Pick-Me Girl

Veronica's P.O.V.

Hey, I'm Veronica Gan, but you can just call me Ron. I'm the Asian math whiz everyone turns to at school, constantly buried in formulas and equations. But get this – they've labeled me the 'Pick-Me Girl,' and I'm still trying to figure out why.

Yeah, a 'Pick Me' girl. For those who aren't in the loop, that's the tag they pinned on me – the girl always fishing for validation from guys and acting like she's better than other girls.

So, let me spill the tea on how I got tagged as a Pick-Me Girl by the whole school. It all went down because of Mr. Perfect, Austin Marx.

He's the guy who has all the girls at our school simping with just a wink or a smile. Picture this: the classic blond-haired, blue-eyed, 6'3" dreamboat with a bod sculpted like a Greek god. Literally, everyone's crushing on him, I'm talking everyone. It's like they're drawn to him like he's a trending TikTok sound.

You might think he's all looks and no brains, but plot twist! Austin Marx clinched the top spot in our school's academic excellence award last year, leaving me in his shadow at a solid second place.

But hey, I've dusted off the bitterness of that second-place finish. This school year is my comeback season. I'm doubling down on my efforts to reclaim that coveted number one spot.

Classes came and went like any other day, and I tried to shrug off the whole Austin debacle. As the final bell rang, I lingered in the classroom to dodge the chaotic rush of students pouring out of school.

Seated upfront, a tap on my shoulder jolted me from my thoughts.

"Hey, you!" a voice exclaimed with excitement.

Surprised and a bit annoyed by the interruption, I spun around to see who it was. And guess what? It was Austin.

I couldn't help but notice that he's rocking our school's custom hoodie, a perk reserved only for the basketball varsity squad. The hoodie itself is pretty simple: black with our school's logo – a lion with "O.H.S." for Orion High School – on the left side. But when Austin wears it, suddenly it's a whole vibe that would make any model jealous.

"Hey, what's up?" I said, relieved that I bounced back from my starstruck moment.

"Uh, hey Veronica," he replied, a hint of nervousness in his voice, but he kept his gaze locked with mine.

I was low-key shook that he actually knew my name. I mean, we've been in the same school since freshman year, and we're only just having a conversation now.

Austin flashed a grin that revealed those dimples I've only admired from a distance until now.

"Is there anything you need?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant but feeling more like a character from a cheesy rom-com.

I quickly gathered my books from my desk, eager to make a swift exit and spare myself any further embarrassment. You see, as good-looking as he is, I know this conversation is just another ploy to sweet-talk me into doing his work for him. It's always the same old story — copying homework, enlisting my help on projects, borrowing notes... I'm over it. No more free passes.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost missed his next words.

"Veronica, I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me?"

Austin's P.O.V.

I'm currently in my physics class, struggling to grasp what my professor is teaching. My mind is exhausted from overanalyzing everything.

Yesterday was a total mess. I can't believe I did that! How can I ask someone who I barely spoke to out on a date? Maybe I let my daydreams get the best of me, making it seem like the right time to finally make a move. And knowing it's our last year in high school pushed me to go for it.

But then she shut me down with a quick "NO" and just walked out. I was left standing there in that empty classroom, totally stunned.

I've been crushing on this girl since freshman year. Veronica Gan, 5'4", with sleek black hair that cascades down to her shoulders. Beautiful, brainy, and in my mind, my future wife. She's got this Ice Queen vibe, all cool and aloof, keeping other guys at bay. And I'll admit, there's something about that air of mystery that really intrigues me.

I busted my butt studying and grinding away in my books, hoping she'd take notice. I thought if she didn't care about looks, she'd appreciate intelligence. My only goal was to make it into the Top 10 in our class. But I ended up going above and beyond, landing the top spot in the entire school last year, leaving my Ice Queen in second place. Needless to say, she wasn't too thrilled about it. All that effort, and it didn't get me a step closer to her.

I can't even pinpoint when I started liking her. Maybe it's because she's the only girl who doesn't seem to notice me, or maybe it's because she's the type who actually goes to school to learn, not caring about what others think. Whatever it is, I'm head over heels.

"Austin, everything okay?" Mr. Miller, my professor, interrupted my thoughts.

I hadn't even realized he had come up to my desk.

"Yeah, just not feeling great," I quickly replied to cover my distraction.

The whole class glanced at me with concern. I tend to have that effect on people. My buddy Zach, sitting behind me, couldn't help but chuckle. He's the only one who knows what went down yesterday.

"Need to go to the clinic?" Mr. Miller asked.

After a moment's thought, I decided to go for it.

"Uh, yeah, thanks, Mr. Miller. I'll head to the clinic for a bit," I said as I stood up and left the room.

On my way to the clinic, I spotted a familiar figure in the distance. As she approached, my heart raced. Was I actually nervous?

"Veronica?" I called out, curious about what she might say after yesterday's mess.

"Austin, about yesterday... well, you can take me out."