Little Montgomery: A Station 19 Story

Chapter Nine: Nick Sperling

Hartley's POV:

It's been about a week since the car crash, and I finally get to go back to school today. At lunch I sit by my locker again, eating the mac and cheese that Travis made me. Towards the end of lunch a boy I've never seen before walks up to me and sits down next to me.

Nick: Hi.

Hartley: Hi. I'm sorry, do I know you?

Nick: It's my first day here. I'm Nick, Nick Sperling.

Hartley: I'm Hartley Montgomery.

Nick: Nice to meet you.

Hartley: You too.

Nick: I don't mean to be rude, but how did you get that cut above your eye?

Hartley: Oh, I got in a car crash.

Nick: You said that rather calmly. Are car crashes an everyday occurrence for you or something?

Hartley(laughing): No, but I get hurt a lot, so it's not much of a big deal for me anymore.

Nick: Ahh, a daredevil.

Hartley: Most people just say clumsy, but that sounds cooler. So, what made you want to transfer here?

Nick: My dad got transferred from Brooklyn.

Hartley: What does your dad do?

Nick: He's a stockbroker.

Hartley: Ooh, fun.

Nick: What about you? What do your parents do?

Hartley: I live with my brother and his boyfriend. They're firefighters.

Nick: Lucky, firefighters are pretty cool.

Hartley: Yeah, they're great.

Nick: I'd like to hear more about your firefighter family, they seem interesting. Would you, by any chance, want to hang out after school?

Hartley: Sure, sounds fun. How about, say, the coffee shop down the street at 4?

Nick: I'll be there. Can I get your number?

Hartley: Sure.

We exchange numbers as the bell rings, and then we go our separate ways to our classes. He's really different, I kind of like that. When the bell rings for the end of school I text Travis to let him know that I'm getting coffee with a friend and won't be at the station before I walk to the shop. When I get there Nick is sitting at a table in the corner with two mugs. He pulls out my chair for me when I get over to him.

Nick: Hey.

Hartley: Hi.

Nick: I got you a hot chocolate with whipped cream, I hope that's okay.

Hartley(smiling): That's my favorite. How did you know?

Nick: Sweet people like sweet things.

Hartley: You're very charming, Nick.

Nick: Well you're beguiling, Hartley. So, tell me about yourself.

Hartley: There's not much to tell, I'm a very boring person once you get to know me. You'll get bored soon enough, trust me.

Nick: Try me.

Hartley: Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you. I grew up as a foster kid until I moved in with my brother Travis a few months ago. His boyfriend Emmett lives there too. They work at station 19, and the whole station is kind of like my family.