You know, it's not easy being a nerd. It's actually pretty lonely. My only friends are the chess club and I only play because I'm good at it. When the whole school is going on about that awesome party I kinda chill in the background knowing I'll never be invited. Then there's the bullies. Thankfully I only have one, poor souls in the chess club each have like five. But worst of all is the fact that my heart will never glow.
I like the school gossip so I eavesdrop from behind my locker door. Sarah, the nicest girl in school starting dating that Max kid from the swim team. The first time they hugged their hearts lit up and the whole school applauded though they were all extremely jealous. I wasn't. I have come to terms with it. I'll never find my soulmate. I'll never find the girl that wants to be with me forever because no one wants to be with the high school nerd.

Today is Monday, horribly, the start of the week I wouldn't soon forget. I groggily sat up and peeled my eyes open, slamming my hand on the alarm to shut it up just as my mom started screaming from downstairs.

"JOHAN GET UP!"

I never bothered to respond and dragged myself into the bathroom. I stepped in the shower letting the warm water roll down my chest. My phone starting buzzing so I picked it up. (I have the waterproof case.)

Ned: Chess club is canceled today.

I sighed. Not that it really mattered, I hated the place.
I got out and wrapped on a towel then started brushing my teeth. While doing so I looked up into the mirror. I'm not ugly...I'm not that nerd with zits everywhere and Harry Potter glasses. I have a six pack which I am proud of and I wear contacts. My skin is clear and I am pretty tall. The only reason I'm a nerd is my hobbies. Yes I love comic books and I'm really good at math.
NorthWell High just has a way of putting you into those cliché categories. Since I'm smart I was immediately given my nerd status. And once you fall into those groups you never get out.

I put my toothbrush down then ran a comb through my hair. Lastly I walked into my room and opened my closet. I really needed to clean the mess in there but I put it off for later like I always do. I threw on a simple black T-shirt and some jeans. I grabbed my bag and went down the stairs skipping over the loose step.

"Jeez I thought you died up there. Hurry and eat breakfast, you have to take the kids to school."

I rolled my eyes and she smacked me over the head reminding me not to be rude. The 5 little monsters ran into the room and sat for breakfast along with their dad. They are my adoptive family. I was adopted when I was 7. Amie and Jack had tried to have a boy but to no avail. Jack really wanted a boy so they adopted me. Even after they kept trying. I think Amie hoped to get a boy so she could send me back. I could tell Amie didn't really want me but she put up with me. She was nice but never motherly.
I can remember my real mother and I have a picture of her in my wallet. I took it everywhere. I always hoped she would come back for me but that dream died quickly.

"Eat Johan." Jack said.

"I'm not really hungry." I stood up and pushed my plate away. "I'll be in the car." I grabbed my keys and bag and walked outside.
The one love of my life is my Camaro Zl1. I worked extremely hard and Jack contributed to get me this. I climbed inside and started the engine and blasted the heat. Then started counting out as the kids ran out of the house. Ava and Anna, the 11 year old twins, Maxine who was 8, Leanne who had just turned 9, and last Tina, the youngest at age 5.

Once I made sure they were all in and buckled up I pulled out of the drive way. Ava had called shotgun and went to turn on the radio. I smacker her hand away and tried to drown out the screeching kids in the back and thanked God their school was close.

"Johan?" Tina said.

"Yes?"

"Why are you so quiet?"

"Because your sisters are giving me a headache." I said and laughed when she told them to shut up.

I arrived at their school not a minute later and started ushering them out of the car.

"Why do we have to get out?" Anna complained.

"Because I don't trust you in my car alone. Get out."

She looked at me and rolled her eyes so I smacked her over the head like Amie did to me.

"Don't be rude." I walked the kids into the school and signed them in. "Leanne, make sure your sisters get to their classes on time."

She saluted me with a nod and a laugh. I bent down and gave them each a hug and they kissed my cheek. I loved my sisters even if we weren't truly related.

Ava and Anna's middle school was right next to the elementary which I was happy for. Thankfully I didn't have to do this every day. As I was walking the twins over Ava asked me a dreaded question.

