Elise unlocks the back door to her house as she always went in the back. But in this case she had given Nolan a chance to pop into his house and grab whatever he needed to come and stay over as her father had offered. It had been a bit awkward since they said goodbye to the Beaulieus and walked the rest of the way alone together. She felt like they were kind of grasping at conversation topics and failing a bit. Stefan was home so maybe he’d suddenly become the life of the conversations. Although it wasn't likely with someone he just met. Stefan was a lot shyer than the rest of the Girards. And when they walked in after taking off their shoes Stefan was fast asleep on the couch that was going to eb Nolan’s bed that night when it folded out. Now Elise became the mean older sister and hoofed her brother in the leg with a kick “Steffi!”
Stefan looked like a mini younger Andre without the glasses and with shorter hair. Elise’s tiny sprite-like build clearly came from the mother’s side.
“Ow fuck off! I’m sleeping.” He tried to roll over.
“Steffi get up. You’re in Nolan’s bed.” Elise chuckled after as her brother sat up like a shot.
“Who the what….Nolan?” He hadn’t paid attention to anyone’s name but Brett because of all the bad news.
Now Elise smiles and looks between Nolan and Stefan “This is Nolan, our neighbour. Did you turn off your phone or something? His mom...had a heart attack outside the courtroom after the entancing. She’s ok but he’s crashing here tonight.”
Stefan’s waking brain works slowly “You’re Brett’s brother.” It’s not a question and his expression is hard to read.
Nolan had stopped by his place and packed a single bag with a complete change of clothes and a toothbrush. He also tossed in his laptop, in case he couldn’t sleep that night. His mind was still whirring from the days events. The walk hadn’t exactly helped. They couldn’t seem to really talk, but he figured it was because of what Brett had done as well as his not being as smooth as his ass of a brother. They go into the Girard house by the back door and Nolan watches the siblings interact. Stefan calls him ‘Brett’s brother’ and he nods. He expects to be called a lot worse before he was called anything better. “Yea. I am.” he admits, still awkward about everything.
Elise gives Stefan a look “He’s Nolan.” She corrects, differentiating him from Brett “They’re nothing alike.” She says firmly. She couldn’t explain why she was so awkward. I mean all the stuff of the Brett thing and then the day and his mom….well it was all part of it but she just felt oddly nervous too.
“Ok” Stefan said with a shrug and got up “All yours Nolan. Nice to meet you.” He started to walk off and then spun and had a pressing question “Who’s your hockey team?”
Elise looks curious too. She wasn’t sure if Nolan was a hockey guy or not.
Nolan looks gratefully at Elise at the correction of his name. He wasn’t expecting it every time, but right now he appreciated it. More, she said he was nothing like his brother. “Yea. He’s the blonde with the perfect blue eyes. I’m just me, I guess.” Then he is on the spot about his hockey team. “Vancouver Canucks, I guess.” he replies immediately. “I can't sleep here now?” he asks. He knew how Canadians could be about hockey. He liked it and even played it, but he never got obsessed with it. Looking over at Elise he suddenly realized this might be important. She was a hockey nut. He suddenly remembered.
Stefan gives Nolan a sort of double hang loose gesture as he walks away “As long as it’s not Winnipeg….you’re allowed. Mind you we burned them….” He smirks “Go flames Go!” And he’s up the stairs to his room.
Elise rolls her eyes about the blonde hair and blue eyes thing “The blue eyed blonde thing isn’t what everyone is looking for. I mean unless we’re talking about Hitler right?” She makes what could be an awful joke and then cringes at herself and laughs “Vancouver Canucks is acceptable yes.” She teases. “I’ll go get you some bedding but you don’t have to make up the bed until you want to sleep later. Unless you’re tired after...everything...I mean with your mom and stuff. Then I can clear out if you need a nap.” It was still late afternoon before supper. She moves towards the stairs as the sheets are tucked away in her room free from the leave in the washer musty smells.
Nolan arches his brows and smiles anxiously. Then Elise rolls her eyes and he can’t help but shrug. “Well, yea. I guess.” he nearly stammers. She moves to get bedding for him and he shrugs. “I’m not really tired.” he admits. “Just been a pretty fuc … messed up day.” he tries not to swear. He still feels incredibly odd being here and he watches her go around the corner to the stairs and then looks around the living room. Walking to the window, he looks out to the front of the house and sort of stares. It really had been a rough day and he can’t get Brett’s pointing out of his head.
