“Ugh, we have Biology today!!!”, I complained to my boyfriend. “Ahhh, yeah that sucks baby girl, but it is what it is.”, said Alex. “And we can study after school today too! Now let's head to class.”

We parted ways and as I was walking, someone ran into me and I went down to the floor. I picked myself up and brushed off my jeans. The boy who crashed into me didn’t even apologize, he just laughed and kept on walking. 

“What a jerk”, I said. 

First period was pretty much uneventful, and soon enough it ended, thank god! Because Ricky was getting on my nerves. I was walking with Nat and Rick since we shared 3rd period together when the guy who crashed into me walked up to us and told me that he needed to ask me a question in private. That’s when I realized it was Jack. 

“Hey, Maria, that's your name right? Well anyways, I need help studying for the upcoming Biology quiz we have Friday and I was wondering if you could help me?” 

“Hi Jack, no it's Mari, no a and I guess I can help you but I’m busy after school so can we do it during lunch today in the library? That’s the only time I’m free today.”

“Yeah, that’s cool. I’ll see you then.”, he winked at me and sauntered away. 

I started to walk to class again and saw that Nat and Rick had waited up for me. Nat asked, “ Was that Jack? What did that jerk want?”

“Whoaa, what did he do to you?”, I asked, surprised at her tone. 

“Ugh, he was like my middle school bully. He used to bully me because of my height, he still tries but I don’t give a crap about what he has to say.”

“Ahh, well he wanted me to help him study for the Bio quiz we have on Friday.”

“Ohh, well make sure he doesn’t try anything with you too, he likes to make moves on other people’s girlfriends.”

“HA, as if I’ll let him.”

Third period started and soon enough it ended; We were heading to lunch when I remembered that I agreed to help Jack so I said bye to my friends and walked to the library, that’s when Alex caught up to me and asked where I was going.

“Oh yeah I forgot to tell you but I agreed to help Jack study for the quiz on Friday for biology.”

“Wow, okay I see…… Well be careful, he’s known to be a big bully. If he causes you problems just text or call me and I will beat him up to show him to no mess with you again.”

I thought he was just joking at first so I laughed but when I saw his face he looked super serious so I agreed even though in my mind, I knew I wouldn’t tell him because I can handle myself. We parted ways and I walked inside the library. I didn’t see Jack so I started to read. 

“Oh my god look, it's Mari. And what is she doing reading that fat as heck book? Does she not know that we don’t read anymore, does she not have anything better to do?”, a girls voice said

I looked up and oh great it was none other than Katherine, the girl of my nightmares.

“What do you want Katherine? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“Busy being a nerd”, she snickered. 

That’s when I saw Jack walking towards me.

 “And Mari really, don’t you have a phone or social media? Oh wait I forgot your parents are so ‘protective’ that they don’t even let you have social media!”

“Katherine, if you’re trying to hurt my feelings you’re gonna have to try harder than that. Or is your brain so underdeveloped that you can't think of anymore insults to throw at me?”

“Wow look at the book nerd trying to be a comedian, stick to being a nerd Mari, that’s all you're good at. I don’t even know how you have a boyfriend. Wait… the nerd and the jock…. dating, HA! That’s like such a cliche of you.”

“Whatever Katherine, just leave me alone.”

Jack finally stepped next to me and looked between Katherine and I, “Oh so you know each other good, Katie this is the girl who agreed to help us”

 “Wait, US! I just agreed to help you Jack!”

“Yeah and I don’t want her to help me Jack!”

“Um, well then I guess you can leave then Katie because I really need the help and   Mari is like the stereotypical nerd so she is super smart and-”

“Wait, seriously, you think I’m the stereotypical nerd, too!”

“Well yeah….”, he said.

“Yeah no we’re done here, I bet you also thought you could cheat off of my quiz too, right, Jack, and you,  Katie, lay off of me and stop bullying me. If I am the so called stereotypical book nerd then you are the stereotypical mean girl that you see in the movies and read in the books! I’m outta here. Nat was right, you are a jerk Jack!”

I walked out after I had packed all of my stuff. After that, they both avoided me like I had the plague. I didn’t really care, I told Alex about what happened and he got super mad but he didn't do anything because I didn’t want to start drama. Soon, I got over what happened, I didn’t speak to Katherine or Jack again; they both moved schools, turned out they were actually cousins which was why they were buddy-buddy. Life went on as normal and even though people still assume I’m your stereotypical book nerd, I’ve learned to deal with it. That day I realized that the moment you let people’s opinion affect you, you start losing who you really are. I didn’t let anyone talk to me like how Katherine did to me, again.