The Summer I Became a Nerd - By Leah Rae Miller Page 0,12
to tell you.” I giggle and tug on a lock of hair. Then, I realize what a fawning girly-girl I’m being and tuck my hand beneath my thigh. “Look, I called because…” I can’t finish.
“Because?”
“I kind of need your help,” I finally manage.
His tone raises a notch with what sounds like worry. “Are you okay?”
“Oh yeah, I’m fine, I just… I need a ride.” I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Sure, where to?”
In the background, I hear the door open. Dan says, “Dude, is that the chick? What does she want? Is it a booty call? It’s a booty call, isn’t it?”
I shake my head as Logan tells him to go away.
Dan must not listen, because he says, “This can’t end well, my friend. What did I say earlier? A hot chick equals high maintenance, which equals you carrying her purse while she shops for shoes.”
“Home,” I say before Dan can turn him against me. “I need a ride home.”
“No problem.” More rustling, the click of a door shutting, then silence. “Where are you now?”
“Do you know where Candy Southern lives?”
“Yeah, I can be there in fifteen minutes. Is that okay?”
“Perfect. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, Maddie.”
I go through about a million different feelings and thoughts in the few seconds after he hangs up. He knew it was me at the shop. For sure, he knew. Is he going to tell anyone? He hasn’t yet, not even Dan, though he must’ve said something because Dan called me a “hot chick” while trying to turn Logan against me. Before I can panic about that, I realize Logan was worried about me. That was sweet. He wanted to know what I thought of the book. He’s willing to drive out here for someone he doesn’t know.
Also, I really liked the way he said my name.
I run back to tell Terra and Eric I’m heading out. Eric’s too busy winning at giant beer pong—seriously, how hard can it be for a quarterback to toss a football into a five gallon bucket?—to really pay attention to me, but Terra wants to know why I’m leaving.
“I’m just tired.” That seems to satisfy her because an Allison Blair song comes on and she starts singing it loud enough for everyone to hear.
I go back to my star-gazing spot, stare at the driveway, and try to think of something witty to say when Logan shows up. Nothing comes.
What is he going to say? I’m almost positive he’s going to laugh at me, at my predicament. I’m a nerd hidden inside a popular girl’s body, and the only person that can help me right now is someone I’ve hardly even acknowledged for fear of social ruin. Man, he must think I’m just a shallow hypocrite.
Why do I want to cry all of a sudden?
Headlights appear on the driveway, and I jog toward them. Logan’s beat-up silver Accord pulls into an empty spot, and he leans over to unlock the door. When I open it, a very dim overhead light pops on, and the first thing I see is his smile.
“Hi,” I say when I drop into the seat. How witty is that?
“How’s it going?” He throws an arm over the back of my seat and turns to watch the back as he reverses.
“Fine.” Man, I should write a book. I could call it Things to Say to Ensure You Come Off as an Idiot.
“Good, good.” He nods his head.
It’s quiet for a minute as we both stare ahead at the road. Finally, I strike on a gem of a conversation starter. “I didn’t know you worked at The Phoenix.”
“I didn’t know you were into comics.” He quirks that eyebrow at me. “I haven’t seen you in the store before.”
“I usually just download my issues.”
“Aw, why would you do that when you have a perfectly good comic shop in town?” He taps his fingers against the steering wheel along with the music on the radio.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “It’s just more convenient, I guess.”
“But don’t you miss actually holding the paper in your hands?”
“Yeah, I do. I miss the smell, too. There’s just something about it.”
“Exactly. The old ones especially, before they went to that glossy paper.”
This feels so weird, surreal even, to be having a real-life conversation with someone about comics. I catch myself bobbing my head, agreeing with every word he says. I can feel a goofy grin on my lips. I literally have to shake my head, rattle my brain, to come back to my senses.