"This is the official Nerdy Naomi website," Jordan explained. "There are other minor ones, but this is the main one. There's even an official Facebook page, Twitter account, Youtube channel, and Nerdy Naomi merchandise with these cute customize mugs-"

Declan punched Jordan on the shoulder. "Dude shut up, you're not helping."

"I was just-" Jordan caught himself and said, "Yeah, I get it, sorry..."

"Have you always known about this Naomi?" Bennett asked me.

I shooked my head. "No, I'm not in any social media websites. Why set myself for cyber bullying? But it looks like someone was nice enough to make me my website, and page, and merchandise..." I trailed off and looked at the ground.

I already knew I was pretty well known as being Nerdy Naomi. I mean, who wouldn't know the Nerdy Naomi? The most bullied girl in Dartwell High, the most bullied girl in the city, the most bullied girl in the state, maybe even the whole country let alone the whole world. I didn't know how that thought was supposed to comfort me. But I never knew I was that well known. So well known I have a website, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a Youtube channel, and merchandise. I never knew that I would get famous just by being bullied.

"What does it say?" I asked.

"Well that's the pretty cool part," Jordan said. "With the customize T-shirts, you can choose different designs and phrases. Like, Look It's Nerds, Bully the Nerdy, there's this one with this nursery rhyme of Naomi and a bus. There's even an official logo with two N's and Nerdy Naomi comics that is posted every Tuesday. My favorite one is-"

This time Bennett punched Jordan in the shoulder. "She meant in the website, you idiot. What's causing all of this?"

"Oh right, I knew that."

We all glared at him.

"Okay, maybe I didn't, but don't-"

"Jordan!" We all exclaimed.

He chuckled nervously. "Sorry. Okay, so lot's of people subscribed to the website where they can get instant news, updates, topics, stuff like that. The most current status update was just yesterday."

Jordan clicked something then handed me his phone. All three of the boys crowded around me, trying to get a view of what was shown. How the website works is that to be connected, you need to make a Nerd account with customized nerdy usernames and profile pictures. It worked a bit like most social media sites, only it has more of a... Nerdy Naomi theme. My eyebrows furrowed as I read the status update, scrolling down to see the comments that followed it.

Official Nerdy Naomi Website updated status Yesterday at 8:25 pm

Nerds was spotted hanging out with not only the Three Musketeers, but with Charlie's Angels over at the West Central mall. Has the Nerdy Naomi we know finally took a step in popularity? She could be the some dark horse, taking the meaning of "from rags to riches" to a whole new level. Maybe we should see Nerdy a bit differently. Of course, she will ALWAYS be Nerdy Naomi, but maybe... just maybe...

NerdsRUs Are you kidding me? Nerds was actually seen interacting with them? I don't believe this. This must be some alternative universe or something.

WeakGeek I saw them, I swear. Here, I even got a picture. 

Ms_Nerds07 Are you sure it's not photoshopped? It looks photoshopped. Please let it be.

WeakGeek It's not! I'm serious! And besides, this update is proof that it's real.

NerdsSuck Yeah, WeakGeek is telling the truth. I was hanging out at the food court with SirNerd, he'll back me up.

SirNerd I was there alright. I was ready to chuck some pizza at her. But the Musketeers were there and I value my life, so I didn't do it.

PlainLorraine If it really is true, you can't help but think how serious this is.

NerdsRUs Pfft, and how serious is it PlainLorraine?

PlainLorraine Well think about it. If Naomi really is hanging out with the popular kids, she might become popular too.

NerdsRUs If that's the case, then screw popularity. I rather become unpopular than be in the same league as her.

PlainLorraine No, you don't get it NerdsRUs. If she becomes popular, then that's it. This website won't be something to mess with her anymore, it'll be turned into some fan-based website. Everyone will look at her differently, treat her differently, all because she gets popular.

NerdsRUs You're kidding!

PlainLorraine Imagine it! No one will ever bully her! Everyone will like her! She'll be popular! 

I stopped reading after that comment. The rest of the comments were the usual, 'Are you serious?' or 'Is this some kind of joke?' that kind of stuff. It also included some jokes about me, some I heard before, some were pretty new. I didn't bother reading them, I already know what I need to know, I already know enough.

