Winter Wonderland (N.H)

8. First Meeting Jitters

Nikki's P.O.V.

Today is a big day for me. It is my first meeting running Winter Wonderland. I'm nervous because I don't know how some will take it. Many know I have been involved since I was a child, but I know someone is going to have something to say. 

I was up all last night planning what to go over in the meeting today. I took a shot of espresso at midnight to keep me going. That says enough. Sleep is for the weak when there's much to prepare for. 

I always knew a lot of work went into this, but now realizing how much extra time goes in, I gotta give Marie even more credit. It does also make more sense why she would be the one in charge because she is retired, so she has more free time on her hands. 

Looking over my notes one last time before heading off I take out my red pen and make a few changes. I need to make sure I have all the topics I need to discuss noted. There really is no time to waste. 

Angie was about to rip my head off last night because I was on a video call with her for hours going over everything. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and some of these ladies already are going to be watching every move I make just waiting for me to fuck up. There's a group that's literally like stereotypical PTA moms. They are not to be messed with and I really don't want to step on their toes. 

Grabbing my keys I head out to my car to warm it up and calm myself down. I throw my bag next to me. Turning on the heated seats, I lean back and take a deep breath in and out. 

Before even giving my mind a second to rest my eyes are shot open. I look over at my bag and realize it looks pretty empty. Fuck me. The binder. 

I am so dumb. How could I almost forget the binder Marie gave to me? That literally has all of my notes in it. Okay, calm down Nikki. You caught it before you got all the way there. This is a good sign. Deep breaths. 

Shaking my head I hop out of the car with my bag, bracing the cold, and walk back inside. Seeing the binder just sitting on the island I grab it and slip it into my bag. I now can make my way to the Community Center and start getting things set up. 

I make my way to our usual room and pull my laptop and binder out. The room is pretty dull, not much to it. the walls are a beige tone with a few drawings some kids have done in one of the classes that happen here hanging up. There's a random wall that is just a mirror. I guess one of the dance classes also happens in here. I don't know, over the years I've become so used to it the mirror has just blended in. 

Time to get this set up and maybe run through everything briefly one last time. I feel like I'm preparing for the presentation of my life. Almost as if this presentation counts for half of my grade and if I do horribly, I fail the class. 

Pulling up the PowerPoint I can hear footsteps approaching. Please don't let it be one of the ladies in the 'PTA mom' group. Seriously, anyone but them. 

"Hello?" I hear a faint girl's voice say. 

The sound of footsteps are approaching closer before they come to a stop. A head peaks in and a sigh of relief hits me. 

"Maya, hi!! What are you doing here early?" I walk up to her and pull her into a hug. 

Maya is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. I wouldn't consider us best friends, but she still is a very good friend of mine. Our moms were the same age and both loved being a part of Winter Wonderland. Once we were old enough as kids to help out they started bringing us. Maya and I became friends through that. 

"Well, Marie told me everything about you running this and I knew I had to come early. No way was I going to chance Stacy and her crew coming in early to start shit." 

"Maya you literally scared me. I really thought you were her or one of the other PTA moms. Words cannot express how relieved I am to see you."

Maya flings her purse onto a chair, takes off her coat, and pulls up another chair. She kicks her feet up on the other chair and rests with her hands behind her head.

"So, are you going to give me a practice run over what you will discuss today or did I show up early to just wait for Stacy and her crowd to appear."

Maya knows me too well. When I was maybe 10, my mom had me give a speech at Winter Wonderland. The speech was maybe no more than a minute and I practiced for days. I was so nervous. 

I remember Maya wanting to hang out and instead I just practiced the simple speech, that I would've had the script in front of me, almost the entire time. So she knew I would be a nervous wreck for today. 

"You know me too well. I guess I'll get started we don't have much time."

I walk over and start the slideshow over again and bring my notes over. Clearing my throat and taking a sip of tea that I made when I got here, I started my presentation. 

After I finished, Maya gave me some notes on ways to get the point across and make the presentation quicker. Maya always hates the meetings even though it covers everything we need to know for the event. She's always doodling on her piece of paper but somehow makes it look like she's engaged in what is being said. 

She was definitely making edits to help me but was also doing it so my meeting will be short and she can get out of here sooner. I don't blame her.

We finished with still plenty of time left, so we decided to catch up. I had to let her know about Niall or else if she found out from Angie before I told her, it would be game over. I would never hear the end of it. 

"So a millionaire bumped into you and because you dropped your croissant that leads to the two of you going on a date?"

Maya's eyes are just in a gaze after hearing the whole story. I can see the disbelief in her eyes. She knows how I haven't really even been in the dating scene or even thought for one second of trying to find a boyfriend for a while now.

"Well, it wasn't a date. He's just new in the area and wanted to find some friends. I clearly was the first person he really bumped into, quite literally. I mean I like him, but I've only spoken to him two times. I did give him my number so I'm hoping we will talk soon."

I look down playing with the thin white silk scrunchie on my wrist. I'm not overthinking him not texting me already, it's more of what if he doesn't actually like me and really just wants to be friends. I just don't want all these people hyping me up only to be let down because I got too much in my head.

"Maya just don't too much into this, please. He said he was trying to make new friends. I doubt he even likes me. Out of everyone he could have, why would he like me? I'm not that interesting."

Maya lightly slaps the back of my arm and gives me a look. I look back at her with a 'what did you do that for' face. 

"Nikki, he could've just bought you a new croissant and moved on, but instead he wanted to get to know you better without even knowing you. I mean sure, maybe he really is just looking for a friend in the area, but look at you! You are stunning. There's no way he doesn't have some attraction to you." 

"I'm just trying not to get my hopes up too high. he's a really nice guy and I don't want to ruin even just being friends with him because I may like him just a little."

Maya tilts her head and gives a quiet 'yeah sure' response back. Looking up at the clock I see that it's quarter of which only means people will arrive soon. At least Maya was here to pass the time.

And sure enough, someone's heels clicking appear louder as they approach the room. As if my luck could've been any better, there she stood in all her glory. Stacy has arrived.