1 | Almost Happy ▷ Sam Wilson | ✓

8 - TOO EARLY FOR THIS

NICKY WENT UNNOTICED IN HIGH SCHOOL. Most assumed that if one wasn't popular, one was most likely bullied, but that wasn't the case, at least not for Nicky. No, he wasn't popular, but he also wasn't one to make himself known, so he was never bullied and he never really witnessed any severe case of the sort, which was saying much as he liked to think himself as a very perceptive boy, even if he was younger than most, if not all, his peers.

"Nicholas, we need someone to work tech again!"

Nicky didn't have to turn to know who was shouting down the hall. While he did go unnoticed, it wasn't to say that he was completely shunned, he did have one friend at the school, one that he loved and cherished, even if she was a bit too much at times for his introverted self to handle.

Kimberly Trainor, a junior like himself, though actually sixteen unlike his fourteen, she was an aspiring actress and a very large presence at the school, involved in leadership and all of the school performances, more inclined towards drama whereas he was towards choir.

"Sure, I thought I didn't need to sign up, I've been doing tech since freshman year," he said, though he automatically knew he would be called out on his exaggeration, and Kim never did disappoint.

"You didn't do the third show of freshman year, nor the last two shows of sophomore because you were caught up in choir, which is perfectly fine, but that doesn't mean we know we have you on board," she said, and she used that patronizing voice that had him inwardly sighing; she meant well, and he loved her to bits, but she still saw him as a middle schooler, and it never ceased to upset him.

She must have seen it on his face, because she looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Nicholas, you know that I don't mean to."

He just shook his head and closed his locker. "It's fine. When's tech week?"

She shook her head as well. "Doesn't matter, I'll let you know when we get closer to the date, okay? Hey, Sam."

Nicky turned to see Sam Wilson walking along with some of his teammates from the football team. He smiled and reached out, giving her a small hug before turning to Nicky and greeting him briefly.

"How's it going, Kimmy?" he asked, because only Sam ever called Kim 'Kimmy' and it was a wonder why they weren't dating, what with how close they were.

"It's going good, you think you might try out for the play this time around, we need more guys," she sang with a hopeful smile which dropped when he shook his head.

"Sorry, Kim, I can't, I'm already swamped as it is, and I need to help my sister with her homework since we can't afford a tutor..." he trailed off, realizing that others were around him, and Nicky pretended not to listen, pulling out his sheet music and scanning it.

Sam caught on and seemed to relax, grateful that at least one person around him wasn't about to pry, unlike his teammates who already started whispering. Ignoring them, he said, "Nick, you trying out for a solo?"

Nicky froze and raised his eyes to meet Sam's own, shaking his head and answering softly, "No."

Sam looked disappointed and Nicky couldn't help but feel elated at the fact. "Why not? I've heard you sing, you're really good, it'd be nice to have someone who can hit the higher notes who isn't a girl. Nothing against girls, it's just we'd wow more people with a guy."

"Doesn't count, he hasn't hit puberty," one of his teammates laughed, but was immediately silenced by a sharp jab in the stomach by Sam who glared at him.

"That's not funny," he said coldly, "He can actually sing. Until you can actually carry a tune, keep your head on the field."

Nicky watched, horrified, as his friends stalked away, the others more tentative than the one who had incurred the boy's wrath, leaving Sam alone with him and Kim.