Chapter Text
Prologue (Summer)
What do we live for but to make sport for our classmates, and to laugh at them in return?
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July
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Nick was trying hard not to look overly interested as he slowly walked Nellie down the street, but his curiosity was officially piqued. The moving vans a few doors down were unloading furniture, and he wanted to catch a glimpse of the new family. His street was mostly quiet. Older couples whose children had moved out or were currently attending university, and a few families with young children. No one near his age.
Not that Nick really minded. He had a somewhat large group of friends. If you could call them friends. More like a large group of people that he talked about superficial events with. His friendships mostly consisted of rugby playing, light banter, and physical jostling. No one who he really discussed things with. Not that that was a problem - Nick knew he was lucky to have a close relationship with his mom, who was always willing to discuss his feelings. It would be nice to have someone closer to his own age to really talk with though.
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Tara lugged another box up the stairs. Yet another move. Another new start, having to make new friends, struggling to connect with people. Starting over was hard, but she was used to it. Her mother’s expanding career meant new job opportunities. It could have been worse though. It's not as though she had a boyfriend she was moving away from, or even a close group of friends. She had struggled making friends in the last city they lived in. She didn’t even think she wanted a boyfriend, given the relief she felt when the few first dates she had been asked on never materialized into a second date.
Looking out the window of what was her new bedroom, she glanced up and down the street. It was quiet, with few cars or pedestrians. There was one boy around her age walking a dog, but that was all she saw. She supposed she should meet him, as he was likely attending Truham-Higgs with her. Perhaps in this city she could find a group of friends to really connect with.
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August
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Nick buckled Nellie’s harness to get ready for her morning walk. The walks were a little more fun now with a bit of company. A month had passed since Tara had moved in. Nick was struck by her beauty, but both had quickly realized there wasn’t a romantic spark there. Nick was never big on dating anyway, and he had found something better - someone to just talk with. They were becoming fast friends, and Nick felt like he had a comfort level with Tara that he didn’t have with his typical group of friends.
Most days Tara accompanied Nick on at least one of Nellie's two walks. Nick told her about the various students at the school. The different cliques that naturally formed within their age group. His frustration with only being seen as a “Rugby Lad”, while also being grateful that he was popular and well liked, and didn’t have to encounter some of the teasing that others at the school went through. His frustration at some of his acquaintances' behavior, but feeling powerless to change it, and unsure how he would even go about it.
Tara in turn confided in Nick about how hard it was to move to a new city, and start all over again. About how nervous she was at the prospect of meeting new people. Nick chuckled to himself when thinking about Tara’s contagious laughter as he had tried hard to describe different people who she would be meeting at the end of the month once classes started. Some of his classmates knew Tara’s name already - Nick had received a few questioning texts and comments from his mates after posting some silly pictures Tara and him took during one of their walks. Nick had immediately denied all romantic intentions to his friends, but of course that was all they thought of and the snide comments continued.
It probably wasn’t that big of a deal though - anyone Tara ends up with would be a lucky person. Her sparkling personality and genuine warmth contributed to their friendship, and she would make someone an amazing girlfriend. But they had both laughingly concluded after one failed attempt at an awkward kiss that it certainly wouldn't be him. The kiss itself had been a fortuitous event though, as it had allowed them to move beyond the question of what their relationship was, and relax into an easy and close friendship that only grew over the remaining summer months.
It was during one of these walks, that Nick had his epiphany. What better way to start off the year than a back to school party before classes begin. This way Tara would have faces to go with names, and hopefully could meet a few more people, and maybe be a bit more comfortable heading into the new year. Tara had mentioned one other person she had met at a summer art class - Elle - who she had a passing relationship with, but nothing close. Knowing more than two people before the school year sounded like an excellent idea.
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Elle glanced down at her phone as the Instagram notification went off. Tara Jones. She remembered meeting Tara and having a few conversations with her. Tara was new in town, and had signed up for a weekend painting class that Elle was also attending. They had spoken in passing, but nothing deep. She seemed nice though.
Tara: Hi Elle! My friend Nick Nelson (do you know him?) is throwing a party for back to school. I want to meet people before school starts, and would love it if you could come. Please bring any of your friends along as well!
A popular-person party. This could be interesting. Elle was already laughing at the imagined response from Tao, but she had to admit it could be fun. She pulled up the group chat that consisted of her close friends: Tao, Isaac, Darcy, and Charlie.
“What is everyone doing this Saturday? I may have an intriguing proposition...”