Thierry's POV

Readers, if there's anything that this self-proclaimed nerd and "Good Boy" can tell you about when it comes to school, it would be this. Sometimes it pays to be a nerd while other times it can be a living nightmare.

It's hell on earth when you're at a typical all-American high school that values sports and being involved with school pride instead of valuing education and treating the "outcasts and lost causes the teenage social ladder" as they belong in the dump. And one's especially unlucky with the bullies, he or she has two choices: try to tell a teacher or student and risk being more a target after being called a "jealous liar" by the principal before being forced to make peace with your bullies (who will take your torture up a notch), or suffer in silence and let the bullying get you to the point of either suicide, homicide, or a mental breakdown that would place you in a straitjacket and a rubber room.

Now I'm not saying that all schools- public or private- are like that, folks. Mine was just that times a hundred thousand. Thankfully, I kept my mouth closed and my chin up. But I digress.

Anyway, it does pay to be a nerd when you hit the jackpot at a school where bullies are virtually nonexistent (haters, yes; bullies, no) and the teachers treat you like any other person. And throughout my first day of classes at Sammons Falls Academy, all the students seem to take interest in me and my future plans.

"You're planning to apply to TCU? I have a sister who's a cheerleader and studying law," one guy commented during AP Physics. "She's on the dean's list for three years straight and wants to make it for four."

"Young man, I know some professors over at USC who can offer you a tour of the campus," my philosophy teacher commented. "Why stay in Texas when you can have all the schools fall at your feet. With your grades back in your hometown, you might have all the schools fighting for your acceptance."

One African-American teacher's aide came to me with her sister and sat me down during break. "Child, you lucky to have your goals straightened out early," she said. "I got a niece attending Columbia to study pre-med as my husband's boss's daughter is at Yale Divinity School to be a priest and his daughter attends BYU to study engineering. And they weren't as prepared as you were. And in eighth grade, no less. You got balls, kid. Keep your eyes on the prize."

Now, I wasn't one to put on any airs or stuff like that. But in a way, I was starting to be a celebrity.

Only one thing got me bothered: Matt Rosseaux-Yanez. He was in the same classes as I was and all the teachers insisted that I sit next to him and let him tutor me in a few subjects (and vice versa). Of course, he remained a gentleman and we kept it cordial as I reminded him that we were just roommates and nothing more. But something kept telling me that he had everyone wrapped around his finger and treated him like he ran the place. I figured that he was the headmistress's kid, so it was probably just that factor. But there was something else that I couldn't put my finger on. It was like...there was magic in the air and everyone's not who they seem.

But it wasn't my place to ask. All I came here to do was get my education, graduate, and keep my head down and away from the drama.

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

"Mr. Thierry Lemieux?"

I looked up from my lunch of a simple salad to find two underdressed young women giving me knowing smirks. Judging how they were looking at me, I had a feeling that they were the kind of girls to stay away from (or, knowing my uncle, wanting me to marry one or both of them). "That would be me," I said. "Can I help you?"

"It's him," the stripper-blonde-haired woman said to her companion (an equally beautiful woman with skin the color of milk chocolate). "Name's Kylie Ambrose and my dark-skinned friend is Crystal Lincoln. And we've been meaning to talk to you, newbie."

I kept a calm facade. "And how can I help you?" I asked.

"Straight to the point, aren't we?" the girl named Crystal said, pushing her ponytail to the back and smoothing her stray hairs down. "We'll bite. We know that Matt Rosseaux-Yanez is your roommate, right?"

I nodded.

"And you two share all the classes, right?" Kylie asked.

I nodded. "Why do you ask?" I wanted to know.

"Well, it seems like he's taking a fancy towards you, though I really don't see why since you're hopelessly a nerd," Crystal said politely. Still, she had a sneer on her face. "I do admit that you are a cute little boy and all that. But we just want to make it clear with you, new kid. Matt Yanez is ours alone, okay? You two may share the same dorm room and all that, but just keep your hands to yourself."

I took a deep breath. "If I may speak frankly?" I said.

"By all means," Kylie crooned, sending me a wicked grin.

"Look, I don't know what's going on around here other than people seem to have a liking towards me. And while I'm not too sure what Matt's game is really like, I'm going to make this clear: I am not interested in anything other than finishing my classes and keeping my nose clean. I mean, Matt is a good catch and all, and I'm sure that he finds you ladies very attractive. But I'm just saying that I'm not interested in romance at the moment. From where I stand, he's all yours."

The ladies nodded, though they didn't look convinced. "Well, make sure to keep things that way," Crystal said, her voice a little too vengeful before sending me an apologetic grin. "I'm sorry, kid. I didn't mean to scare you, but you have to understand that Kylie and I would rather see either one of us with Matt than with someone else. And if we're lucky, we might share him."

I nodded, though I don't think polyamory is possible anywhere in the USA (unless you're a Mormon). "Understandable," I replied. "Thank you for telling me this, but I am just focused on school and nothing more."

"Thank you," Kylie said. "In another world, you might have a shot with Matty, but he's destined to be with my friend or myself- if not with the both of us. And besides, you have a lot going on with school and all that. Why waste it chasing something that's not yours? I hate for something bad to happen to you."

This bitch right here. And then, I remembered the note. They must have been the ones who wrote it. I sent them my best smile. "I'll stay out of the way," I promised them. "Thank you both."

"Now was that so hard?" Crystal said condescendingly. "Thank you for being a doll, cutie newbie. We'll leave you to lunch. Have a great day."

I mentally flipped them off as I returned to my food just as my phone rang. Uncle Cameron. "Hello?" I answered.

"Ah, the geeky runt," my dear uncle (note my sarcasm) said. "I hope you remember to do the family proud and find a girlfriend while you're in those goddamned books. If I had my way, I'd have you shipped off to the military and have you killed. But since your grandma would kill me before I tried that, I'm going to say this once. Be a real man...or be a dead brat."

Click.

"You okay, child?" I heard an older woman say as I turned off my phone. "Sounds like you got some haters."

I faced her, noticing that she was one of the dessert servers. "Just a pigheaded and arrogant uncle who's like his daughter, my parents, and my sisters," I replied grumpily. "They all want me to be a real man and-"

"Find a girlfriend to make you miserable," she finished.

I nodded.

"You're that Lemieux kid with the bitchy momma and sisters, right?"

"Yes, ma'am." I bit into my salad.

"Baby, you're a saint to put up with that family of yours," she replied. "And pay no mind to Lincoln and Ambrose. They just mad that the headmistress's son likes you better than them because you got what he desires."

I sighed. "Well, I'm just focusing on school for the moment, but thank you," I said. "Boy, I wanted to escape from the drama in Texas but I seem to run into more of it while in this town."

She laughed, placing a giant piece of cake next to me. Red velvet cake. "My treat," she said. "Maybe tomorrow, the other workers can know you better during lunch. I'll make my famous blueberry cobbler with some stuffed shells."

"Sounds good to me," I replied. "Wait, I didn't catch your name."

"Andretta. Andretta Mae Clark. My man works here in the cafeteria with me. I'll make sure he'll fix you a big dinner tonight."

"I'd like that."

Andretta smiled. "Now you go on and eat up," she instructed me. "You'll need it for the rest of today's classes. And keep your head up, baby. You got that grace most kids would kill to have."

And wouldn't you know it? The cake was so good after I finished my salad, I made sure to clean my plate. And after that, I felt better. Though I had a feeling that the day wasn't over just yet.

He's not wrong, folks, but he will need a few good Judys to help him release the stressors of his life. What better way to do it than a visit to the Red Rose Cafe?! Stay tuned!

Dedication: none. Song: none

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