The Girard house was a very relaxing space. Not too cluttered but with aspects of who they were represented all over. The furniture was not new but in decent shape. The living room where Nolan would sleep had a brown corduroy feeling couch, the pull out and two matching chairs. There was a TV on a cabinet with some gaming consoles inside. There was a small bookcase but it had more magazines than novels and from the spines they were mostly Dive magazines and National Geographics. On the walls were underwater scenes that could be places the family had dived, a coral reef in one, a strange undersea town in another, and lots of colorful fish. There was also some gorgeous Metis art, some beaded and some painted, solids and dot art and an old violin that looked like it hadn’t been played in generations. There are family photos of the Girards with the kids at various ages in natural places, a few underwater in scuba gear, school photos and the like. Elise and Stefan were recognizable but there was also an older daughter it seemed, much older. And there was a sort of almost shrine to an older woman with many pictures of her with the kids, especially Elise. The dining table and chairs are a simple painted blue wood set and there’s a sort of low cabinet beside it with another large painting above it.
Elise had heard Nolan’s self filtering about swearing and gave a curious shrug. She could only imagine how fucked up he did feel about this day yet he held back expressing it fully. She took a set of butter yellow double sheets and a light patchwork quilt and a pillow from the top shelf of her wardrobe. They smelled of the wood of the wardrobe and a bit of just Elise. She smelled like lightly floral bath products and laundry soap and so did everything that lived in her room. She set the bedding at one end of the couch and started putting a pillowcase on the uncovered pillow “For whenever you crash. It’s a pretty standard pullout couch so easy to deal with.” Elise looked a little awkward again “Do you want a drink or anything? We have pop, tea, water from the tap….” She felt like she should be a good host.
Nolan had gotten a good look at the living room and dining room, although he hadn’t gone into that room. He didn’t want to leave a big footprint in this house or be a burden in any way. When Elise came back down, he was still standing and bit his lip when he realized she’d brought down a whole set of sheets and a pillowcase .. and even a pillow. “You don’t …” he began, looking very awkward himself. She offers him a drink and he hesitates. She is being a hostess, but that usually fell to him. “I … um … water … is good.” he tells her. “I can wash the glass afterwards. No problem.” he shifts his weight from one foot to the other, looking at the sheets on the couch. The whole thing was pretty awkward for him on so many levels, but he just doesn’t know where to begin. Maybe an apology? She is the only one he hasn’t straight up apologized to. And now he’s been invited into their home for the night as a guest. “Yea … that…” his not wanting to be a bother becoming a bit more obvious.
Elise sets the pillow down all fixed up “What? It’s no big deal.” Then she heads to get them each a glass of water “Uh we totally have a dishwasher…you don’t need to hand wash glasses like a barbarian.” She opens it “which I need to empty because that’s still my job until my Dad tells Stefan we’re trading. “Come in here and keep me company?” She will hand him his water when he walks in as she starts putting things away from the top rack.
Nolan shrugs at her mentioning it's not a big deal and that they have a dishwasher. “Well, I do a lot of pre washing .. it was usually only two of us so filling the dishwasher takes like a week if I’m not cooking out of big ol pots and pans.” he defends himself and he takes Elise’s order for him to join her as that more than a question. He joins her and watches her from the small island. Drinking his water he takes in a breath afterwards and tries to talk. “Elise … Listen. I wanted to apologize to you … for … that night. Brett … used me to stall you so he … could … be Brett I guess. I … didn’t know … I .. wasn’t … you know … just …. I’m sorry.” he looks into his water, as clearly all the smoothness is in there.
Elise looks impressed that Nolan is so….domestically inclined. “Fair enough.” She keeps unloading now on the bottom rack and then stops after a stack of bowls goes in the cupboard as Nolan apologizes. She walks around to him and looks at him earnestly “Hey...I know you didn’t know. I didn’t for awhile and I was upset...but I know you weren’t helping him get to Gen now. I’m sorry I misjudged you. I didn’t know you….I mean I’m still getting to know you. But I do know you’re not at all like Brett. And for what it’s worth, I know I blew you off the night of the party. I was in a bad mood and that night went where it went….but I feel like I was a bit rude to you. I’m not normally rude and you weren’t stalling me on purpose. So let’s wipe that slate clean?” She thinks for a minute and then formally reaches out a hand to shake and then looks at her hand and laughs “K that’s dorky….can I just give you a hug? I mean your mom just had a heart attack and I feel like you might need one.” She hesitates in case he actually says no.
