The 10 Steps To Tame The Nerd

A Week of Silence

It had been a week since the New Year's Ball, and there was no trace of Maya. She hadn't been to school, wasn't answering her phone, and didn't even respond to Anna and Sally's countless messages. They were beyond worried.

"I'm going over to her house," Anna said, pacing back and forth in Sally's room. "This isn't normal. Something's wrong."

"We've already tried that," Sally reminded her, sighing heavily. "She didn't answer the door. What if she just needs space?"

"She doesn't need space. She needs help," Anna said firmly. "If she won't answer us, maybe she'll answer Vic. He's the only one who could get through to her."

Reluctantly, Sally agreed, and the two of them set out to find Vic.

They spotted him hanging out in the school parking lot, surrounded by his usual crowd of friends. He looked as carefree as ever, laughing at some joke one of his friends made. Anna and Sally exchanged nervous glances before approaching him.

"Vic," Anna called, her tone urgent.

He turned to face them, raising an eyebrow. "What's up, ladies?"

"It's Maya," Anna began, her voice edged with concern. "She hasn't been to school, and she's not answering anyone's calls."

"So?" Vic shrugged, clearly uninterested.

"So, we're worried about her!" Sally exclaimed, crossing her arms. "Can you call her? Maybe she'll answer for you."

Vic sighed dramatically, pulling out his phone. "Fine. If it'll get you off my back."

With a quick dial, he put the phone to his ear. His friends smirked and snickered in the background, but Anna and Sally waited anxiously. After a few rings, the call connected.

"Maya?" Vic's voice suddenly took on a tone of false concern, as if he were genuinely worried.

"Vic?" Maya's voice was small and hesitant on the other end.

"Yeah, it's me," he said smoothly. "Where have you been? Why haven't you been at school?"

Hearing his voice filled Maya with a mix of emotions, but mostly relief. "I've just been... taking some time for myself," she admitted softly.

"Well, we've all been worried," Vic replied, his tone deceptively caring. "You should come back to school. Everyone misses you."

Maya's heart soared. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt like someone cared. Like he cared.

"I'll come back tomorrow," she promised, her voice brighter.

"Good," Vic said, smirking as he hung up.

As the call ended, Maya sat on the edge of her bed, smiling to herself. Vic cared. Her absence had made a difference. Maybe she'd overreacted. Maybe everything she'd heard at the New Year's Ball wasn't true. She decided to let it all go and give him another chance.

Her mood lifted, she quickly picked out her cutest outfit—a pink floral mini dress—and got ready. She called Anna and Sally, excited to share the news.

"I'm going to meet up with Vic!" she said, her happiness evident in her tone.

"That's... great," Sally said hesitantly, exchanging a look with Anna.

Anna whispered to her, "Didn't your boyfriend say Vic is planning to break up with her?"

Sally nodded, her expression grim.

"Have fun, Maya," Anna said, forcing a cheerful tone, though her stomach churned with dread.

Maya didn't notice their lack of enthusiasm. She was too busy smiling to herself as she tracked Vic's location through the app they used to share. She decided to surprise him, imagining the look of delight on his face when she showed up unannounced.

The location led her to a restaurant. She walked inside, her heart racing with excitement. She scanned the room, and then she saw him.

Her heart stopped.

Vic was sitting at a booth in the corner, his arm wrapped around another girl. They were laughing, completely engrossed in each other. And then, as Maya stood frozen in shock, Vic leaned in and kissed the girl.

Something inside her shattered.

Her chest tightened, and it felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. It was like someone had slapped her, waking her from a dream she hadn't realized she was living.

She didn't say anything. She didn't make a scene. She just turned and walked out, her legs trembling as she made her way back to her car.

Once she was inside, she pulled out her phone, her hands shaking as she typed a message to Vic.

I'm sorry. It's not working out for me. I'm breaking up with you.

She hit send and stared at the screen, waiting for a response that never came.

By the time she got back to school, her face was a carefully composed mask of indifference. She found Anna and Sally at their usual spot and walked up to them calmly.

"I broke up with Vic," she said simply, her voice devoid of emotion.

Anna and Sally looked at each other, confused.

"You... broke up with him?" Sally asked cautiously.

"Yes," Maya said.

"But you loved him," Anna said softly. "Aren't you... sad?"

Maya smiled—a small, humorless smile. "Not really."

Anna leaned closer to Sally and whispered, "She's in shock."

Maya heard them and let out a sharp laugh. "No," she said quietly, her voice tinged with bitterness. "I'm not in shock."

For a moment, the three of them sat in silence. Then, unexpectedly, Maya started laughing again. It wasn't the carefree laugh of before; it was raw and sharp, the sound of someone who had finally woken up from a painful delusion.

Anna and Sally hesitantly joined in, the absurdity of the situation catching them off guard.

For the first time in a week, Maya felt free. Broken, but free.