another pic of Nolan up top ^
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The next day, Sky and I are sitting in my car, doing the last touches on our makeup before we step outside to meet Nolan and Jacob at the Apple Festival. It was the perfect place to hang out considering it is about an hour and a half from Charleston so I don't have to worry about running into anyone I know. I straighten out the scarf around my neck.
"You look great," Skylar says before I even ask her. She smiles at me, then points to where Nolan is standing on the sidewalk with Jacob waiting for us. Once we meet up with them, we go through the introductions again considering last time didn't go as smoothly as possible.
We start walking along the crowded, blocked off streets that are lined with all sorts of booths. I can smell different types of foods as we walk, not really being able to distinguish what foods they are. There is faint music playing from somewhere down the street.
We walk in mostly silence, just taking everything in around us until Jacob breaks it.
"So..." He trails off, "What the hell is an apple festival?"
Skylar and I can't help the laughter that escapes our lips. Nolan just slaps his back jokingly.
"You have a lot to learn, dude," Nolan says, squeezing Jacob's shoulder.
"Clearly," he says, still confused.
We keep walking, eventually finding the source of the music, and also finding the source of one of the smells. We eat our apple pies at a small picnic table on the sidewalk.
"So Jacob, how did you and Nolan meet?" Skylar asks, and takes another bite.
He swallows the bite he was chewing. "Fourth grade," he says curtly.
"Jacob broke my wrist," Nolan supplies.
Skylar and I exchange inquisitive looks. They both seem extremely calm, like it was no big deal.
Nolan takes in our facial expressions and quickly explains.
"Our AAU teams played against each other. Jacob went in for a drive, and I tried to take a charge."
"But I could not be stopped," Jacob says, in an extremely cocky tone, and a smirk on his face.
"Hey, Jacob, your narcissist is showing," Skylar says, and takes another bite.
I hear Nolan let out a small laugh from next to me.
"I don't get it," Jacob says, another confused look on his face, which causes us all to laugh a little harder.
Nolan starts talking once the laughter dies out. "So, how did you and Skylar meet?"
I let out a small laugh. "We met in 7th grade, but we were never really close until freshman year."
"She paid me to bring her breakfast in the morning," Skylar butts in.
"Yeah, I did that," I nod, a somewhat proud smile playing on my face.
After we finish our apple pies, we make our way around the festival, looking at the different booths set up. Eventually we find ourselves on a street that I assume is for mostly kids due to all the fun games that line the sidewalks.
We are still walking when I hear two gasps from next to me and suddenly Nolan and Jacob are no longer by my side.
Skylar and I exchange an amused look, and then finally spot them at a particular booth. Once we get closer, I can tell why they got so excited. The booth we are standing at is a shooting booth, and Nolan and Jacob are both holding basketballs, getting ready to start their turn. Skylar and I walk up next to them.
"Which one do you want?" Nolan asks, nodding towards the wall of prizes. I think about telling him it doesn't matter until a certain stuffed animal catches my eye. My eyes light up and I try to control the smile trying to break out on my face.
"That one," I say pointing to the giant white tiger that I've wanted since I was a little girl.
He gives me an amused look, but nods anyways. "As you wish."
The guy working the booth says go and I watch as Nolan and Jacob begin shooting. I stand in awe as both boys make every shot, something I thought was impossible to do in these games. When they finish, the guy working the booth asks them what they want. Nolan tells him, and he hands him the white tiger, which he then hands to me. This time I don't control the smile as well as it tugs my lips upwards. Nolan smiles back at me.
I break myself out of the blissful moment, looking towards the basketball booth.
"My turn?" I ask, looking back at Nolan. He gives me another amused look but pays the guy anyways.
"Whatcha want?" I ask him, handing my tiger to Nolan, while the guy hands me a basketball.
He laughs. "I'm fine with anything."
I shrug, and start shooting when the guy says go.
I end up making all but two, leaving me with a medium prize. Nolan doesn't seem phased though when I hand him the much smaller stuffed penguin.
We start walking back to the cars, carrying our prizes. Nolan throws his arm over my shoulders in a lighthearted motion, not knowing the way it's making my heart beat just a little faster.
"I'm proud," he says, lazily walking next to me.
"I did worse than you," I say, still bitter.
"I've had a lot of practice on those things. My family used to go to a fair every year, and I would save up all my allowance so I could spend hours at that booth," he says, I assume just trying to make me feel better. "And you almost did just as good as me, so imagine how good that shows you are."
"I am pretty good," I joke, in a cocky tone.
"Exactly."
We continue walking to the parking lot, light conversation flowing through the group. Nolan insists on walking us to our car and Jacob follows even though he complains.
"Oh hey," Nolan says, as I open my car door. "I have an AAU game on Friday afternoon in Chattanooga if you wanted to come. And I would be passing through Charleston to get there so I could give you and Sadie a ride?"
I think about it for a second, but already know my answer. "Yeah, that'd be great."
He smiles and I mirror it.
"Okay, just text me where to pick you up from," he says, gives me an awkward side hug, and then walks off to his car.
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I love this scene and the chemistry between Nolan and Maddi.
What do you guys think?
comment to let me know.
thanks for reading. love y'all!
-lauren <3
YOU ARE READING
It's About Heart
Teen Fiction"There is nothing more important than basketball to me. Nothing. Except her. She's more important than everything." ********** Nolan Carpenter has always been the subject of the spotlight. After gaining the position of co-captain of his varsity prev...