Nolan manages not to draw back when Elise approaches him and gives him her take on that evening. He smiles and sets his glass down, ready to shake hands, but then she withdraws it and suggests a hug. “I…” he realizes that one of the reasons he went to talk to her was because she was pretty and he liked her. Now she was offering a hug? That was consent, be thought and nods. “I … kinda do … yea. If you're ok with it.” he doesn’t move. She’ll have to initiate it. His brother scarred more than just Gen.
Elise is short and Nolan is taller, and unmoving. So she walks up to him and stands on her tiptoes reaching for his shoulders “I’m ok with it…..but you might have to …” She giggles “do some of this too if it’s going to work.” She marvels at his...was it shyness? Or was he just really shaken up from the day? If she can get him to open his body posture and let her hug she will wrap her arms around the back of his neck and shoulders and lean into him with her head sort of leaning on his upper arm and shoulder on one side. Elise gives good hugs so she’ll hug in a way that makes Nolan feel like someone cares. And if it all works out she’ll also feel a slight jolt at their connection and an odd shift in her being that is simultaneously a comfort and discomfort.
Nolan blinks when she tells him he will have to be an active participant in the hug. :Oh .. yea .. right…” he bends to hug her, wrapping his arms around her a bit awkwardly, as if he doesn’t do a lot of hugging. Then he feels a sort of jolt and his eyes fly open. His arms tighten around her a bit and he closes his eyes again. It’s not too tight but it is familiar. It feels familiar, but while he loves it, he also worries about his control. And when to let her go. He worries there may be the same awful things in him that are in his brother and he’d never want to hurt Elise … or any one like that. But holding her is more a comfort than not.
Elise inhales Nolan from his shoulder and arm and closes her eyes. Hugging him feels like perfection after his awkwardness abates. She could happily just stay here but it dawns on her she’s meaning to hug him, not just take what she needs from this, so she gives Nolan a little squeeze and then politely starts to let go. Now she gets awkward “Ok...that was nice….um I should finish the dishes. Are you from a huggy family? I mean you and your mom...my family is….well they have no personal space sometimes I swear.” She laughs.
Nolan gets the hint, but doesn’t want to take it. But ultimately, he does and releases Elise. He also gets awkward, at first, remaining close and finally stepping back. “Yes .. it was nice.” he agrees. Then she asks about his family and explains about hers. “My mom needs a lot of hugs.” he shrugs. “I guess that’s pretty obvious.” he chuckles a bit at her family leaving no personal space. He can’t relate, but it seems the thing to do. “I’ll try not to get greedy, I promise. But if I can ever return the favor … yea …” he clears his throat. “Is there anything else I can do to help?” he asks. “I’m not really used to just … being in this role, I he admits. He remembers both their conversation ‘that night’ and the channel she has that she doesn’t know he watches. “Is your brother in charge of cooking? I mean … I could get dinner on …”
Elise blushes a bit “You mean get greedy about hugs? I’m a pretty huggy.. friend.” She wasn’t sure if that’s what they were becoming but she would use it as a place marker until she figured it out. Then he seems to want chores and offers to start dinner? Elise has to giggle and before she can stop the words she blurts out “Oh my god you’re adorable.” Then she blushes again and blinks “I don’t know who’s cooking tonight but there’s often a plan based on groceries. Let me text them and see.” She pulls out her phone and starts tapping away.
Nolan gapes when she mentions that she’s a huggy friend. Is that what they were? Then she giggles at his request to be put to work and calls him adorable, which causes him to go crimson. “I … OK … I can work with … you .. I mean … your food .. I … the groceries.” now he can’t talk, so better to cook so he can fill it and stop chewing on his feet.
Elise now looks rather amused. Nolan was adorable but she better not make it weird and say it again. She got a text back. “Apparently we’re having lazy cabbage rolls and my Mom says go for it. Damn it sounds like they’re busy. I should have gone in. I work in the Dive shop too but more on an as needed basis. Cheri, my older sister works there...well until the fall. She’s a teacher. She’ll be our science teacher.” Elise smiles at Nolan “ Ok team effort since you like to cook.” She washes her hands and starts piling ingredients on the island; a couple onions, a bulb of garlic, 2 cans of tomatoes, a big bag of rice, a nice big head of green cabbage, a frozen package of ground beef and a package of bacon. Then she pauses “You’re not a vegetarian are you?”
