It was 7:00 pm on a Saturday evening, Jada and Nancy were seen outside waiting for taxi in front of Aunt Kat's house. The girl returned back home two days ago and made up with her Aunt.
Anyone who sees two teenage girls late in the evening can tell they are heading for a party or going to see a movie but in Nancy and Jada's case, they were invited to a house get-together by Nancy's girlfriend.
Tara was included but she had told her friends to go without her since she was hanging out with one of her guys and was not available.
Nancy was dressed in a short black skirt and a white shirt, she also wore her newly bought loafer together with white socks.
Jada wore her usual big shirt and a pair of jorts, also with her white sneakers.
After some minutes of standing, they found a taxi which drove them down to the house Jada's girlfriend had texted them.
The girl stood outside, waiting for Jada's taxi to arrive, and as soon as she saw Jada come out of the car, she sprinted to her and hugged her so tightly as if they had not just met earlier that day.
Jada chuckled while hugging her girlfriend.
Nancy stood behind them, with her hands on her back while glancing around.
Jada held her face and kissed her for some seconds.
"Hey Nancy… come on in, everyone already chilling in there", the girl said while holding hands with Jada as they walked in together.
Nancy smiled and followed them gently, she entered and saw more unfamiliar faces than the familiar ones she knew in Westwood, part of the familiar faces were Emma and Jasmine, turned out they were friends of Jada's girlfriend.
Nancy tried to avoid them but the girls immediately walked up to her, they were all glammed up as usual, their strong fragrant almost choking Nancy.
"Hey Nancy… I didn't know you knew Beth, are you two close?", Jasmine asked.
Nancy knew the girls didn't know how to mind their business and always tried to know every detail and everything going on in Westwood and here they are again.
She sighed softly and turned her head to Jada and Beth who were talking and laughing on a cushion with drink in their hands.
"Beth is Jada's girlfriend and Jada is my close friend so here I am", Nancy answered.
Emma and Jasmine gasped in surprise.
"I didn't know Beth liked girls", Emma whispered to Jasmime who had also agreed with her head.
"Wow that is so amazing, she kept it so good from everyone", Jasmine added.
Almost immediately, Nancy leaned forward to kiss Beth.
Emma and Jasmine stared in disbelief.
"It doesn't look like she is hiding it, you two just didn't notice… you should be happy for them", Nancy added before walking away from the girls.
Emma scoffs, "Who does she think she is, talking to us in that manner?",
"So feisty", Jasmine added while folding her arms.
Nancy had enough of Emma and Jasmine in everyone's business, she had wished they were not in that house but unfortunately, there was nothing to do, so she walked out of the house from the back.
The cold night breeze brushed against her exposed thighs, she walked down the staircase leading to the garden.
It was peaceful, watching the rustling of leaves and the sound of distant chirping of crickets.
She sat down on the staircase with her hands on her thighs.
"Nancy?".
She knew that voice, why would he be here right now? Is it her hallucination, is the voice real? The girl could not tell, she ignored the voice and shook her head in disbelief.
He walked down the stairs until he was standing next to her.
Nancy felt the presence next to her, she turned her head and looked at his leg, slowly up to his face.
"Nolan?!", she exclaimed and hurried up.
He was the last person to expect to be there at that moment, she stood right in front of him staring at his happy expression, and his eyes lit up in excitement on seeing Nancy whom he was not expecting to meet at the get-together.
"What are you doing here?… I didn't know you come to this kind of…", Nancy paused, she smiled and sat down.
"Kind of party?", he added before sitting next to her.
"Well… I was invited by my friend, his girl invited him and he didn't want to be here alone, so here I am, sitting next to the pretty Nancy I was not expecting to be here", he answered while smiling at her.
Sitting there together with Nolan was all she ever thought she needed at that moment as if they were the only ones left in the world, their own world, under the night stars, surrounded by a pretty garden, smiling at each other.
"I also came here with my friend Jada, her girlfriend invited us", Nancy answered while avoiding eye contact with him.
