chapter five

b o o b i e s o f s t e e l

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Picture: Austin my bb

Video: is how Nova says 'how about no' YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT.

dedicated to SamMadison because her books are legit my favourite books on wattpad - like, how can you not love them - so go check them out c:

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"F*ck you science," Jenko, 21 Jump Street.

(not edited)

Tyler had been surprisingly quiet. I was expecting him to be loud, obnoxious and a pure pain in the ass (not saying he isn't) but that is nothing like the way he is acting right now. Don't get me wrong, Tyler is still a huge monkey faced butthole, but I'm glad that he has shut up for the duration of the class period.

I spoke too early.

"I don't get this," he whines and bangs his head on the lab table. I hold back a laugh when he starts stabbing his notebook with his pen so hard that it's leaving dints in the once white paper which is now covered in black scribbles. "Nova," he stretches my name out like he's asking for something. My god, he sounds like my brother right now. "I need help."

I ignored him completely and carried on working on the questions the hot new teacher gave us to complete. They aren't easy, but they're definitely not hard to do. Maybe that's because Chemistry is one of my strong points compared to Maths and English. "You're in AP Chemistry," I look him dead in the eyes with a confused expression. "You should know what to do."

"I forgot."

"Of course," I rolled my eyes at him. He keeps giving me the fracking puppy dog eyes, they're so hard to resist. His green eyes are mesmerising enough, giving me the class puppy dog face makes them even hotter. Tyler had shuffled closer to me and was practically sitting with one butt cheek on his chair, with the left on mine.

"I'm serious," he copies me and doesn't break the eye contact. "I barely even picked up a pen over summer break, and you're expecting me to remember stoichiometry and chemical reactions?"

Instead of replying with some sympathetic answer, I threw him a goofy smile. "What is a chemist's favourite plant?"

Tyler looks at me with an unimpressed scowl.

"Stoichiome-tree," I couldn't help but laugh at my own joke. Tyler didn't find it funny, shaking his head and mumbling something about me being absolutely crazy. Well, if I'm crazy he must be absolutely insane. "Wow, don't appreciate the chemistry jokes then. I'm sure Mr. Whatever-His-Name-Is will though."

"What will I be appreciating?" The teacher came up behind me and scared me when he spoke. I didn't realise he was there, let alone listening to our conversation.

"My corny jokes," I nudged Tyler in the shoulder. He whispered 'help me' to the teacher whose name I don't know, who laughed in return. "Wait, I have an even better one." Mr just stared at me amusedly while Tyler groaned. "I was mixing an acid and an alkali, but I accidentally knocked the alkali to the floor. That's the first time I dropped the base. I try not to laugh at my own jokes, but I'm just so hilarious."

"Oh god," Tyler bangs his head on the lab table again while I'm pissing myself laughing. I laugh at my own jokes, because I'm just too funny. Hey, even the teacher was laughing while the other students gave us weird looks. "Why am I even friends with you?"

"Ya love me," I punched his shoulder but it didn't affect him one bit. Wow, I thought I packed a bit more of a punch than that.

Tyler gives me a gooey smile, "Of course I do kitten," he then grabs my cheek and pulls them out to make me look like a puffer fish. I was completely aware that the whole class – even the teacher – was watching the scene unfold but it's not like I can stop him. I poke my tongue out as he starts squishing and pulling my cheeks. They're starting to hurt, but I don't mind because he is for once, being civil to me.

"Hey, I know what we can do," it's as if a light bulb goes off in Tyler's head and he let's go of my cheeks. They're numb and I bet they're as red as a tomato. "You can tutor me, since you're so good!"

(A/N: play the video nowwwww)

"Hey, how about no!" I sat back in my chair. No way am I tutoring him. It wouldn't even be worthwhile anyway, because we would just spend the whole time bickering and arguing and would never get any work done. That's just how we communicate, really.

Tyler seems to think for a moment, before he puts his elbows down on the table and puts is head in his hands. "I propose an offer."

"An offer," I raise my eyebrows. I don't like the sound of this.

