before he and his sister returned their attention to Trevor and whatever he was doing.

"What was that about?" Bailey asked, and she looked at me curiously. She cocked her head and studied me. "Why did he make the 'I'm watching you' signal toward you?"

I shrugged. "I don't know," I replied, even though I did know why he did that. "I guess he wanted me to know that he was always there. He is always watching." I looked at her and then leaned closer in mock horror. "I think he is Big Brother," I mocked whispered.

Bailey laughed and shoved me away, and I let her while I grinned because I loved the sound of her laughing. "Of course, he is," she replied. "And I'm the Wicked Witch of the West."