Without a word, I handed Jordan back his phone. I didn't bother looking at the guys. I was either too ashamed, too sad, or even both. I was ashamed to actually have my own website, to be hated and bullied so much that I have this. And I was too sad because I went through how many years never knowing about any of this. But besides the entire website's existence, I have something else to be worried about it. Will it really matter if I become popular? Will being popular really be the key for me to be normal, for me to never be bullied ever again? I've been hanging out with the three for a while now, but it wasn't enough for them to stop bullying me. But now that I was seen with both the Musketeers and the Fearsome Threesome at the same time, it was enough for them to stop bullying me. Even if this might last for only today, it was something.

I looked at the guys who wore the same look of confusion as me. I knew none of them know what to say to me. They didn't know whether to be happy for me or sad. Whether they should comfort me or beat someone up. Whether to say something or say nothing.

But then Jordan awkwardly cleared his throat. "Did I tell you about the monthly Nerdy contest?" Jordan asked. "The best Nerdy Naomi costume and profile get's a free customize T-shirt along with their name mentioned in the next comic."

"Really Jordan?" Declan asked in disbelief. "Right now?"

"I'm just trying to change the subject." Jordan said innocently.

"It's alright, Declan," I said when he glared Jordan. "Jordan was just being... well Jordan."

"Yeah, I was just being me." Jordan defended himself.

"Well, sometimes we don't need Jordan in serious situations like this," Declan growled.

Declan and Jordan were having a stare down with each other, shooting daggers with one another.

"Guys, don't fight, please," I told them. "I don't want you guy to fight, not right now."

The two of them stopped and gave me sad smiles.

"Sorry Naomi."

"We won't fight, we promise."

I shooked my head. "No, I'm sorry. I just have a lot in my mind right now. I just learned I have a website, people actually hate me so much I'm internet famous- will infamous. And I also learned I have a chance to be normal. It's just... it's just a lot to take in."

Bennett was quiet the whole time. He leaned against the lockers, watching the kids walk past us.

"It's so... stupid," he muttered to both himself and us.

I looked at him. "What is?" I said.

"That these kids have nothing better to do that pick on one girl. You never did anything to them, yet they still hate you. It's their one true ambition in life to bully you, to make your life a living hell." He looked at me with his piercing blue eyes. "How did any of this start?"

I opened my mouth to answer this, but no words came out.

"Hey Naomi!" Someone called out to me.

I stood up from behind the tree, quickly trying to wipe my tears with the back of my hand. But I wasn't fast enough, because when I looked up, he was already there.

His nose scrunched up. "Aw, was little Naomi crying?" He sneered.

"No I wasn't!" I denied too quickly.

"Let me see your eyes then." He told me, crossing his arms.

"No!" I said, looking away from him.

He grabbed my hand, his grip really hurt so it made me yell. He yanked me to him and made me turn to face him. I was closing my eyes tightly so he wouldn't see them, but he punched me in the arm, making my eyes shot open. My eyes met dark brown eyes that looked like chocolate, but he was nothing like chocolate. I like chocolate, I hate him.

"Let go of me, Raymond!" I said, struggling under his grip.

He ignored me and looked at my eyes. Then he laughed, letting me go. I staggered a few feet back, trying to keep my distance from him.

Raymond looked back at his friends. "You really did cry!"

He and his friends started to call me names like cry-baby and thumb-sucker. My lip started to quiver, and tears started to well back in my eyes. My hands clenched to fists as I did my best not to cry. But Raymond noticed and burst out laughing again.

"Look! Nomi is going to cry again! What a big baby!" Raymond said, pointing his finger at me, all of his friends followed him and pointed their stubby fingers at me.

"I'm not a baby!" I argued him. "And don't call me Nomi!"

Raymond stopped laughing and glared at me. "Shut up! I can call you anything I want," he said before adding with a smile, "Nomi."

"I said, don't call me that!" I screamed at him. "Only he could!"

"Well, where is he then?" Raymond said with a laugh. "Did your Domi leave his little Nomi-?"

Raymond was cut off when a fist punched him right in his face. My eyes widened in surprised as I gasped, putting my hand over my mouth. I watched as Raymond fell back on the grass, clutching his nose as blood poured out of his hand. All of his friends stared at him with wide eyes and dropped jaws. They looked back at the puncher and took a few steps back.

"She said to not to call her that." A voice growled. "Only I could."

It was Domi. His eyes were wide and angry, glaring at Raymond. His teeth were bared like that scary dog that always barked at me when I passed it on my way to school. His fists were clenched, maybe trembling in anger. I've seen him like this only a couple of times. But I couldn't help but feel a bit scared.

"What a big baby!" Domi mocked with the same words Raymond called me. 