"Johan...are you popular in high school?"

"Oh yeah, immensely." I said with heavy sarcasm.

"Why aren't you popular?" Anna speaks up. They pick up on sarcasm really quick.

"Because I'm not." I say.

"But your so cool. And so nice." Ava said. We stopped in front of their school and I gave them bear hugs. I pushed them through the doors and started back to my car, drawing in my coat to keep warm.

"I'm glad someone thinks so." I mumbled quietly to myself.
I jingled my keys as I strode back to my car. Since it was just me alone to my thoughts I blasted the music to block them out. Otherwise they would consume my soul. I didn't stop the music until I had parked at school and pulled the key out of the ignition. I followed the crowd of people through the large double doors of NorthWell High and made a B line for the Library. Its always empty because the students here aren't smart enough to read. I was able to enjoy blissful silence. I picked a comic book off the shelf and immersed my self in the Marvelous world of X-Men. I only looked up when the librarian, Mrs. Morrow, handed me a mug of hot chocolate. She's always super nice. She probably knows that everyone else hates me.
Just as I finished the last of the warm drink the bell for first class rang. I washed my mug in the back room and checked out the comic book to read some more. The heat had started radiating through the school so I took off my jacket and shoved it in my locker once I got there. I pulled out my math textbook and placed my comic on top of it so I could read as I walked to my first class. I was halfway there when I was roughly shoved into a locker.

"Oof!" I hit the locker hard and my books flew out of my hand. I heard laughter behind me and rolled my eyes when I saw who it was. Ted Baxter. The school jock and the douche who bullies me. He high fived his friends and walked away. I could feel a bruise coming on my shoulder but I hastily picked up my books. I've never been late to class and wasn't going to start today. I stepped in class right before the bell rang and almost dropped my books again in relief.

I took my seat at the back of the class and discreetly pulled out a piece of gum. The kids at school attack you like hungry wolves for gum.

"The Pythagorean Theory..." Started Mr. White, the Algebra 2 teacher.

I zoned out after that. I knew everything there was to know about that and wasn't about to learn it twice. I pulled out my phone and started playing Pac Man, checking every once in awhile to make sure the teacher didn't see me even though I knew he couldn't. Marisa Luve's huge frame obscured me from view. The time really sped along and I was next in French class. Taking two years of foreign language class was mandatory but I don't need it. I was born in Paris. Growing up speaking it for seven years, it kind of engraved itself into me. Plus I have a perfect memory, not to brag. I never forgot how to say anything and my pronunciation was always perfect...okay I'm bragging a lot. I didn't bother taking Spanish because my adoptive family was Spanish. After ten years with them I picked that up too. So I decided to stick with my roots if I had to choose a language.

"Mr. Mull?" The petite French Teacher's voice brought me back to the present. "Prêté attention"
{Pay attention}

I nodded and she went on teaching. This class was usually enjoyable since it was so easy but I kept my eyes on the clock the whole time. I felt like I could hear the slow agonizing tick of the clock pounding in my ears over the pitchy voice of the teacher. Tick tock.
The bell rang an hour later and I jumped up. I wasn't exactly excited about my next class but I was feeling on edge today. I just wanted school to let out. I kept my eyes peeled to avoid being shoved into a wall again and only relaxed when I made it into the boys locker room. I hurried and dressed out to make attendance.

"Jackson" The teacher was rolling off names in his monotone voice.

"Here"

"James"

It went on and on like that.

"Mull"

"Here." I responded quickly.

He finally stopped at "Zole" and went off into his office and pulled down the shades. I figured he went in there to have fun with the female PE coach because they always went in together.

Once I heard their door shut I walked back into the locker room. It smelled grossly of sweat and feet mixed with Axe. I hate the smell of that cologne. It was suffocating. My locker was on the far corner of the room, dented a bit from the guys rough playing. I put in my combination and pulled out the X-Men comic book. It was my favorite part of the series; The Apocalypse. There was a bench in the corner of the room blocked by the lockers. The perfect place to read inconspicuously. I settled in and was just opening the book when in walked the last person I would ever want to see. Ted Baxter.