chapter 5 / jacked

"That's a big ass book," Abbey commented, joining me in my room. Since she won't shut up about how nervous she is for the next chapter after high school, we're looking at the yearbook I snagged from Mrs. Zuko's room. While the non-yearbook club students get their books on the last day of school (for shame, the yearbook club is the best), we received copies early.

Abbey turned to face me, pointing to various people on the page full of my classmates. "Isn't that the girl who likes you?"

"Dawn?" I chuckled nervously. Some people are known for their personalities or talents, but Dawn Hutchinson's entire personality revolved around how much she likes me.

At first, I enjoyed being on the receiving end of female validation. As a nerd with no immediate friend group, I couldn't help but laugh when some popular guy got his feelings hurt all because she chose me over him.

Suck my dick, Nate Chen.

Lately, it's gone too far. Dawn will wait at my locker for me like my dog sits on my bed and waits for eight straight hours while I'm at school. She also loves to give me unnecessary back massages.

I never expected to have a Sierra to my Cody.

(a/n: that was a total drama reference baes)

"As your sister, she has awful taste in guys." Abbey wrinkled her nose.

"Damn." I gasped. "What did I do to you?"

"Let's see. You quit track on the first day because you almost died running, you're weird as hell, and you're always with that stupid camera." She pointed to the one thing I love more than my dog.

"In my defense, the guys from track are quite intimidating." In my mind, a flashback of being laughed at during my brief middle school track career sent a shiver down my spine.

"As the best runner in the family, you're not wrong." Abbey's hazel eyes stopped drilling holes in me for a split second, but she went right back to slandering me.

(a/n: Ewww it's giving the author is an only child bc I am teehee)

"Is that a wife beater? You look kinda fat in it." Although Abbey's job is to be my straightforward younger sister, comments like that are why I essentially live in baggy clothes. Every time I look in the mirror, I'm content with my bright blue eyes and wavy hair that is constantly messy, but the chub on my stomach is a different story. Even my dad, who is triple my age, weighs less than I.

"Tell me something I don't know, Abbey Anne." My arms immediately covered my protruding stomach. "Do you think I should dip now?"

"Damn, you hate me that much?" Abbey joked. "Just kidding. Your call."

I had to laugh at that. "What? For once I'm not tutoring someone annoying. I like Emi."

My cheeks got hotter than early May in Florida. If you told me last year that I would tell someone, let alone indicate that I have a crush on her, I'd never believe you. I've probably known her since middle school, and she was one of the few people who was nice to me during that time. Although a lot of people in my grade are freaked out by her intense personality and refused to get to know her, she had a soft side that few people saw.

Not to be weird or anything, but every time she's with that Brazilian girl, her smile is impossible to wipe off of her face. Ugh, I'm such a sucker for everything about her.

That's why I stood on her front porch, raking my fingers through my hair while waiting for her.

Emilia didn't take long to answer the door at all. In that moment, I realized that I forgot how fucking mesmerizing she is. Even in baggy sweatpants and a neon green Lululemon sports bra, seeing her made my heart skip a beat. I loved the way her pin straight brown hair framed her face, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the curls that cascaded around her shoulders.

"Come in!" Emi smiled. "My parents are at a showing right now, so I guess it's just us."

I'd say I'm smarter than most of the other guys in my grade, but I'm a million times worse at talking to cute girls. I silently stepped through the door and she ushered me to the island.

I pulled out a barstool. "Did you understand that Spanish worksheet?"

She nodded, pulling out her own stool. "I honestly feel bad for the people who got yelled at for not getting it." Her gaze traveled to my biceps."I hope this isn't creepy, but do you work out?"

"You're good." I know for a fact I turned into a tomato after that, staring at her like an idiot. Not even the creepy compliments that Dawn would shower me with made me blush like that. "If I'm being honest, it's just my dad's genetics and lifting boxes for a week straight. I'm not athletic at all, but thanks."

"Actually? You're pretty jacked for a nerd." Emi smiled, twirling her straightened hair around her pointer finger. Her smirk indicated that she wasn't trying to be condescending, putting me at ease.

Still, I had to remind myself that I had to help her pass tenth grade. "So...what do you want to do today?"

"Math, only because you're really good at it." Emi pulled a notebook out of her rucksack, opening it to a blank page.

~

You know how you're filled with gratification after putting two and two together? From time to time, I had to explain things to her more than once. It was worth watching her confidence climb though.

"That was really helpful. Negative exponents always kick me in the ass." Excitement and pride cross her features as she smiled at the paper in front of her, eraser marks and all.

My heart swelled up with pride. "I'm glad, Emilia." The happiness gave way to my throat's dryness. I didn't want to kill the vibe by asking for something to drink. Emi, however, did something that convinced me she's telepathic.

She stood up, leaning over my chair. "I can't believe we went a whole thirty minutes without me asking you if you wanted a drink."

Relief washed over me. "I was about to ask that." I lied, locking eyes with her since our faces were quite close at this point.

Somehow, I kept my composure, no discomfort entering my system. If anything, someone decided to open a cage full of gorgeous yet fidgety butterflies in my stomach.

"Is Dr. Pepper ok?" I nodded excitedly. How did she know about my favorite drink?

What did I fucking say? This girl can read minds.

"A Dr. Pepper lover. Atta kid." Emi made her way to the refrigerator, her hips gracefully swaying as she walked.

I need to stop before I sound like that teacher at Abbey's school who better be rotting in jail for staring at eleven year old girls.

"Here you go." I almost dropped the frigid can not just because it brought numbness to my fingers, but once again her face was close enough to mine for me to make out her gorgeous features. Somehow her soft smile overtook them all, her brown eyes sparkling. Her chubby cheeks were begging me to squish them, the light hitting them perfectly.

I pulled off the tab on the Dr. Pepper, letting the taste of cherries fill my tastebuds. "I appreciate it. Didn't realize we had the same favorite drink.

"Yep." Emi sat back down next to me. By now, her top failed to cover the pudge on her stomach. Unlike the fucking gut that my wife beater was squeezing, hers was in a cute little roll above the waistband of her pants. A few hairs graced the area. Her full lips connected with the can as she chugged half of it.

"Me too." I chuckled. She wiped her mouth and joined me. After a few minutes of taking in her beauty, I tried to make small talk. "Emilia, if you're so smart, why do you need a tutor to begin with?"

She shrugged her tanned shoulders. "I wish I knew. My mom disagrees with you, but frankly she probably wants an excuse to have a boy around." Taking another sip, she added, "You heard how she was talking about you. She wants us to get married or something."

That makes two of us, Emilia Jocelyn Shapiro. I couldn't say that or else she'd be pretty weirded out. I wouldn't say she runs the school, but I'm like a peasant compared to this queen. There's no way she'd want to date me and ruin her star catcher reputation.

But wait. Didn't the captain of the baseball team fumble the bag with her? I've got a chance with her after all.

Damn it, JP. You're her tutor. Save the lovey-dovey stuff for the summer. Yeahhh. After next Thursday, it's this crumpet addict's time to shine.

A/N: after 2 months, i'm baaaack. i think chapters will take a little longer to come out because i'm in school and stuff. ugh, i miss summer but that ok. hope you guys are staying warm! :)

-isla