The return of 'the poker'

"Jack? It's back."

"Hm?" She pointed down with a smile, and I knew immediately what it was she was pointing at. And what was pointing at her.

"That thing always shows up at the strangest times, doesn't it?"

"Well," I began. "It's not that strange, is it? I mean, it's supposed to show up when a beautiful girl kisses me. That's what it's here for."

"...Beautiful? You think i'm beautiful?"

"well...yeah." Again, the sentimental smile, but this time I did it first and Stacy followed. "Anyone with eyes would."

"That's not true. I don't think I am." She looked away slightly, her smile replaced by a frown and the shine in her eyes was taken over by a tiny shimmer. "To be honest, I was nervous before because I didn't think a man as handsome as you would ever want to kiss a girl as plain as me. I mean, you were always the guy who had his head in a helmet while mine was always in a book or in some video game. Wonderful men like you never go for nerdy girls like me."

I picked her chin up, but instead of smiling at her, I frowned. "Stacy, don't talk about yourself that way. If people like us never come together, then why have we?"

"I don't know, but i'm glad we did." The smile came back, but only briefly. "You couldn't like me that way. I'm a nerd."

"If you are, so am I. I like the same stuff you do. Am I a nerd? Besides, even if we are, so what? Nerd is just what jocks and cheerleaders call people smarter and more interesting than themselves. If we're nerds, then guess that makes me a nerd-lover."

This time the smile stayed, but the shimmer from before had ran down her cheek.

"Nerd....lover?"