The Nerdiest Bad Boy [UNDERGOING EDITING]

ᏟᎻᎪᏢᎢᎬᎡ ᏚᎬᏙᎬNᎢᎬᎬN

"Nicky Bear!"

I was instantly tackled to the ground. I looked up, dazed, to see Keaton on top of me.

"I heard you were in the hospital," he continued.

"Word travels pretty fast, Jackson," an awfully familiar voice said.

"Get him off of me," I hissed.

"Can you dumb asses get any more dumb?" another voice called out.

Keaton was then pulled off of me and I was helped to my feet. I looked to my unsuspected hero, and let's just say he really was an unsuspected hero.

"Emerson?" I asked confusedly. "Wow, um, thanks."

He gave me a slight nod, but didn't say more.

"How's your back?" Colton asked. He reached over to slap my back, but the idiot caught himself and slapped my butt instead.

"Whoa, Hayes, didn't know you rolled that way," Ryan joked.

"Shut your mouth," Colton growled. "Or else I'll shut it for you."

All four of us burst into laughter.

"Nice threat," I said sarcastically.

"Nice threat," Colton mocked.

"Anyways, how's your back?" Ryan inquired.

"It hurts like a bitch," I admitted.

"Why are you trash talking Keaton's mom for?" Colton demanded.

"At least I live with my real mom, you son of a bitch," Keaton grumbled.

Colton shook his head disapprovingly. "And he insulted his own mama again."

"How bad were the burns?" Ryan continued.

I eyed him suspiciously. "How did you know I burned myself?"

"Colton has a big mouth," he answered with a shrug. "So you burned your back, right? Which part of your back?"

I raised my eyebrows at his questions. "Are you trying to pull a Percy Jackson River Styx on me?"

They all gave me a blank look.

"Never mind," I muttered.

"How'd you pay for the hospital?" Colton inquired.

I felt my face get hot. This was pretty embarrassing to admit. "I got money from someone else."

Keaton gave me a knowing smile. "Oh, I wonder who! Was it a certain chick whose name rhymes with garden?"

"Shut up," I murmured.

Ryan's jaw dropped. "Your girlfriend paid for you? Damn, you're lucky."

"First off, she's not my girlfriend," I proclaimed. "And second, why are you here? Don't you have other friends?" I spat.

Ryan looked genuinely hurt and he ducked his head down. "Sorry, I didn't know you felt that way."

Keaton slung an arm over Ryan's shoulder and pulled him close. "Aww, you don't mean that, Nicky Bear! Ryan's so cute! He's like a little puppy!"

Colton cocked his head to the side and looked at Ryan. "He does remind me of a little puppy."

"Is that your inconspicuous way of calling him a bitch?" I assumed.

"God damn it! Stop talking about Keaton's mama like that!" Colton even waved his hands for emphasis.

"C'mon Nicky Bear, be nice to Ryan," Keaton reasoned.