Everyone has geeky qualities. When you get so passionate about something that all else falls away, you are 'geeking' out.
Being a geek has always been cool or trendy. It just doesn't hit until people are in their 20s or 30s. High school is socially awkward for everyone. High school is 300 people shoved together for four years all trying to figure out who they are. Tough stuff there for sure.