It was morning in North Carolina, the trees hanging heavy from the morning dew. The sounds of distant cars honking and birds flying past the window filled the air.
No wind or sun or hint of rain, just the cool natural morning breeze that would make anyone want to keep staying in bed and not get up.
Nancy opened her eyes gradually even without the alarm, she got used to waking up early to not miss the school bus that always get to her Aunt's house super early than her last school.
Cleaning up did not take so much time for her, it was deciding what outfit to wear that took up most of her time. Nancy usually never cared about her outfits for school since she got here. Something had changed and she didn't want to admit it.
She found herself trying on so many clothes. Though she tried to convinced herself that she just wanted to look her best and not trying to impress anyone, she knew deep down it was a lie. She was putting in the effort because of Nolan.
"What if I met him again? What if I don't look good on this shirt? Should I change this jeans?".
It was a hard decision but after the whole process she found a hoodie and a pair of black pants with her black pair of crocs.
Her hair well brushed and smooth, her lips glossy as she had applied her lipgloss and kept it in her bag to use later. She took one last look before walking out of her room
The smell of bacon took over the house the instant she stepped out, her mouth watered as she walked towards the kitchen hoping to eat something before her bus arrived.
Nancy stopped walking, her eye brows pulled down and lips loosed, staring at the stranger in the kitchen. Shirtless but the only thing covering his chest was an apron and shorts he had obviously worn to sleep through the night.
The middle aged man turned around and saw Nancy standing few feet away with a frowning face.
He waved the spatula and grinned hard.
"Heyyy pretty lady, are you ready for school?", he said and got no response from her but her attitude didn't deter him, "you know your Aunt Kat left home very early today… she is such a hardworking woman, one thing I respect about her. She asked me to make breakfast for you and I was so pleased to finally feel among the family".
Nancy stared at the man with pity as he gave himself false hope.
He was the fifth man Aunt Kat would bring in the house that week and she had told all of them the same thing, they all thought they had a chance of marrying her Aunt.
Nancy sighed and looked away, she was mad at so many things, her Aunt leaving a stranger at home with her, knowing how uncomfortable that would make her feel even though she might trust him, and the second thing is she would miss breakfast today.
"Damn that bacon looked so good though", she thought for a second as her eyes glanced through the bacon in a plate.
She turned to leave, "I will be heading out".
Before the man could say a word, the girl walked out and shut the door behind her, the man was left speechless in the kitchen still holding the spatula and wondering what he said wrong.
"Teenagers…" he said and continued cooking, "I need to get used to her if I want my own kid someday with Kat, yes…." He added and started whistling and dancing in the kitchen.
Nancy's bus was early as she had thought, she did not have to wait outside for a long time before the horn of the bus caught her attention.
The driver was a nice ginger haired man, he never frowned at the students or yell at them. He was always smiling and wishing them luck after dropping them off at school.
"Good luck today guys", he said letting out a warm smile but as usual no student had time to respond to his wish as they were all busy talking or trying to fix their homework they had forgot to do.
They all marched out of the bus.
"Have a nice day today Mr Sam", Nancy answered before walking out of the bus.
Mr. Sam smiled and nodded, "sure will Nancy", he said loud enough for the girl to hear, the girl never missed a day without saying hi or wishing him a nice day.
She walked into her classroom and as usual, it was filled with students chattering.
As usual, Nancy sat down and pulled out her phone, ignoring some student's eyes on her immediately she walked in.
After a bit, the school bell rung and the first class started. Before the teacher could come in, Emma and Jasmine had approached Nancy. At first she did not notice them as the video of the last party was all over her instagram, she watched carefully.
"Did you also go to yesterday's party? I thought you don't like things like that?", Jasmine hastily asked while staring down at Nancy's phone.
Nancy looked up and saw the two girls next to her, she turned down her phone and let out a confusing smile.
"Yes… I went with some friends", she answered.
Emma and Jasmine were shocked at her response, Nancy has been quiet and had not been seen with friends since she got to school, so what friends is she talking about now.
"We just want to say sorry about yesterday, I mean the paint in your hair… glad you took it all out", Emma calmly said.
Nancy could not tell if that was a genuine apology or a mock, she has always seen the girls talking about other girls or just randomly mocking people out of nowhere, their apology right now seems genuine but she could not tell.
"It's fine", she responded.
"Hey cutie, good morning. It looks like the paint has left your hair, it made you look so smexyyyyy yesterday. You have no idea" Jackson had said while staring at Nancy from the front seat.
He was sitting on the table while his legs were on the chair, it was not his seat but he could not care less.
Half of the class had chuckled at what he said, he kept staring at Nancy waiting for a response but there was none.
"Who even said smexxyyy? And how is that funny?", Nancy thought.
Emma and Jasmine returned to their seat and whispering to themselves.
Nancy felt so akward in her classroom, she has always felt this way, there was no one in there she could think of having as friends. They either have their own group or they judge her every move.
The teacher came in, which had helped situations, everyone returned to their seat and the class started.
"When I talk to you, you respond. That's what everyone here does", Jackson said as he walked past Nancy.
'He's gonna be a problem as long as I'm in Westwood' Nancy thought as she looked back at Jackson who had returned to his seat.