Chapter 61
1063words
"I need help" he admits the next day during breakfast with his family. "I want to prove you guys wrong, but I don't think I can't"
"Why not?" His mom asks
"Anything I say is just an excuse none of us wants to hear. Just tell me I can do it" "You can do it, Nicki!" Penny says very unaware what her brother is going on about "I'm with the kid," their father adds.
Nico looks at his mom waiting for her encouragement, "I just have my doubts-"
Sighing Nico says, "of course you do"
"I'm not saying you can't do it, Nico! You can do anything, this is just a challenge you've never faced before."
Nico tries to understand his mother "and I know that" his mind trails off to the many tests at school, Matty. Christian. "But I got this ok?"
"Okay," his mom gives in. Maybe he meant it.
—
Darlington cares, so much so that Nico has to leave class because he's being summoned into the guidance counselor's office for an evaluation of his first few weeks at Darlington Academy.
"Thanks for coming, Nicolas"
"You called me on the intercom, didn't really have a choice."
She's been smiling the moment he sat down, "right, well since it's the ending of your third week here I just wanted to check in and ask how you're doing at our school."
How is he doing?
Let's think about that question, Nico has been having boy distractions left and right, from Matty and every other guy in his swim class. Also all the times he couldn't help but blatantly flirt with Christian Wallace, against Clay's wishes.
"Uh great" he lies,
"That's good to hear" the guidance counselor sits behind her busy desk flipping pages of the book in front of her. "I'm sure you were probably told this during orientation, but it's very encouraged here to have at least two extracurricular activities, a club, and a team."
Annoyed with always having to talk about this Nico asks, "is everyone in this school on a team? How many sports does one school need!"
"We have a wide selection to choose from" she hands him a handbook. "I'm already in a club, isn't that enough" he doesn't take it
"For now sure but college-"
"Is a long time away" he finishes as he stands "thanks so much Mrs..." he doesn't know her name "Miss Atherton, Athie for short"
"Cool thanks Miss Athie, but the things I need help with I can't talk about them with you. So I'm
gonna go back to class." He turns to leave Miss Atherton takes the chance to stop him, "that's not true, I'm here for the students. I'm like therapy honestly, and the things shared here stay here unless it's something I absolutely have to report." Nico thinks
The last few weeks he's told his parents nothing, he wanted to make sure they believed that he was crushing it. He doesn't really have anyone to divulge to so maybe the counselor's opinion couldn't hurt. But how much can he trust a guidance counselor?
"Say I have a friend who can't help but be distracted by boys, and they promised their parents coming here would help them change, but it's not working. What should they do?" Nico sits back down
It's common sense to know Nico was referring to himself, but saying it's someone he knows makes him feel a little better. "Help me understand, does this person actually want to change? Or was it a lie they just told?"
"They want to change"
"Do you believe they can?" Nico slightly shakes his head knowing it's true, he doesn't believe in himself "why not?"
"I think that given the opportunity to be with a boy they would take it." What Nico fails to realize because he lacks faith in himself so much, is that he's been handed this opportunity multiple times and always did the right thing.
"I could tell you basic things like your friend should have priorities and nothing is worth your education. But instead, I'll just ask, what do you think your friend will lose if they gave in to boys?"
Nico thinks about that question the rest of the day, what would he lose if he gave in to Christian? All he's been able to come up with is Clay, the one good thing to come out of going to school at Darlington.
"Hey, Nico" Clay walks up to him as he dumps his last books for the day, "Hey"
"So any plans this weekend? Specifically tomorrow?" "Nope" Nico shakes his head, "why what's up?"
"Well it's Chris's game and my parents always force me to go and support, but I was wondering-" "Hey Nicholas Sparks," Christian walks up to them
And Nico giggles, "shut up you're the one who admitted to reading his books" they both chuckle. Nico looks at Clay and stops laughing with his brother, "English lit joke" the class Nico and Christian share.
"Oh."
"So what are you doing tomorrow night?" "Nothing," Nico quickly answers
"I got a game at six, you'll be there?"
With the biggest grin "of course wouldn't miss it."
"Good, find Clay he never misses them, do you, little bro?" He taps Clay before walking away Nico focuses back on Clay after Christian is gone but it's too late Clay's feelings were already hurt.
Shutting his locker Nico asks "so I'll see you tomorrow night then?" "Yeah I guess you will"
"Ok Bye" Nico walks away and Clay sadly watches, he can tell what's happening and he doesn't know how to even stop it.
It wasn't obvious but Clay Wallace is crushing on his new friend Nico, it was easy Nico's funny, good looking, and nice especially to Clay.
Now he's not sure if he should even like Nico because Nico could just be pretending to be his friend so he can get with Christian.
"Where are you going?" Nico's mom walks by his room as he fixes himself in the mirror "Some game at school with a friend?"
"Some game?" She asks "what game?"