But Raymond was too busy worrying about something else. "I'm bleeding! I'm bleeding!" He kept on shrieking again and again.

"I'll make you bleed even more if you ever be mean to Nomi again!" He threatened Raymond, yelling at the top of his lungs.

I gulped and said quietly. "Domi it's-"

He whipped towards me. "Did he hurt you?" Domi demanded. "Did he hurt you again?"

I shook my head, lying so he wouldn't get into more trouble. Then I looking at the ground. When I looked back up and saw Domi was walking up towards Raymond. I thought he was going to help him up, but instead he kicked him at the side. I winced as if he did it to me. Then he squatted next to Raymond who was whimpering in pain, and leaned in close.

"If you ever, ever do that to Nomi when I'm not here," He whispered into Raymond's ear, loud enough for everyone to hear it. "You'll be sorry."

Then Domi lifted his arm again, his hand curled into a fist. He was about to punch Raymond again. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see it, knowing I couldn't stop him, even if I tried. But he didn't, I didn't hear the punch. I opened my eyes to see Domi behind held back by a teacher, Mr. Wilson. Domi was kicking his feet, yelling, struggling in Mr. Wilson's hold. Another teacher, Mrs. Evans, was picking Raymond back up and lifting him to his feet.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Domi screamed at Mr. Wilson.

"I will do no such thing, young man," Mr. Wilson stated, lifting him off his feet, having Domi kick his feet wildly in the air. "You sure have done it this time,  this is the third fight this month. We're going to the principal's office."

Domi stopped struggling and just hung in Mr. Wilson's arms. Not wanting to carry him, Mr. Wilson set him back on the ground but still gripped his arm. He began to lead him back into the building. The whole playground was quiet, everyone stopped playing and was instead staring. Domi ignored all of them and was instead of glaring at Raymond who had gotten off the ground and was gtaring at Domi back. The door opened, having Mr. Wilson then Domi enter. It creaked as it slowly closed, then it shut itself with a loud thud.

Raymond looked back at me, wiping his nose at the back of his hand, his shirt splattered in blood. His eyes narrowed at me, making me feel very small.

"You're lucky you have him," Raymond said to me before Mrs. Evans led him to the nurse's office. "Cause if you didn't... you'll be sorry."

"I-I don't know," I told him, avoiding his gaze.

Bennett's leaned down towards me. The sudden closeness of him made me become hot in embarrassment, my cheeks reddened. His eyes searched mine. I fidget under his gaze until he finally looked away. I sighed with relief when he did.

"Okay," he said. 

"Well, when I find out who started all of this," Declan began, "I'm going to ____ the _____ out of his ____ until he can't ____ unless he goes through surgery." As he said this, Jordan took out his phone and made a censored beep.

Declan looked at me awkwardly. "Sorry, Naomi."

I shrugged. "It's alright. I do too." Both of us shared a smile.

"We should get going to our next class," Bennett told us as he took a look at the time of his back-up phone.

Jordan smiled. "Yeah, let's walk Naomi to-"

"You don't have to," I told them.

All three of them gave me a the same confused look.

"Why not?" Bennett asked.

"I mean with all of this going on-" gesturing to the kids who were avoiding us as we speak "-I don't think I need you guys protecting me," I said, before adding, "for now, this might last today. All three of you have classes all the way at the other side of the school. I don't want you guys to be late to class because of me."

"But I want to be late," Jordan whined. "I have a test for English, and I didn't study."

I glared at him. "Why didn't you study?"

"Uh... I was doing... stuff." 

My eyes narrowed at him. "What kind of... stuff?"

"Stuff-stuff," Declan said.

"You know," Bennett said. "The usual stuff."

"So you all just did this "stuff" together?" I asked them in disbelief.

"Yup." They all said in unison.

We all awkwardly looked at each other.

"This "stuff" isn't really the stuff I'm thinking about, is it?" I asked them quietly.

The color in their faces drained away. I knew I caught all three of them by surprise. But before any of them could say otherwise, I said it before they could stop me.

"I'm not stupid," I said before laughing to myself, "I'm a nerd for Pete's sake. Everyone knows that, and you of all people should know that."

Bennett began, "Naomi I-"

"I know you guys do... things," I said, not giving him a chance to talk, because I wasn't finished. "I know you guys do things you don't want me to know, you don't want me to be a part of. But you shouldn't hide it from of me. I know what I signed in the contract, that until I'm ready for the life I won't know anything about it. But how am I going to be ready for it, if I don't know the first thing about it? If none of you won't even discuss it in front of me? I trust you guys... but the question is, do you trust me?"