"I'll help you get rid of the 'one of the boys' and 'matchmaker' stereotypes, and you help me with chemistry," he seems pretty proud of his offer. "Any other girl would be jumping at that idea."

Yeah, Tyler is pretty popular and influential at Octavia High. Girls think he's drop dead gorgeous and would love to jump him – ladies bathroom gossip – and the guys are pretty envious of him for stealing all their girls. Tyler, though? He doesn't give two shits about his reputation. He does what he wants, he sits with who he wants, he dates who he wants and he sure as hell isn't afraid to say whatever the hell he wants.

"Shame I'm not like other girls," I pointed out. Well, it's completely true. I'm not confident like Allie and her friends, I'm just plain, ole' average Nova. The girl named after a Guns N' Roses song who happens to help girls with relationship advice and is friends with so many guys she can't count on two hands (yet she hasn't even dated one of them - Clark doesn't count).

I thought about his offer. It was a pretty good deal, because chemistry comes to me naturally so it wouldn't be hard to teach him. What I'm worried about, is how he's going to fix my reputation.

"One question," I pointed my finger at him, "How are you going to get rid of my reputation? It's not like something that just miraculously disappears overnight. Well, it could, but being one of the boys has been my stereotype since I was like, five."

"That's for me to know and for you to find out," he runs a hand through his windswept brown hair. His hair looks so soft and touchable. He runs his hand through it so much that it's created a quiff at the top of his head and it's so attractive. The sides are cut short and it's practically a models hair-do. Since we live in the sunny state of California, his hair is all different shades of dark brown from sun bleach.

I contemplated his offer again. I may as well go for it. "Deal," I held out my hand for him to shake it.

"Wow, I wasn't expecting that," he chuckles and shakes my hand. It runs tingles up my arm and my stomach is in knots, but I ignore it. I must be getting a cold. That's the usual symptoms of a cold, right? "No backing out now, deals a deal," he winks. The bell for next period went off so we quickly packed up our stuff.

Great, now I have maths. I hate maths so much. I much prefer Chemistry and Spanish out of all my subjects. Art is mediocre, because it's a bittersweet subject for me. Bitter because I have no artistic ability, but sweet because I can do whatever I feel like and still pass. It's a flunking subject, in all honesty.

I bid goodbye to Tyler and left for Maths which was right at the front of the school. I know Nate is in this class with me, same as Clark, because maths is definitely not our strong points. Our school has its stereotypes, but it also defies them in most cases. Take last period's AP Chemistry. Allie's friends seem like complete airheads, but they're actually pretty smart since they're in the highest class. Being in plain maths isn't something my mother likes to brag about – mainly because I still get C+'s and B's even though it's the easiest class – but she's pretty proud about my Spanish marks, which is all I need really.

Her mother, my grandma, was Spanish. We used to be the best of friends, me and granny, until she died when I was ten. She used to teach me Spanish and we'd go and annoy people by speaking and practicing the different language because it would confuse the hell out of them. Good times, good times. Granny died because of a heart failure. She was slowly deteriorating for a years, which is incredibly sad but we all kind of saw it coming. Her death hit me harder than everyone else because we were so close.

Maths was a drag which is not unexpected because it's just naturally boring. I sat next to Clark and we made sure to save a free seat for Nate when he comes back tomorrow. He missed out on a mierdaload (sh*tload).

When the bell finally rung at the end of the day I was more than ready to leave and never come back. I was walking quicker than a sprinter on cocaine, when someone latched onto my arm and stopped my power-walking. I revibrated backwards and hit the person's hard chest. "Goddamn, I just want to go home," I groaned, turning around to see the culprit. Of course, it was my personal stalker. Tyler.

The hallway was packed to the eyeballs and people stopped to watch what was happening between Tyler and I. Nosy putas (b*tches).

"Ready for our date this afternoon?" Tyler referred to the study session he had arranged for this afternoon. People around us gasped and whispers started. I looked at Tyler confusedly trying to figure out why everyone is suddenly staring.

Ready for our date, my eyeballs bulged as I went over what he said.

Date?

DATE!