He nodded and glanced around before returning his eyes back to her.
"Why am I always seeing you whenever I didn't think I would see you", he softly said.
Nancy looked at him and their eyes met, she immediately looked away and smiled coyly.
"I should be asking you that Nolan, why are you always showing up", she answered.
He laughed and immediately noticed her hand grabbing her exposed thighs.
Nolan removed his jacket and without asking, he placed it gently on her thighs without skin contact.
She watched him carefully, her eyes following his every move.
"How did you know I was cold and are you not cold yourself?", Nancy softly asked while staring at him.
He gently licked his lips and took a glance at the flowers in the garden.
"I just know things", he answered.
There was a short time of silence between them and during these times, Nancy was smiling at the romantic gesture Nolan just showed her, she didn't want the night to end.
"When i see gardens like this, it reminds me of my mom…", Nancy said, knowing Nolan was listening, she looked over at the flowers and smiled.
"I remember she used to pick the best ones and sell them out, she would never let me touch them though…, she would always say i could ruin them with my clumsiness", she giggled.
Nolan joined his hands together as he listened to Nancy, without looking at her.
"What about your mom? Is she in New York?", he asked.
There was a long time silence and it was at that moment Nolan knew he should not have asked, he looked at Nancy and saw her sulking expression.
"I am sorry… you don't have to talk about it, I am sorry I asked about it".
She shook her head and gave him a gentle smile.
"You can ask… I have always avoided talking about her and Dad for so long and I think I can now… I don't want to ignore that conversation anymore", she said while staring at the tree and how its leaves danced to the rhythm of the night wind.
Nolan felt the sadness in her voice, he wished he had not mentioned it.
"They died in a car accident…. And that is why I had to move down here to live with my aunt… it was not fun at first because I had to leave everything I grew up with in New York but I guess it was for the best like my Uncle had said", Nancy explained.
"Only you decide what is best for you Nancy", Nolan said, he immediately saw her face turned to him, and he continued. "I am so sorry about your parent, I am sure are proud of what you have become and what you will become", he added.
Telling Nolan about her parents felt so right, no moment had ever felt right than that night, looking into his eyes.
Her heart raced, and electric waves ran through her body sending shivers down her spine.
He stared back.
There is a sense of trust and vulnerability, it is as if they are sharing secrets, an unspoken bond that only they can comprehend.
Nancy breaks eye contact and sighs softly.
"Thank you", she said.
He nodded and smiled.
The loud guffaw of the teenagers from the house caught their attention, Nolan laughed as he rubbed his hands together.
"Bet they are enjoying themselves in there", he said.
"Do you wanna go inside?", Nancy asked, looking at him for a response.
He shook his head rapidly, "It is better here with you than in there…", he answered.
Nancy inhaled and exhaled sharply.
"Guess you are stuck here with me then.." she smiled.
"I am not complaining, who wouldn't want to sit next to a beautiful girl?", he said while looking at her.
Nancy chuckled softly, she looked at him.
They started at each other, laughed, and looked away.
"Are you going to prom?", he asked.
Nancy shook her head, "No! Are you?".
"No".
She turned her face again and realized he was already staring at her.
Their eyes lit up with affection, both filled with joy and nervousness as they stared into each other eyes intensely.
Everything around her went quiet and all that mattered was Nolan, she didn't care about anything else, she just him.
He slowly looked down at her lips and saw how glossy and perfect they were, he looked up at her eyes again, there was nothing in the world he wanted more.
The sound of their breaths intertwines, creating a symphony of desire, longing, and anticipation.
Nancy knew what was about to happen and she wanted it so badly.
She stared down at his lips, which seemed ready to explore hers.
He noticed her eyes on his lips and as if she gave him a go-ahead, he slowly leaned forward and this time she had looked up, their eyes met again, heart pounding in sync as Nolan leaned so close that she could feel his lips almost meeting hers.
"This is it…", she thought and closed her eyes.