Disclaimer: I do not own My Babysitter's A Vampire.

Chapter 20: A Nerd-Athon

Justin was held up in the gym locker rooms and was on his way to meet up with Benny at the front of the school. Justin accidentally bumped into two students in the rush and dropped their belongings in the process. He quickly apologized while gathering their things. When he finally looked up he saw Alison chuckling while Erica crossed her arms.

"Next time watch it nerd!" Erica sneered at Justin who handed the blonde her things.

"Don't listen to her," Alison began, "she just wants to keep up appearances." Erica glared at her and snatched her things from Justin's hands. The two girls began to walk away and Justin quickly stopped them.

"If you're not doing anything Friday," he took out a piece of paper and pencil and began writing something on it, "you should come to a party I'm throwing for Benny. Just don't tell him he doesn't know." He smiled and handed Alison the paper.

There was a slight awkward silence for a bit until Justin's phone made a sound. He looked at the message and quickly said bye and started to sprint to the school entrance. Alison chuckled at his awkwardness and Erica started to walk in the opposite direction.

"You don't expect me to go to that nerd-athon?" Erica quickly stated to Alison.

"Why not? We don't have anything else to do. Besides it could be fun." Alison stated as they exited the school. Erica grunted and was sure she wasn't going to enjoy her Friday.

Jake had just experienced one of his longest visions ever. Penny was a little concerned as was Aaron. They both got him to sit down and offered him water to calm him down a bit. Jake was breathing heavily and was constantly gasping for air. Most of his visions happened in an instant without going into his mind to see them. It has been nearly ten years since he last had to do that and Penny was more the worried. She had to chant a few words to get the man to calm down and it was slowly working. Aaron wasn't knew to this since he had seen it in high school, but this time was different since he had just found out Jake's powers were slowly leaving him.

Penny asked him what he saw and was greatly shocked at the response.

"I-I, I saw," Jake was struggling to say what happened in his head, "which part do you wanna hear first?" Aaron looked over to Penny who showed fear and worry. "This first attack was only the beginning. If it continues eventually there will be nothing left." Jake murmured the last part, but they caught what he said.

"Dad we're home!" Justin exclaimed as Benny slammed the door. Jake looked at Penny and Aaron and then to the two boys walking up the stairs.

"It's my job to protect you two." Jake whispered to himself, I made you a promise and I'm going to keep it.

"Honey, are you sure he's going to like that?" Sheriff Matthews asked her son. The two were at the mall shopping for a gift. "It looks so hideous."

"Mom this is Benny we are talkin-" he looked at it again, "yeah. You are probably right." He put the item back on the table.

Liz asked why he couldn't just get him a normal gift or a gift card. Ozzie tried reasoning with her that Benny and Justin were his first real friends and he couldn't just get them something simple or normal; plus a gift card was like saying I didn't have time to shop for a gift, but here is this gift card with a face value of how much our friendship means. His mom nodded in agreement and they went to the next shop.

Ozzie's mom picked up a figure and asked Ozzie if Benny would like it. Ozzie nodded it was Benny's favorite character from Mortal Kombat. His mom handed it to him and told him to get it, but Ozzie declined and his mom questioned why.

"I can't outdo Justin mom." Ozzie simply stated and continued browsing the store. She made a confused face and wondered why, Ozzie saw her and explained. "Look, I've only known Justin and Benny for about two years and it wouldn't feel right to me. Besides I'm still trying to impress them for their approval." His mom raised an eyebrow and was even more confused.

"Approval? Approval for what, I thought you three were all good friends?" Ozzie mentally face palmed for almost revealing something he shouldn't have.

"Not approval. More like-" Ozzie was in overdrive and didn't know what to say exactly, "They've known each other for so long that it feels like I'm still trying to win them over. You know, like I'm not good enough to be their friend."

"Have you told them how you feel?" Ozzie walked around the store some more as he explained his dilemma.

"It's not something you can just bring up. Besides I don't want them to take pity on me. And it's not like I'm being excluded or anything; it's just something I have to go through, for my self-worth." Ozzie explained as he picked up a strange looking item while his mom pondered at him. A memory filled her thoughts as she saw her son being happy.

"Welcome to the Finals of the 13th Annual Mathletes Competition!" the announcer stated to the audience. "The competition heated up entering the semi-finals with our two runner ups. Now with our two finalists on stage lets get started!"