No wonder everyone is going crazy. They must think that the notorious Tyler Bradford has switched from sluts to tomboys.

"Oh my gosh Tyler," I screamed at him, punching his chest and landing a whopper, much bigger than the one in Chemistry. "What is wrong with you?"

"Jeez woman," he grabs my fists to stop me from continuing punching. "Don't worry kitten, other people were going to find out either way."

I gaped at him, and then did the most logical thing possible. I kicked him. Where, you ask? Well, the place where the sun doesn't shine, of course. Unfortunately I didn't kick him so hard his nuts dangled out of his mouth, but I nicked him hard enough to know that I'm serious and I mean business.

I stormed out of the school in a frenzy after fighting through the huge crowd we had attracted. Of course, everyone in this little town likes to know everything about everything. No doubt this will be the top of the rumour mill tomorrow. Just my fracking luck.

"Baby, come back," Tyler is sprinting out of the front doors with a goofy grin on his face. I just want to die. In a hole. Six feet down. I guess I better start digging then. I ignored him. I can't believe he did this to me.

He embarrassed me in front of nearly half the school and now everyone thinks we're dating. I don't want to date Tyler! He's a narcissistic, egotistical, asshole-y, verga (d*ck) who needs to learn how to treat a girl nicely. To think for a second we were on good terms. I was nearly fuming with anger during the short walk to my mother's car. Austin was waiting by the passenger side door, tapping away on his phone.

"Get in," I growled. I'm beyond furious at both Tyler and the world at the moment.

But, before I could unlock the car and get in, Tyler grabbed my arm again. It was horrible déjà vu.

"I'm sorry, you probably hate me," he sighs and runs a hand through his perfect hair. My god, how can one boy be so infuriatingly hot. "Just trust me Nova. This is all going to work out. I planned that for a reason."

I felt a tinge of guilt in my stomach, realising that he was only trying to help me. "I don't hate you," I explained, but I couldn't get rid of the smirk that was coming onto my lips. "I'm just not necessarily excited about your existence."

"Okay, I deserved that," he smiles boyishly. It gives me butterflies – no, more like elephants – stomping around in my stomach and I can't shake off the feeling no matter how hard I try. "Are we still on for our study date," he winked and put his arm around my shoulder.

I roll my eyes at him. He's so touchy, always trying to find a way to touch me or anything (not in a rude way, gosh). Austin watches Tyler and me with wide eyes and mouth agape. It must look weird, I have to agree. Just yesterday we were fighting like cats and dogs, and now his arm is over my shoulder and I'm not making an effort to pull it out of the socket.

I'm lovely, hey?

"What did I miss?" Austin smirks at Tyler. I hate it when boys go all telepathic, it's so frustrating.

"Heaps," Tyler fake gasps, "Did you hear that Nova and I are dating? Well, it's true."

"Again with that?" I scowl and punch him in the boob, but he must work out a lot because it effing hurt. "Oh my god," I cried out, nursing my poor little fist. "You're the freaking devil! Are your boobs made of steel or something?"

Tyler starts howling with laughter, same as Austin. Tyler's face has gone red and he's resorted to wheezing out air because he's out of breath. Austin, on the other hand, is snorting like a pig.

"Wow, is it pick on Nova day today?" I sigh exasperatedly.

Tyler sobers up but Austin is still laughing at the word 'boob'. You would've thought he would take it seriously, considering he is a guy after all and guys usually like boobies. I silently thank my average sized chest compartment. Tyler closes the metre or so distance between us and puts a hand under my chin. My heart rate has sky rocketed and all I can feel is a lot of 'what-the-fruit-loops-is-happening-right-now' coming off from my expression.

"You know, you're pretty hot when you're mad," he winks. I thought he was about to lean in further, but it really must be pick on Nova day, because he aims for my nose instead.

No, he didn't kiss it.

That's mushy shit. Corny, mushy shit. Okay, time to shut up now brain.

Any who, I watch in confusion as he raises his hand up to my nose. What the fruit loops is he doing? The amusement is evident on Tyler's face, when all of a sudden, he pushes on the tip of my nose to make me look like a pig. "Now, you're your brother," he nods his head over to my brother who was still cracking up.