They were all quiet. The bell rang throughout the school, ringing everyone's ears. Kids were running through the halls in panic, racing to their next class. Some hall monitors were already patrolling the halls. But all four of us stood planted to the ground, staring at one another. A few monitors glanced at us, but gave a blind eye and walked quickly away, giving us out privacy. Now it was just the four of us, all by ourselves.

"Naomi, of course we trust you," Jordan said. "I trust you with my life, and my grades. But seriously, I need some help studying for this math test next week. So would Friday be good, or-?" Declan punched him in the shoulder, making him shut up. I couldn't blame Jordan, I knew he was just doing what he does best. Lightening the mood of the conversation, trying to change the subject, anything he can do.

"What he meant to say is, we do trust you," Bennett said. He knew what Jordan was trying to do, but he also knew that he couldn't ignore this conversation forever. Sooner or later we were going talk about this, and this time it's sooner.

"I already said that," Jordan pointed out, getting another punch from Declan.

"I wasn't finish yet," Bennett said, glaring at Jordan. "It's not that we don't trust you, Naomi. We just don't trust ourselves."

I shook my head. "What are you talking-?"

He gave me a sad smile. "Naomi, we both know that we aren't the best example of trustworthy after what we did- well didn't do. If we can't even protect you from a bunch of bullies, how are we going to protect you from a bunch of gangs?" He hissed the word as if it was a bad taste in his mouth. "What good are we? What good are we to protect you? What good are we to save you? It's because we aren't. We aren't good enough. And the last thing we want is for to get hurt. Which is ironic because-" he laughed "-that's probably the only thing we are good at."

"Bennett, don't think-"

"I don't think, Naomi, I know." He told me. "Naomi, it isn't that you're not ready for the life. We're not ready for you in the life. I can't trust myself, we can't trust ourselves to protect you beyond school. There are people worse, much much worse than these bullies. They could do things to you worth your years of bullying. And every time I think about what they could do..." He shook his head. "I can't, I just can't let it happen to you." 

I was quiet, all of us were quiet.

"So until we can finally trust ourselves, you will not be a part of this life until not only are you ready, but until we are."

"Okay," I said quietly, staring at the ground. "I get it." I didn't like it, but I get it.

I looked back up and saw a small smile formed on Bennett's face. I couldn't help but return the smile, having it spread to Jordan's and Declan's faces too.

"So does the offer of walking me to class still stands?" I asked hopefully.

Jordan grinned. "When did it ever stop?"

Hey guys, sorry I didn't update this sooner. But I only have one excuse for this, a good excuse, and it's only three words:

FIFA World Cup.

Okay, it's actually seven words since FIFA stands for Federation Internationale de Football Association, but you get my point. If you know from reading my bio, I play soccer, I love soccer, I'm joining the soccer team in my school if it has one first chance I get. And I've been waiting for the cup for years. I'm cheering for lots of teams: Brazil, Spain, Portugal, USA, Germany and others. I've been watching the games instead of writing. Whoops, sorry. After this, I'm going to work on my game and practice my soccer. So I'm posting this quickly and taking a break from writing. I hope you both enjoy the chapter and enjoy the cup if you're into soccer. There's a video at the right of a Mcdonald's ad for the, best ad by far. You guys will like it. And at the right is the official Nerdy Naomi logo, NN.

And my favorite line of this chapter is actually a paragraph, well two from Bennett. To me it's hands down the best thing, okay maybe one of the best things I've written so far. I hope you guys like it too. Give me your comments, and leave your votes and I will be back to you guys soon.

He gave me a sad smile. "Naomi, we both know that we aren't the best example of trustworthy after what we did- well didn't do. If we can't even protect you from a bunch of bullies, how are we going to protect you from a bunch of gangs?" He hissed the word as if it was a bad taste in his mouth. "What good are we? What good are we to protect you? What good are we to save you? It's because we aren't. We aren't good enough. And the last thing we want is for to get hurt. Which is ironic because-" he laughed "-that's probably the only thing we are good at."

"I don't think, Naomi, I know." He told me. "Naomi, it isn't that you're not ready for the life. We're not ready for you in the life. I can't trust myself, we can't trust ourselves to protect you beyond school. There are people worse, much much worse than these bullies. They could do things to you worth your years of bullying. And every time I think about what they could do..." He shook his head. "I can't, I just can't let it happen to you." 

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