Crushing on the Geek(33)

“It was a joke, Tam,” Hayden said.

“My dad wouldn't have found it very funny. He would have put us both in front of a firing squad and called out the order to shoot himself.”

Hayden laughed and started to say something when the doorbell chimed and echoed through the house.

“Crap!” he said turning on his heels, “I hope that doesn't interrupt dad. If he get's out of the zone, he's out of it for the rest of the day.”

Tamara followed behind Hayden, in case he needed help. Her brain was still foggy from sleep, but moving pulled her into the waking world. After paying the delivery guy (Hayden gave him a tip too), they returned to the kitchen.

“I have to turn the oven on warm and stick Dad's inside,” he explained, “I don't want to ruin his zone, because I'll never hear the end of it, if I do.”

“What did you get me?” she asked.

“I ordered a bit of everything, because I wasn't sure what you liked. My guess would be sweet and sour pork, but I wasn't sure.”

“How did you know that?” Tamara asked.

“Lucky guess,” he shrugged.

“Amber told you, didn't she?” Tamara said.

“You think I'd call your best friend a interrupt her date just to find out what you liked just so I wouldn't have to wake you up to ask you?” Hayden laughed.

“You didn't!” Tamara said, “She's never going to let me hear the end of it.”

“I think she will,” Hayden said, setting out the food, “She kept gushing on and on about how sweet I am.”

“How did you even get her number?”

“The same way I got yours: the school directory.”





Chapter Eleven





Tamara arrived to room five eighty five, fifteen minutes early. She took a deep breathe as she pushed open the door, trying to prepare herself for whatever she might find inside. Her eyes were squeezed shut for a moment before Tamara could gather enough courage to open them and look inside.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she finally opened her eyes. Every last desk, chair, box, and piece of chalk was exactly where it should have been. Tamara made a few quick trips around the room looking for anything out of place.

“Hey,” Hayden called from the doorway, startling her.

“Hi,” Tamara said, examining the empty bowls before Sir Bedivere, but not daring to touch them.

“It worked, then?”

“Yeah, it looks like,” Tamara nodded, “If they're planning something they haven't set it up yet.”

“Maybe we're really done with it,” Hayden said, wrapping an arm around Tamara's shoulders.

Tamara turned to face him and looked up into his brown eyes, grinning, “We did it.” Without waiting for a reply she rose to her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his, wrapping her arms around his neck. She moved away slowly when she heard footfalls approaching.

“That would be Greg and the others,” she laughed.

“Why do they always have to be on time?” Hayden chuckled.

“Because they're geeks.

“Hey guys,” Hayden said, as the door swung open.

“Hey,” Greg said, walking several strides ahead of Cindy and her bloodshot eyes, “Sorry, I'm late.”

“You're only one minute late,” Tamara said, glancing at the clock, “and no one else is here yet.”

“I used to always be here first,” Greg frowned, dropping his bag haphazardly beside the door.

“I was excited about practice and wanted to make sure I was here on time,” Tamara lied. Practice was the last thing on her mind when she showed up early. She had to make sure the milk and honey appeased the wee folk, because Tamara didn't think she could live with herself if she was part of the real reason the annual Halloween dance was canceled.

“Glad to hear it,” Greg said with a half-smile, as the rest of the club clambered into the room, whispering quickly back and forth, “Guys, quit talking about it! If it doesn't have to do with chess or the tournament next Saturday I don't want to hear about it and one of you guys can work with Cindy today. I'm going to practice with the computer. I was hoping to work with Mrs. Kelly today, but she's not going to be here. Go ahead and get started.”

“I'll grab a board,” Tamara said and fell in step with the rest of the group, leaving Hayden alone with Greg.

Maybe he can say something to make him feel better, Tamara thought, because I'm not even going to try. Geekmance is beyond me. She waited until everyone else chose their set and took the one that remained.

Hayden was waiting for her at their usual table and Greg was no where in sight.

“Is he going to survive?” Tamara asked, sliding into her chair.

“Yeah, he'll be fine,” Hayden chuckled.