Way to ruin the moment, Tyler. Way to ruin it indeed.

I pushed him off of me, his hand dropped and he looked at me with a frown. When he frowned, his bottom lip kind of drooped out. It was hot, but he definitely looks better with his usual boyish smile. "Whatever," I mutter. I grab my keys out of my pocket and unlock the car. "Austin, get your ass over here. Laughing about boobies can wait."

Austin rolls his eyes and goes to hop into the passenger seat, but Tyler beats him to it. "What do you want now," I groan and bang my head on the steering wheel. Ouch, it kind of hurt. Remind me not to do that again.

"You love me," an evil glint was in his eye, but I ignored it. "I need a ride home since you dropped me off this morning. And wow, lookie here, I hitched a ride."

"You know, Austin is going to get sick of you always stealing his seat in my car."

"My," he snorts loudly. Who's the pig now muthafucka? "You mean your mothers. I don't blame her for not buying you a car, you're an insane driver."

"Why, thankyou," I grinned sarcastically. I know I'm not the best of the drivers, but I try. Okay, maybe I try a little too hard. With me and a car, it's either ridiculously fast or ridiculously slow. There's no median. I'm a crazy driver, let's put it at that. My mom refuses to buy me a car because she thinks that I would crash it and go to jail, yada yada ya. "You can't talk. You're the one whose car is in the repairs shop because you nearly got caught drifting, then managed to run yourself into a street light because you are ... a retard."

"No!" He gasps dramatically, his green eyes full of amusement. They're beautiful – his eyes. Green speckled with gold and blue. Mine are a dull blue, nearly brown. I don't like them, but apparently they're really pretty. Bull-fracking-shoot. "You take that back."

"Nope," I played along. Austin probably thinks we are weirdos.

"Perra (bitch)," he muttered, but looked at me with a smirk. "Wait, shit!" he tried covering himself up, but it was too late. I already caught him. He just said something in Spanish? No. He doesn't. This can't be.

"You didn't," I glared at the road, because I obviously couldn't stare at him without crashing. "Please don't tell me you speak Spanish."

I look over at him for a second to see him grinning sheepishly. "Sorry?" It came out more like a question than an apology. "For being a brunette, you're pretty blonde."

"That's insulting, especially to blondes. So you're saying that all this time, you've spoken Spanish?"

"Maaaaybe. Oh, come on Nova. This tan is a 'la natural," I want to slap the smugness off his face. I couldn't though, because I'm behind a freaking car and Austin wants to vomit in the back. I may or may not be driving a little bit deadlier than usual – my driving reflects my mood.

And right now? I'm a scary bee-otch.

"My mom's Spanish," he explained. "Not to forget I use to live in Spain. I spent my first five years there, so of course I know Spanish. We moved here because of dad's work. He got promoted and now I'm here. Could you please turn the crazy lady driving down for a second?" He clutches onto the dashboard, "I feel like I'm about to die."

"I hate you." I scowled.

"Love you too."

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aS PROMISED! AN UPDATEEEE.

WE HIT 5K. I REPEAT, WE HIT 5 BLOODY K (SORRY THHE INNER AUSSIE IS COMING OUT IN ME). DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE HAD TO STOP MYSELF FROM SAYING BLOODY INSTEAD OF FRACKING IN THIS BOOK? SO MANY, IT HURTS. THE PAIN, IT'S SO GODDAMN REAL.

this chapter we got some suuurious 'tova/tyva/nyler/tovember/tylvember/noveler' moments.

I can't choose between 'noveler' 'tova' or 'tylvember' halp me.

I want to cry because matchmaker hit 5k so quickly it's not even funny. I'm amazed how quickly this book has become popular (well, popular in my eyes) and I want to thank you readers so much. I've never written a book which flows so easily like this does. I've always usually had trouble thinking of what to write, but never with this. I want to thank you guys for your amazing comments, I love you guys so much <3

thanks again for reading and don't forget to comment and vote! :)