Bullying Jocks Are Just Cupid

(I’m a girl, but I’m tall. I’m a tomboy, and sort of loud. My best friend, on the other hand, is a guy, and one of the shortest kids in school, at 4’9″. He’s more of a nerd, and on the shyer side. I’ve had a crush on him for weeks and my other best friend, a girl, knows this, and has been trying to get me to ask him out for more than a month.)

Female Best Friend: “Now. Do it now.”

Me: “No way!”

Female Best Friend: “Why not?”

Me: “We’re in the middle of the school hallway! And class is gonna start any minute!”

Female Best Friend: “Either way, you might wanna go over to him.”

Me: “What? Why?”

Female Best Friend: “Tuuuuuuuuuuurn!”

(I turn around to see a couple of the school’s jocks cornering him, something that happens a lot more often than either of us would admit. As I get closer, I hear them call him several variations of “midget” and “loser”. I see one of them push him back against a locker. I walk up behind one and slam my hand down on his shoulder, making him jump and turn around.)

Jock #1: “What the f*** do you want?”

Me: “For you to let him go?”

Jock #1: “Why the h*** do you care?”

Jock #2: “Yeah, is he your little boyfriend, or something?”

Me: *without really thinking* “Yes. Yes, he is. Now let him go before I leave an indent of my ring in your jaw.”

(The first jock simply scoffs, but walks away, the other two following behind him, the third giving me a small, apologetic smile before running off. I look down to see my friend blushing bright red. He drops down to pick up his books as soon as he notices me looking. I kneel next to him.)

Crush: “You didn’t have to do that.”

Me: “You’re kidding, right? They were gonna hurt you! I couldn’t let them do that.”

Crush: *sounding a bit upset* “Yes, you could.”

(I hand him his books and look at him, confused, but he doesn’t acknowledge it. He goes to get up, but I yank him back down and make him look up at me, which only makes him blush again, darker.)

Me: “What’s wrong?”

Crush: “…Why’d you say yes?”

Me: *realizing what he means* “Oh, I just thought that’d get them to back off.”

Crush: “Exactly.” *goes to get up*

(I understand, pull him back down again, and kiss him. When I pull away, he’s on his knees, staring at me, shocked, making me grin.)

Me: “Wanna go to a movie this weekend?”

(He nods, speechless, as the bell rings, and quickly jumps to his feet, smiling slowly.)

Crush: “I’ll, um, s-see you later?”

Me: “Of course.”

(He runs off and I start to get up, only to feel my other best friend’s head on my shoulder when I do.)

Female Best Friend: “Well, that went better than expected.”