The problem was being projected onto the white screen on stage while the two finalists began working out the problem on their table. The table had a large touchscreen inlayed on it. The two used their hands to move around the diagram on the screen. Up until the quarter-finals, all the math problems involved complex equations and riddles to get to an answer. The finals combined all those elements into a 3-D model diagram in which the finalist had to solve.

Benny had made it into the semi-finals along with Justin. The competition started in teams of two, but once the semi-finals began the teams were separated. Justin advanced past the semi-finals leaving Benny behind who was among the crowd cheering him on with his family.

Justin's competition was tough and now he was up against someone who was as equally talented and intelligent as him. He looked over to the blonde haired boy he was up against. The boy was really concentrated on his work but also glanced over his shoulder. Justin smiled a bit before he turned around to continue working on the problem.

"C'mon Justin!" a boy shouted from the stands who garnered looks from people around him. He quickly saw all the looks he was getting and looked a bit nervous and sat back down. Justin shook his head as he saw him sit down again.

"Hush child! You'll make him lose concentration." An elderly women said as she put her arm around Benny.

After what seemed hours one of the boys hit the buzzer to indicate he was finished. The judges went over to his table to review his answer. They delegated for less than thirty seconds and came to their conclusion. Another buzzer went off and they went over to his side to also review his answer. The audience was at the edge of their seats waiting for the final results to be announced. Justin and the blonde boy shared a look before the judges went back to their seats and the announcer stepped onto the stage.

"In a few moments the screen behind us will display the picture of the winner with the correct answer. Let's give the judges a few moments to discuss. In the meantime we will present medals to our two runner ups. In fourth place Cameron Kennedy," the crowd applauded for the boy as he accepted his medal. "And in third place Benjamin Knight." Justin stood up and applauded as his best friend took the stage to accept his medal. They gave each other grins and two thumbs up. "Have our judges come to a consensus?" They nodded and pressed a button. "In a few moments our champion will be displayed on the screen."

The crowd was in anticipation as the screen began to randomly flicker between various contestant pictures. Justin and the blonde haired boy closed their eyes until the name was announced. "Our Champion for the 13th Annual Mathletes Competition is..." the announcer paused while the screen stopped on a picture, "Justin Baywood!"

Justin family started yelling and screaming in excitement as their son stood in front of the announcer accepting his first place trophy and gold medal. "And our runner up, Ozzie Matthews." Ozzie walked to the announcer and accepted his medal. The announcer finished his job and let the winners congratulate each other.

"You did it buddy!" A wide grinned Benny stated as he hugged his best friend.

"B-b-Benny," Justin began as he tried to breath under his friend's embrace, "not all of us got an early growth spurt and you're squishing me." Benny apologized and let go.

"Congratulations Justin. You were great out there." Ozzie quickly and shyly stated and began to walk off stage, before Justin could thank him.

Justin quickly ran up to catch up to him. "Hey kid, wait up!" He got in front of him and began to talk to him, "I just wanted to let you know that I'm having a celebratory party at my house and I wanted you to come." Justin waited for an answer as he called Benny over. "This is Benny, he's going to be there if you wanna hang out with us." Again no answer.

"Is he broken?" Benny asked Justin who in turn elbowed him in the stomach and he let out a small yelp. "I mean do you talk?" Another blow to his side, "Will you stop doing that! I bruise easily! Does he have any friends?" Ozzie stifled a laugh.

"He's just shy Benny, I remember you being shy so shut up." Justin whispered to Benny, "Anyways if you do want to come we will be over there." He pointed in the direction as Benny and him went to his parents, but not before saying one more thing. "There's a pool." And with that Justin took off again.

Ozzie's mom witnessing this went over to her son; first congratulating him and then giving him permission to go with the boys. And it wasn't like she didn't know their parents, after all she did go to high school with them. In the distance she heard her son calling out to her, "M-O-M!"

"Mom!" Ozzie yelled from the register, "I'm ready."

"What did you get him?" Liz asked as she took out her purse.

"A cool action figure. The sales associate said it was one-of-a-kind." She smiled at him and paid for the gift.

"What sales associate, I don't have any sales associates." The owner of the store stated to them. Ozzie and his mom turned around to point out the person who helped him, "I've never seen-" he was cut off and changed his mind, "I must have just received this particular item today." He packed it in the gift bag and the two waved him goodbye.

Thanks for Reading! Thanks to those that continue to read and review, you guys are awesome! Updates will be posted sparingly.

-Dominus Trinus 13