The nerd herd was at the Playground, having returned from their mission safely. They still had time until the Lunch Lady took them home so they decided to study until then. They all thought that studying would be the perfect thing to take their minds off losing another teammate.

So naturally, Jackson was all they could think about.

"This is the first time I've ever felt bad because of Jackson without hglmnzzbbtllyd" Flinch turned the knob on his harness "...without him picking on me"

"It's so weird" Matilda said "Just a few months ago he lived to make us feel bad. And now we feel bad because he's not around. I kinda wish he was still a bully, at least I could go back to hating him"

Ruby's arm swelled like a balloon "Could you please be honest?" she asked as she scratched the appendage furiously "I'm starting to blister over here"

Matilda took a hit from her inhaler "Sorry" she said

"Even back when he was a bully I didn't think he was that bad a person" Duncan said "And it helped a bit when I showed him the tapes"

"You showed him the tapes?" Ruby asked

Duncan nodded "He didn't react the way I thought he would" he said

"What happened?" Matilda asked

"He looked...shocked" Duncan said "Like he didn't even recognize himself"

Flinch's jaw lowered a bit "You're joking" she said

Ruby glasses slipped down her nose "I suppose we could ask him about how he used to act" she said as she pushed her glasses back up

"I doubt he wants us to come anywhere near him" Matilda said

"Maybe we should just give him space until he feels comfortable enough to talk to us again" Duncan suggested

"Let's just forget it" Ruby said "If Bracefa...If Jackson decided to leave it's his choice and we should accept it"

Matilda nodded "Let's just try and focus on studying for our spelling test tomorrow" she said "Gluestick you have the list, right?"

Duncan pulled out a folded sheet of paper "Right here" he said

"What's the first word" Ruby asked

Duncan's face fell a bit as he read the first word "Arrogant"

Ruby bit her lip but worked out the answer "A-R-R-O-G-A-N-T"

"Correct" he said handing the list to Ruby

She turned to Flinch "Your word is..." she stopped for a moment before reading the word "Orthodontic"

Flinch took a bite of his candy bar and swallowed hard before spelling "O-R-T-H-O-D-O-N-T-I-C"

She handed the list to Flinch and he looked at the next word. Looking over at Matilda, he said "Spell Quarterback"

Matilda gripped her inhaler a bit tighter and spelled "Q-U-A-R-T-E...wheeze...-R-B-A-C-K"

"You're right" he said sounding uncharacteristically tired. He handed her the list and she turned back to Duncan "Your word is...Impulsive"

Duncan gave a small sigh "I-M-P-U-L-S-I-V-E"

The nerds went on spelling words. Such as Magnetic, Unpopular, Transform and Disappointment. The nerds couldn't deny that each word reminded them of their former teammate. The joy they usually got out of studying was replaced with sadness, a sadness that grew a bit more with each word. The only joy they got out of this study session was reaching the last word. Matilda turned to Duncan and said

"Spell...Abandon"

Duncan swallowed a lump forming in his throat "A-B-A-N-D-O-N"

Should we..." Flinch began "Run through the words again?"

They sat in an uncomfortable silence until Matilda broke it

"Maybe we should just switch to math?" she suggested

Ms Holiday looked over at the nerd herd. She felt like crying, she could practically feel the sadness pouring off the agents. She looked at Agent Brand as he hobbled over

"What's wrong?" he asked

"What's wrong?" Ms Holiday repeated as she pointed at the nerd herd "Just look at them, they're miserable"

"I wouldn't go that far" Brand said "Disappointed perhaps, but I wouldn't say miserable"

"Wheezer only spent twenty minutes in the Supply Closet today instead of the usual four hours" Ms Holiday said "I asked Gluestick to help me reprogram the chair's upgrade system and he told me he didn't feel like it. I packed a jar of peanut brittle for Flinch for the mission and it was completely untouched when they returned. And in case you didn't notice, Pufferfish didn't try to argue with you at all during the mission briefing. Jackson's departure is weighing heavier on them than you realize"

"There's nothing we can do about it now" Brand said

Ms Holiday cocked an eyebrow "Nothing?" she repeated "You could talk to Jackson and..."

"And what?" Brand interrupted "Tell him that being with the N.E.R.D.S. is more important than his classes? Neither you nor I have any right to try and bring him back before he feels he's ready. And I certainly won't try and make him rejoin just to please his former teammates"

Ms Holiday frowned "I...you..it's not that...Jackson is..."

She was so frustrated with him she couldn't speak.

"I don't like this any more than you" Brand continued "But this is the way it has to be for now. The team may be disappointed but..."

