Dare To Love The Chubby Nerd

I couldn’t speak.“She’s fading, Clara,” he continued. "Every hour we wait is an hour we don’t get back. If we delay much longer, she might not make it.”The doctor walked away to check on another patient."I’ll get the money, sir. I’ll try," I whispered as he went.My phone buzzed in my hand. I looked down, hoping for a miracle, but it was just another nightmare.It was a text I had ignored three times this week.Mr. Chase: Miss Adene, the rent on your apartment is 60 days past due. An eviction notice has been filed. Pay $2,000 by 6 PM, or the locks are changed.I felt the air leave my lungs. I don’t remember sliding down the wall, but suddenly my knees were at my chest.I was seventeen. I was just a student. And I was completely alone.“Clara? Is that you?”I looked up, my eyes blurred with tears. An older woman in a neat gray suit stood there. It was Mrs. Gabe, my mother’s only friend from the old days.“Mrs. Gabe,” I choked out, wiping my eyes with my sleeve.She lowered herself

I stared at the screen until the light burned my eyes. Removed from the W******p group. Then from the squad. What for? What was my offense? My phone rang out. Maya was calling. I picked up. "Clara? Are you seeing this?" Maya’s voice was frantic. "I just saw the notification. I tried to message the group to ask what was going on, and she blocked me from sending messages too. That bitch actually blocked me." "I saw it," I said weakly. "We’re going to fight this," Maya snapped. "I’ll call Coach Davies. I’ll call the principal. You’re the best dancer on that squad, Clara. Everyone knows it. Sloane is just threatened because you’re the one who actually knows the counts." "Don't, Maya. It's just the school game tomorrow.” I said in a whisper. "Let it go." "What do you mean, don't? You worked harder than anyone! And if you don't cheer tomorrow that literally means you won't cheer at the regional games too." "I don't have the energy for the drama, Maya," I said, a tear finally escap

Clara's POVI sprang up and ran into the nursery.Lily was sitting upright in bed, clutching her blanket with both fists. Her eyes were wide and glassy, the way kids get when they're caught between sleep and terror."There is something in the wardrobe," she whispered. "It says Mommy doesn't come back."My chest squeezed tight. I walked to the wardrobe and pulled both doors open wide."See? Just shoes and dresses.""It hides when you look," she insisted.I sat on the edge of her bed. "Then I'll stay. If it comes back, it has to go through me first."Lily studied my face like she was deciding whether to trust me. "You are not scared?""Not of shadows."I told her a story about a princess who defeated monsters by refusing to fear them. By the third retelling, her grip on the blanket loosened. Her breathing evened out.She was asleep.I slipped back to my room at 2:47 a.m. My body felt like wet concrete. I closed my eyes and was gone before I could think another thought.The alarm went of

Jaxson's POV"Never." My voice cut clean through their uproar."I am never doing that.""Yeah, that is cruel," Sloane added. "He chose dare, not me." Charles lifted the phone from Miller's hand like it was a loaded weapon."Do it, or this goes out. You step down as captain, and your father sees exactly what his perfect heir was up to."Whispers hissed through the locker room. The sound made something snap in my chest. I closed the distance between us before he could blink. I grabbed him by the collar, twisting the fabric so tight it choked him."Delete it." My voice shook with rage. "Right now!"Charles didn't flinch. That was the most infuriating thing about him. He just looked down at my white knuckles and smiled."You really want to do this here?" he whispered."Delete it, Charles!""Make me!"That did it. I lost my mind. I shoved him hard. I drove him backward through the circle of guys and slammed him directly into the metal lockers. The crash rang out like a gunshot. Ever

Clara's POVI slammed the door shut before he could finish.My heart was beating like a thousand drums."Someone is getting fired today!" Jaxson's voice thundered from the other side. I heard his heavy footsteps heading straight for the stairs.I grabbed a sheet and threw it over Maya."Stay hidden!" I hissed.Then I ran after him. "Jaxson, wait!"He didn't stop. He was already halfway down the grand staircase."No. You are leaving right now.""Jaxson, please. I need this job. My mom...""Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. King?"Maria appeared at the foot of the stairs. She looked between us, her eyes sharp and missing nothing.Jaxson opened his mouth.My life flashed before my eyes."She has a...""Allergy!" I cut in.I grabbed his arm, my fingers digging into his sleeve."I am allergic. To peanuts. I just realized the snacks in the nursery have them."JAXSON'S POVI looked down at her.Her hand was shaking on my arm, and she looked like she was two seconds from hitting the f