Chapter 1

Sydney's POV

The final bell shrilled throughout the four corners of Redfield High, overpowering Mr. Kraus' last minute announcement for English.

"Kids, don't forget. Essay's due on Friday so no essay means crappy grade," he said to us all in haste.

No one paid attention to him as the majority of the students scrambled out of the door eager to get out of this prison hole. He frowned as he saw this but gave it a shrug seeing it was pointless to dwell on it any further. It was a reasonable move on his part I gave him that.

Spending 8 hours cooped up in a torture chamber wasn't appealing for those who didn't give a crap about school. Half of the time, they were all ears waiting for salvation to resound in their pleading ears, freeing them from the horrors of education.

It was silly of them to hate school so much. Fine! I would give them justice since some teachers here were acting like drill sergeants causing them to cringe in fear. But me, not a slightest flinch nor cower. I loved school and the teachers loved me.

Call me a nerd, a geek, a dill weed or whatever you would want to call it but I didn't care.

I am proud to be a teacher's pet.

I was never afraid to flaunt my shiny gleaming A's and clean flawless record.

Yes, better believe it. I had never ever done anything wrong.

The classroom was empty with the exception of Mr. Kraus who was busy grading some papers so I gathered all my stuff and carefully placed them on my backpack. I just remembered my long time boyfriend, Craig, wanted to tell me something after school so with that in mind, I slung my backpack on my shoulder and said goodbye to Mr. Kraus on the way out.

The hallways were almost empty. Just a couple of stragglers here and there but still, it looked almost barren like a desert. I made a quick stopover at my locker to make some last minute switches and when I was done, I headed to the courtyard where Craig was waiting for me.

Series of thoughts popped into my head as to why he wanted to talk to me. We never had a problem in our relationship since we were going strong as a couple. It was a weird match; a jock and a nerd. Some said it was unheard of because socially, it was suicide. Well for Craig that is. He knew what he was getting himself into when he wooed me a year ago. He carried on not minding anyone as I received blow after blow that jocks and nerds were not meant to date. It stung because it was true. I couldn't deny it.

Nerds were at the bottom of social hierarchy.

I spotted Craig with his jock and cheerleader friends. As usual, he was at the center of the crowd laughing and mucking around. To be honest, they asked me to no end because some of his friends were a bunch of jerks and sluts. But they were his friends so I had no say.

It was my job to be a good loving considerate girlfriend.

I trotted over to his group and tapped Craig on his shoulder. He swung around and smiled when he saw me. His smile never ceased to melt me like butter and I admit, those pearly whites sure did the trick.

I smiled back and stood on my tippy toes to give him a peck on the cheek. "Hey, you wanted to talk to me?"I asked as I pulled back.

He nodded, "Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about something," He said. All traces of his warm smile were replaced with complete seriousness. This couldn't be good.

I swallowed a lump in my throat, already nervous. "What about?" I squeaked out. Gosh, I sounded like a mouse.

He sighed and let out a sigh."Well, it's about us. Sydney," he paused for dramatic effect, "I think we should break up."

I blinked. Uh, say what?

"Hahaha...haha...Nice one," I laughed nervously. I think this was a bad joke, a really bad one.

I looked again at Craig for traces of humor. I frowned at the discovery that he wasn't laughing. He was plain darn serious with what he said. Was he really breaking up with me?

I asked, "Why? Why would you want to break up with me? Is there anything wrong? Is it my hair? the way I dress?" I asked. I knew I wasn't fashionably coordinated but I was sure my normal floral dress and baby doll shoes were decent enough.

He rolled his eyes."No. None of those. It's just..." he trailed looking for the right words. He raked his hair with his slim fingers and continued."It's not working out. You're so boring you make me sleep. Hell! We've been going out for over a year and we haven't gone through 2nd base. You rarely even let me rub your boobs!" He said exasperatedly gesturing to my upper torso.

I gasped and covered my chest. How could he?!

"You're breaking up with me because I'm boring? And because I rarely let you rub my boobs?" I choked at the last part. Of all the reasons, it had to be so shallow.

He nodded slowly, "I'm sorry but it's over. I would rather be with a preppy cheerleader than be with someone whose nose is always stuck on a book. You're no fun," Well, that stung for sure and he was sorry? He didn't even look sorry when he said it. What a jerk.

His friends started snickering and giggling. Craig just broke up with me because I'm boring. Aside from that, I rarely let him rub my boobs. Great, just totally great. I took a step back from him, clearly hurt as the words finally kicked into gear.

My long time jock boyfriend broke up with me with the lamest excuse ever. This couldn't be happening. I loved Craig so much and he ended it like this?! He could have broken it to me gently but...UGH!

I felt a prickle in my eye, a telltale sign that I was about to cry. I kept backing up as my legs began to wobble in every step but the next thing hadn't prepared me for the worst.

Why?

Because an all too familiar whiny screechy voice called out my now ex-boyfriend's name.

"Craig baby!"

Oh god.

I spun around and saw Shelly, the Head Cheerleader and school slut bouncing up to us. Well, to Craig anyway.

Her long blond tresses gleamed in the afternoon light as she trotted over to him with a big smile on her face. I averted blurry vision to Craig and saw that he was grinning like an idiot.

Why hadn't I noticed this before? When your boyfriend loses interest in you, there should be signs right?

Shelly smirked in my direction and before you know it, she threw her arms around him and they did a full on make out in front of me.

Oh my god.

I was too shocked to say anything, not even a single squeak. Nothing came out of my mouth.

I was definitely living the nightmare.

After they made out, they were both breathless and she untangled herself from him. She turned her attention to me. "If you only gave Craig what he wants, he wouldn't have broken up with you. Wait, scratch that. Even if you give him what he wants, he will still leave you. You want to know why? Because you're one boring loser," she said with a sneer.

I gulped and tears were threatening to spill. I couldn't handle this anymore. This was too embarrassing for me to take. He broke up with me in front of his friends, the popular ones might I add.

I did the only thing I could do. I ran. I ran and ran. I could still hear their laughter from the distance till I wasn't able to hear them any more.

If this heartbreak was going to feel like then, I didn't want this.

I didn't want this at all.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Somehow, I ended up at home. I was on automatic pilot so I guess instincts took over and led me here, to something familiar and comforting. When I got in, the house was empty so it was a good thing my parents weren't around. I needed privacy from their scrutinizing eyes seeing their daughter was in a dreadful mess and that alone could spark questions that I didn't want to hear nor answer.

I needed to be alone.

I went to my room and made a mad dash to my bed ready to rough it out with tears and more tears. I crawled under the duvet and curled into a fetal position, a movement signifying vulnerability.

Yes, I was vulnerable. A woman scorned was not something to joke about.

And without warning, I started to cry.

I cried hard as the only thing flitted through my head was the happy moments I had with Craig. I knew it was wrong to romanticize the good times than the bad seeing I should be mad at him.

But, I couldn't.

I loved him.

The dates, the smiles, the laughter, the cuddling moments...everything we went through were the happiest moments of my life.

I cried for the love that I had lost.

I dubbed this day as the worst day of my nerdy life.