He brought a hand to his chin and rubbed it thoughtfully "Perhaps I should...find a replacement for him"

The librarian looked appalled "You must be joking" she said

"It's not such a bad idea" he said "Jackson suggested we find someone else to take his place. And a five member team would be a good..."

"You can't be serious" Ms Holiday said interrupting him "You know just as well as I do that the teammate they had is the teammate they want"

"Really?" Brand asked giving her a wry smile "Then I suppose there's nothing to do but wait for him"

Ms Holiday's voice caught in her throat. Brand had just reiterated his point to her, and she had walked right into it. She bit her lip in frustration

"I just...wish there was something we could do" Ms Holiday said

"If he wanted our help he'd have asked for it" Brand told her "This isn't just about the grades or re-joining the N.E.R.D.S., it's about proving to himself that he can do it."

At the Jones Residence

"Done" Jackson said as he slumped over the livingroom table

He had been studying for the past hour, and he was exhausted. He hadn't felt this tired since the drills back in football practice. He heard a tapping noise on the table. He looked up to see Chaz, who had placed an unopened can of soda in front of him. He gave his little brother a soft noogie.

"Take it easy" he said "You're gonna study yourself to death"

Jackson opened the soda and took a gulp "I can't afford to take it easy" he said "I have to study or I'll fail"

"Try not to burn yourself out" Chaz said on his way to the door

"Headed to the junkyard?" Jackson asked

"You aren't the only one who needs to study, Nerdatron" Chaz " I'm joining up with my friends for a study group"

"Friends?" Jackson repeated "You have more than one now?"

Chaz smiled a bit "Yeah" he said "Along with Barney there's Joanie Miller and Margot Rollins"

"Two girls?" Jackson said "That's a stroke of...hang on..."

Jackson recognized those names. Joanie was a beautiful girl, but had almost no friends because of a tomboyish quirk

"Isn't Joanie that girl who said she can out-spit, out-belch, and out-fart any boy who challenged her?" Jackson asked

Chaz cringed "Yeah" he said "I would know...she beat the whole football team...including the coach"

"And Margot..." Jackson began "She sits beside you in English class. You're always complaining about how she blows her nose so loud that you can't concentrate"

"She has bad allergies" Chaz said "But she's really smart"

Jackson was instantly reminded of Ruby, but he forced the thought back down into the core of his mind.

"I'll be back later" Chaz said as he slipped out the door

Jackson jumped up only to let himself fall back onto the couch. He lay back on the cushions, drinking his soda and enjoying the silence of his house. He had plenty to think about, but he was focused on a spelling test Mr Pfeiffer had planned. Of all the times for him to suddenly teach them something worth learning, he chose now. It's just as well, the sooner he could get his grades up, the better. He heard the sound of a door swing open. Jackson looked over the back of the couch to see his father walk into the room

"Hello son" he said "How was your first day back?"

Jackson's mind cast back to his previous encounter with the nerd herd "A bit...stressful" he said crushing the now empty soda can "But hey, that's just school for you"

"How's the homework going" his father asked

"I finished my homework in my spare time at school" Jackson said

"Spare time?" his father asked

"In between classes" he said "During lunch, free period, staying in at recess. And I've been studying since I got home"

"That's what I like to hear" he said with a pleased look on his face

Jackson got off the couch and stretched "I'm gonna take a nap before dinner" he said heading toward the stairs

"I'll wake you when it's ready" his father said

As he headed up the stairs his father said "By the way, a package came for you"

He tossed Jackson a brown paper wrapped box to his son. Jackson was a bit surprised. He never got mail, but someone sent him a package? What could it be?. The box was too small to be a football or just about anything sports related. Considering his recent work as a spy, maybe the package was a bomb.

...Yeah right.

That's ridiculous

Who'd want to send him a bomb?

...Simon for one.

But he was...well we're not sure but...we sort of think he's...

You know what...just forget it.

Once he reached his room, he tore the paper off, revealing a black and white box. He opened it to find a small, dark blue cell phone. He threw himself onto his bed and stared at the phone

"A cell phone?" Jackson thought "Who'd send me a cell..."

He was interrupted when the phone rang at that moment. He wasn't sure if he should answer it, but someone must've sent it to him for a reason. He hit a button, and hoped the device wouldn't explode as he held it to his ear

"Hello" he said uncertainly

"Hi nerdboy" said a female voice "Do you miss me?"

Jackson nearly dropped the phone "Mindy?" he asked

Another chapter that I finished faster than I expected to. There's a bit less humor and a lot more seriousness than I originally intended, but all in all I think this was a good chapter. What do you think?

Please review.