69 days before 18^th birthday

Parties are loud.

And hot.

There are people everywhere.

So many different bodies drinking and smashed together.

I can feel the bass of the music vibrating through my feet.

This is so much stimulus.

I would have been overwhelmed already if it hadn’t been for Nuka.

He hasn’t left myside the entire hour we’ve been here.

We’re standing in a corner of the room with Gabe, Archer and two other guys from the hockey team, a shorter red-haired boy named Jordan and a ebony skinned guy who was nearly as big as Nuka named Ollie.

Despite the heat and noise, being around them is….

Nice.

They are clearly close.

Closer to each other than the rest of the team.

And they are funny, interesting, and smart.

And none of them make me feel like I don’t belong.

Some of the other people here do.

I know I’ve heard at least a few people ask why they were hanging out with the weirdo.

And several girls have been glaring at the arm Nuka had flung over my shoulder for a while now.

I don’t understand why they were upset by it.

I must be because I’m here and they don’t like me for some reason.

I’m trying to ignore it.

Nuka and the other 4 make it easier.

“Hey, Little Genius. It’s hot, loud and way too crazy for my taste, wanna go outside?” Nuka says right in my ear, his breath tickling my neck.

I nod and his arm moves from my shoulder as he grabs my hand, leading me past all the glaring girls and weird looks from the various intoxicated teenagers right out the front door.

I don’t barely even notice that the rest of the guys had followed us out.

“Dude, it’s insane in there.” Jordan says, taking a deep breath of the much cooler air.

It’s chilly out.

I think it’s going to snow.

I like the snow.

I hope it snows.

“Yeah, I thought is was supposed to be just the team and ma…. A guest.” Archer says, “This is bullshit. I hate when the other guys pull shit like this. They know we have a game tomorrow night.”

“You’re just mad because some girl rubbed all over Gabe earlier.” Nuka teases his friend.

Archer just crosses his arms over his chest and grumbles as a bright blush spreads up Gabe’s neck.

Nuka turns his dark brown gaze to me.

“I’m really sorry Iago. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be more mellow. We don’t party like this when we have a game the next day. I would have found something else for us to do if I had known it was gonna be like this.”

I just shrug one shoulder.

It was worth it to spend time with him.

“So, what now?” Gabe looks over at me, “LG what do you wanna do? We have some many things we can do! What is everyone feeling? We can go to hang at someone’s place. Maybe go skating? Or, OR, we can go for a run! Can we do that? Please? A run would be so much fun!! Don’t you think a…”

Archer didn’t bother using his hand to quiet Gabe this time, he used his lips instead.

Well…

I guess Nuka was right.

I look away cause…

Awkward.

Nuka chuckles.

I can feel the vibration against my side.

He had thrown an arm over my shoulder again and had pulled me close to him.

“Told ya.” He whispers into my ear. “Hey, loverboys, get a room or something yeah?”

Archer and Gabe slowly detach from each other and Gabe’s blush is back and for the first time since I’ve met him, he’s speechless. Archer leans in and whispers into Gabe’s ear, making the blush get even darker.

Archer grabs Gabe’s hands and drags him over to the side of the house. A minute later a medium sized Golden Retriever and a large black panther come back out front. The panther trots patiently and with determination while the retriever runs around it in a circle, tail wagging madly. With a nod from the panther the two take off down the road and away from us.

“Fuck! I thought Archer would fight it for another month at least.” Jordan says as he pulls out a 20 and hands it over to Ollie.

The larger man just chuckles and pockets the money.

“Hey Jordan lets go play x-box at my place. My sister’s home from college and it’s always hilarious for me when you try to hit on her.”

I’m not sure I needed to know that.

But I still chuckle.

“As much fun as THAT sounds, I was thinking about pizza and a movie, what do you say Little genius? Sound fun or I can drop you off at home.”

I look up and my eyes connect to Nuka’s.

It’s like drowning in hot chocolate.

My stomach flutters again.

My checks feel hot.

Fuck.

I’m always blushing around him.

I quickly look down.

Hopefully he wont notice.

Wait.

He asked me a question.

Did I want to go home?

No.

Not yet.

Indy’s gone anyways.

And I want to spend time with Nuka.

“A movie could be fun.”

I glance up at Nuka’s face.

That grin that speeds up my heart and makes my stomach do flips.

“Well then, lets go Little Genius.”

Nuka’s house is nice.

Very cozy.

We’re sitting on a huge, plush couch together, a bowl of popcorn in front of us.

Nuka had made me tea.

I’m fascinated by the teacup.

The saucer looked like a Phoenix. The cup itself is red with white and orange designs over it, the handle shaped almost like a feather.

It’s beautiful.

“My mom made it.” Nuka says his eyes on the television as he looks for a movie to watch.

“Your mom?”

“Yeah. She’s a potter. Her shop is out back. That’s one of her more… unique designs. She’s been teaching me but I’m no where near that good yet.”

He…

He makes things?

With clay?

He never told me that.

“You never said you liked pottery?”

Nuka laughs.

“I guess I forgot to mention it huh. Besides hockey it’s my favorite thing to do. I love creating things and there is something about clay, it can be so many different things if you just learn how to work with it. Plus, there is something so soothing and zen about throwing on a wheel. Mom say’s she’ll take me on as her apprentice, but I have to go to college first. I don’t get it; I have to go to college to learn about pottery before she’ll teach me more about pottery. What about you, are you thinking about college or what you want to do?”

Honestly, I have.

But I’m afraid to say it.

I told the guidance counselor once.

They said I was going to waste my potential.

I haven’t told anyone since.

“Probably college. My parents won’t make me go but they say if I don’t know what I want to do college is a good place to find out.”

“According to Mom, it’s good to learn from other people and they’ll teach me all kinds of art history and that it’s important for me to have the “college experience”. I get it I guess, plus I’ve been offered a full ride hockey scholarship.”

“Wow. A scholarship is a big deal Nuka. Plus, you get to study what you love, while your other passion pays for it. I’d say you’re lucky, but I know how hard you work.”

Nuka grins at me, throwing an arm over my shoulder and pulling me close to his side.

“Thanks, Little Genius. Sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve the things I’ve gotten in life but if you think I deserve them, then I must.”

And the blushing again.

How long till I stop blushing around him.

How long till he stops saying such nice things to me.

If anyone doesn’t deserve things, it’s me.

I’m the lucky one.

I don’t have to try too hard for the grades I get.

My parents are well off.

I’m starting to get friends that accept me.

My life is turning into something that can makes me really happy.

I don’t know what can go wrong.

example of what teacup might look like