How to Date a Nerd by Cassie Mae Page B

his lips.
    “Okay, so I just need to keep my foot on the clutch and the brake to start the car?” I ask, trying to lighten the tension in the air.
    He nods.
    A defeated sigh seeps out as I turn the key. He doesn’t offer to shift. Still says nothing as I smack my hand on the stick, shoving it downward into that screwed up reverse position. The only response I get is his eyebrows shooting skyward in approval.
    He starts picking at his jeans again as I back up.
    And stall.
    I growl and let my head fall on the steering wheel. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
    “Are you talking to yourself, or me?”
    I puff up my cheeks and let it out before I answer. “You.”
    “Look, I said I’d teach you how. So I’m going to follow through.”
    “But you don’t want to.” I peek under my arm so I can get a look at his face. He presses his wrist in between his eyebrows, like he’s got a major headache or something.
    “Just start the car, Zo.”
    I want to cry. I totally deserve the frosty attitude, but it doesn’t mean it hurts any less. Zak’s only been this pissed at me once. And it was my fault then too.
    Instead of apologizing again, since it’d be pointless, I start the car, put it in gear and try to stay calm as I reverse out of the driveway. When I get to the street, I’m not sure how to shift, but I try my best, Zak watching my hand without making a sound.
    The grinding the car makes as I shove the shifter in first makes me cringe, but Zak still stays silent. He doesn’t look bored, or annoyed, or even angry. He looks like he’s beyond caring. I’d rather take the anger.
    The car jerks forward as I ease off the throttle, rocking us both in our seats. This continues during the entire drive to the parking lot we went to before. I pull in, and shut off the car, my eyes watering. I can’t tell if I’m more humiliated or hurt because of what I’ve done to him.
    “You did really good.” His voice still sounds like he’s trying not to care, but he’s saying it anyway. “It takes practice.”
    I nod, ’cause my voice will totally come out all juicy and snotty if I attempt to use it.
    It’s silent between us, that horrid awkward silence that makes the tension in the air like sniffing glue. I feel sick, and stupid, and want it to all go away.
    A growl erupts from Zak’s throat which makes me recoil in my seat.
    “What’s wrong?” he asks.
    His concern locks a fist around my throat, making me croak out my words. “What?”
    “There’s something wrong. What is it?”
    I shake my head. “It’s nothing. Just forget it.”
    “Zo…”
    His hand goes for mine, but then he stops mid-air. A heat wave comes off his face as he pretends he was just going to scratch an imaginary itch.
    “I don’t like it when you’re mad at me,” I blurt. “Even though you have every right to be pissed.”
    Zak growls again. A really guttural and menacing growl as he smacks his fist on the roof of the car. “I don’t get you.”
    “What do you mean?” I say, though I know exactly what he means. I don’t get me either.
    “What is this to you?” He waves his hand between the two of us. “Are you using me like you use everyone? Once you know how to drive that’ll be it?”
    He thinks I use people? Oh gosh. He’s starting to think Popular Zoe is the real Zoe. I mean, that’s what I thought I wanted, but it’s totally not. I like that he knows Geek Zoe. Because Geek Zoe is just… Zoe.
    “Do you want that to be it?”
    “You’re not answering me. I don’t like games. So if you want this to be a teacher-student thing, then keep it that way. No more treating me the way you do at school then coming over to say sorry so I’ll help you. No more jumping across our windows to get into my room. You obviously don’t care as much as I thought you did.”
    “No, please…” I stutter, my eyes ready to flood out. Great. “I didn’t mean… at school, it’s just so different. I don’t know what happens to