Page 8 of Beauty and the Nerd
“Well, I guess that answers my question.” They heard the words come from the doorway sometime later and Emma bolted up in the bed.
“Mom! You could have knocked,” Emma said trying to straighten her tank top and hair.
“I did, twice, Emma,” Nicole said with a smile at them. “Will you be staying for dinner again, Ben? You’re more than welcome to as long as I don’t ever walk in here to find you both naked.”
“Mother!” Emma said feeling her face flame with color.
“I’d love to Mrs. Watkins, and I promise, I’ll always treat Emma with care,” he stated, making her blush further.
“That’s good to know,” Nicole said before looking back at her daughter. “I won’t tell your dad about what I saw but you should probably tell him that your relationship with Carter is finished before he learns about this.”
“Thanks Mom.” She let her shut the door before she buried her face in Ben’s chest with a groan.
“Come on Em, it’s not that bad. Just think, it could have been one of your girlfriends or Carter,” he teased, earning a playful smack to the arm and he kissed her again before letting her up to get dressed for dinner.
Chapter 3
“Ben, wait up,” Crystal called out, and Emma shut her locker door tightening her grip on her book as she saw him pause in the hallway. Every time she saw them near each other now, she wanted to rip the girl’s hair out, or at least, move over to Ben and kiss him, show everyone that he was hers. There was one more day before Christmas break, one more day before she fully intended to ensure that everyone looked at them differently.
She moved down the hall overhearing Crystal’s invitation and bumped into Ben to avoid people headed their way. She shot Ben a smile as he turned keeping her books from falling to the floor. “Thanks, some people are in a hurry today it seems. I didn’t mean to bump into you but since we’re here, are we still on for going over the chemistry study guide tonight?”
“We’re still on Emma.” Ben met her gaze with a knowing look. He kind of liked her jealousy. It was amazing to see how serious about them she was. Bolstering to see her feel a bit unsettled because someone else wanted him, but she didn’t need to ever worry about it. He wouldn’t want Crystal in his bed again no matter the sort of invitation she gave. Nothing between them made him even a quarter as happy as just holding Emma’s hand did, and he wouldn’t lose that for anything.
“Great, you really make chemistry come alive for me.” Emma’s words slid entirely through him making him fight to keep from reaching out to kiss her, and it deepened when Emma shot Crystal a fake smile. “Hi Crystal, see you around, I’m sure.”
“Oh, come on, Ben,” Crystal said as Emma moved further down the hallway. “You’re not seriously going to go study with her, when you can come to this party with me, are you?”
“Yeah, I am Crystal. I like helping Emma. I’m not interested in any parties ofanysort withyou.” He took a step away from her as her eyes narrowed even as she licked her lips, looking him up and down.
Her continued attention felt good during the last semester junior year, even though he didn’t want her in his life that way—at least until he’d gotten to know Emma. When he came back from the summer program, Crystal’s attempts to sway him back into bed with her just felt dirty and wrong. He wasn’t going to begin to let her hurt Emma by letting her continue to offer—especially not now.
“For the last time, leave me alone. If I wanted a cheap night with someone, I wouldn’t come to you because you want far more than just that from me and I’m not stupid enough to let you tie me up for life in any way,” he added in a bit quieter tone than before, wanting to make it clear to her but not broadcast it everywhere and end up with more questions from his friends that weren’t aware of his past with Crystal. That would just end up getting back to Emma and he didn’t want her to have to hear dumb gossip when everything with Crystal was dead and buried. “I didn’t give a damn about you at all while it was happening, and I give even less now. I was a fucking idiot just enjoying having sex. I don’t want you, Crystal. Accept it and move on to someone else.”
“Who else is going to take you, huh? You’re not that great of a guy—in looks or brains, Ben. What other chance do youhave of someone wanting you?” Crystal tossed his way. It was a question that until this summer would have had him second guessing himself. Ever since Emma had stayed up with him on far too many late nights discussing everything under the sun, he’d felt deep down that someone would see him for who he was, want him for who he was.
He loved those nights, especially when Emma would gently touch him, give him those real smiles, the ones that filled her eyes with soft warmth he wanted to soak up. He’d never have made the first move to see if just maybe Emma was that person that saw him, the way he saw her, and risk losing the friendship they’d found in New York. Not without the hints that it’d be welcome from the story she had in her journal that day, but that was far different than what Crystal was trying to imply now, and he was glad that he could answer her honestly.
“I guarantee there’s someone out there that will take me just as I am, want me for me. I fully intend to find and be with her, notsettlefor you. Walk away with the little of your dignity you have left, before I start telling everyone around here just how uninterested in you, I am, Crystal.” He gave her a long look that spoke of his seriousness, not about to risk losing Emma for anything.
“You’re so pathetic Ben. You’re just like all the other idiots in this place panting after Emma Watkins, aren’t you? You’re not even on the sameplanetas her. All she wants is your answers to her homework. Once she has that, she’s done with you, isn’t she? I mean, how many parties have you gone to with her, huh? How many times have you gone out to eat together? None, because she dates guys like Carter, not you Ben,” Crystal argued, and he shrugged.
“So-what if she does? So-what if I like Emma—like how she looks, how she talks, or how she smiles when she gets an answer right? That’smybusiness not yours. It’s my life so stay the helloutof it.” Ben shot the last as a warning before heading to his last class hoping to get out of the building without another run-in with Crystal.
He saw Emma getting her chemistry book as he headed towards the parking lot when the day finally ended and stopped at her side with a smile. “Need a ride home?”
“That would be great actually,” she stated, returning it. “Just let me tell Megan, she gave me a ride today.”
“Sure.” He walked with her, taking her book well aware others were watching them. “You don’t need to be carrying extra with that arm. The less pressure on it the better, right?”
“Thanks Ben,” Emma said knowing he was trying to make her forget about his conversation with Crystal, but she could still see the naked want and awareness in Crystal’s eyes as she’d looked at him.
She spotted Megan and called out to her, smiling when she saw Carter’s eyes tighten seeing her with Ben again.
“Hey girl, ready to go?” Megan asked stepping away from the others.
“Thanks, but Ben’s helping me out with my chemistry study guide tonight. Finals are in the morning, and I really need a good grade on it. So, since he’s already heading to my place, he said he could just drive me there. Go on and hang out with the others. I’ll see you tomorrow?” Emma gave her a smile and Megan nodded as the others stared at her in surprise.
“Sure, your other bag is still in my car though; want to head over with me to get it?” Megan asked.
