Nerdy

Grrrrrr!.

The alarm clock went off, blaring so loud. The one she had bought for 10$ on her way to work about two months ago.

Alyssa let out a soft groan as she rolled over on her back, stretching her left hand to shut the alarm off. Bringing her head up, she stared at the date which read, 21st of March, 2026.

She exhaled deeply then sat uprightly, rubbing her sleepy eyes with the back of her palms.

“ Another day to work her ass off.” She muttered softly before getting out of bed.

She then headed for the bathroom still dressed in her comfy pajama. She didn’t really spend too much time bathing or brushing her teeth for fear that she might run late for work.

Alyssa worked in a one of the Print companies in Greca which published close to a million newspapers per month and had great sales on them. Lately due to competitors, sales has really gone down and this took a big toll on all of them. Most times she had to spend nights looking for juicy stories to write.

“ If you can’t find then make one up!.” Mr. Orchard, the manager screamed at her the last time he had seen her empty document. He said that so easily that she was starting to think most stories they published were nothing but made ones.

Alyssa ran her palm over her face as she stared at herself in the dressing mirror, her Golden Brown hair packed up in a rough ponytail. She took a long satisfying glance at her reflection in the mirror before putting her glasses on.

She picked up her big Black bag and hung it on her left shoulder then walked out of her one room apartment. She fumbled with the keys and soon the door was locked.

She headed for the bus stop since that was all she could afford. She took her sit on the bench as she calmly waited for the bus to arrive, looking down at her watch she realized she still had about an hour left to get to work.

Hearing the sound of the bus stopping, she stood up and walked in after the door opened, running her card over the machine. She heaved a sigh of relief the moment she sat down, her eyes looking out through the window.

It took nothing less than twenty minutes to get there and soon the bus parked to let them get off.

“ Bye.” Alyssa said as she walked past the driver and felt his hard stare on her back. He had ignored her but she wasn’t annoyed. People can be in a bad mood sometimes and that she knew. She sent him a smile as she watched the door close then adjusted her glasses, feeling awkward.

Turning around, she could read the big words hanging on the big building.

“ Best One Publishers. ” She mumbled, the name had always sounded so weird to her plus it made her wonder what who had named it had thought of. She shrugged off her shoulders as she tried to warm up before walking into the White tall building. It consisted of three floors and her office was situated in the second floor.

She waited in front of the elevator and pushed the green button on the side immediately she heard the ding sound. She watched it open slowly then stepped in, bending her head gently as a sign of greeting to the two men she saw in it. They ignored her, each minding their business.

Alyssa adjusted the glasses sitting on the brink of her nose slightly to release the awkwardness she felt. She had used them ever since she was Eight, ever since those tiny things had gotten into her eyes. She often got bullied in school for it, she got called names of all kinds and soon she got so used to it. Here, at work, she was a bit grateful that she isn't the only one with glasses on since it helped her fit in.

The elevator stopped and the entrance opened, right on the second floor. Alyssa clutched onto her bag before stepping out. She heard the door close behind her, causing her to heave a sigh as she stared at the bubbling atmosphere. Each staff minding their business and working their ass off.

“ Hi, nerdy.” Catherine greeted her with a soft sweet voice.

“ Hi.” Alyssa responded warmly as she dragged her chair backward and dropped her bag on the table, beside her picture. The one she had taken in high school. People often teased her for using something so old but she would just laugh it off. She wasn't a big fan of pictures so she had none to replace with, except older ones too like her baby pictures and her growing up pictures. Her Mother would take pictures of her almost everyday and now she had more than enough to get into the Guinness Book of World Records as “the nerd with the most pictures”.

Catherine was the only one she let call her “nerdy” because of how close they both were. According to her, Alyssa was too serious with work.

“ You look like an animal just popped all over your face.” She joked with a warm smile on her lips. “ Did you get any sleep all night?.” She questioned her eyes on Alyssa.

“ Maybe.” Alyssa responded. She was unsure if she had slept all night, all she could remember was staring up at the ceiling and waking up the next morning.

” I never joke with my beauty sleep Nerdy, you should do the same.” Catherine advised and ran a finger over her left hair, pulling some strands behind her ear.

Alyssa envied Catherine a lot for her ability to maintain her beauty despite the whole pressure on them. She looked so beautiful as always. Her face was smooth and free of wrinkles and her eyes were free of under bags.

Was she to talk about her taste in dresses?

Catherine was just too good at picking the best

clothes, ones she knew would look so good on her. Her slender legs doing justice to whatever it was she wore. Her beautiful short blond hair added its magic to her pointed nose and beautiful pair of lips.

Her eyes.

Was she to talk about those beautiful blue eyes as clear as a lake, captivating all who looked in it?.

Alyssa never questioned why Catherine got men so easily and changed them at will. She was always wanted by all unlike her whom has never had a man.

She wondered how the town would react if she could write her own story, if she put it out there that she was still untouched at the age of 28. Not just the people, she wondered how her boss would react.

“ Oh! Lest I forget, Mr. Williams asks that you see him in his office.” She informed her, her eyes now on her laptop and she played with the buttons on it.