Nolan watches her. Was she smiling at him? He’d take it. “I’m sorry.” he realizes that she’s not working because they’d been supporting Gen which was because of his brother. “Oh .. science … gotcha.” he looks at her smile and moves to take his turn washing his hands. He looks at the island and the ingredients. “Nope. Love meat.” he confesses. Then he winces a little. “But I bet they’re gonna put my mom on a diet .. so … meat me up while you still can.” he almost jokes, then thinks that might be weird but feels odd about backpedaling.
Elise exhales dramatically “Fwew. I don’t even know what we’d feed a vegetarian in this house. My Uncle is a trapper. We’ve eaten some weird stuff. He can’t mail it through so we’re more normal here.” He nods about his mom “Yeah they probably will. But there are lean meats...chicken, fish, turkey. Didn’t you tell me before you made her sushi? I was listening.” She takes out two cutting boards and two big knives and then a giant and deep fry pan and a pot and lid for the rice. She sets up the rice first “Can you chop the onions and garlic please Nolan?”
Nolan looks interested in her weird foods, but when she mentions that she had actually been listening, he smiles a smile to melt the heart. “Yea. She likes Japanese food, and I was thinking maybe switching over to a pescatarian diet since we both love seafood.” his smile remains charming, but softens a little as he gets the guts to try and be smart. “Maybe make a friend or two to feed me weird foods.” he nods and turns to the onions and garlic. “No problem.” he peels them and chops like a professional.
Elise had just put on the rice to boil when she saw Nolan’s full disarming smile and just breathed as she stared at him. She already thought he was cute but that smile made her forget what she was doing completely and she got all flustered for a moment as she refocused “Oh ...fish is glorious. I love Japanese food too.” She stirred the rice and stuck a lid on it and set the timer. Then she gave her head a little shake and opened the bacon. Finally she got brave enough to smile back again. Maybe she could make him do it again. “You are welcome to come over for all the weird foods.”
Nolan is relaxing in having something to do. He chops and she comments on Japanese food. Then she tells him he is welcome to come over for weird foods and he looks up at her, full on smiling again. “I’d love that.” he murmurs and it is one thousand percent true.
Elise sighs audibly at his smile but she’s figuring out how to stay lucid. God damn Nolan was cute. She smiles back and then nods at his chopping “Look at you. How long have you been cooking?” She starts heating up the small fry pan and laying strips of bacon down in it. “Does your mom cook too? We kinda take turns here. Stefan’s even ok at it. With the shop, and we had a similar one in Banff, well it’s just who’s home to do it.”
Nolan can’t seem to stop smiling. “Um … I’ve been doing it off and on since I was maybe eight. Then most of the time when I turned nine. My mom was always working, and so tired when she got home. So I just took up the slack for her. I like it.” he chuckles. “She says I am highly trainable.” he listens to how they take turns. “I was reading about this thing called once a month cooking. So that way I can do what my mom wants me to do, and still give her a break from everything.”
Elise almost drops the bacon as she flips it over with a fork. It’s that smile of his. She could just kiss every bit of it. At that thought she blushes deeply and then focuses on hisi words, making herself look away “You’re really good to your mom. What do you mean by once a month cooking? I mean it sounds like you cook all month…”
Nolan makes a small pile of the chopped onion, then one of the chopped garlic. He looks at her and feels strange … at home … which he obviously is not. “My mom’s a great person and she made a couple of mistakes, but she’s really trying to make life good for us.” he doesn't specify if us is just she and him or included his brother, or even his father. She turns to the bacon and he answers her. “No it’s something where you cook a really large batch of something that freezes well. Then when you want to eat it, you can just that it out and heat it up.” he explains. “So I could spend like a day cooking and then go out and … do stuff like my mom wants.” he fiddles with the garlic. “Make friends, study. Even maybe the hockey team.”
Elise listens to Nolan “It’s going to be hard for your mom...but it sounds like well I don’t know what happened before. But it’s got to get better right? I mean I know he’s your brother but he’s gone and maybe that will help you both. I have a bias I know. I can’t imagine how I would feel about Stefan if he hurt people like that...hurt women…” She shudders “I’m sorry.” She nods about the big cooking day “My Kokum used to cook like that sometimes. Mostly so she’d always be able to feed everyone who dropped in on her.” She looks thoughtfully at him “Your mom wants you to make friends and study….and cool...yu play hockey? Nolan, what do YOU want?” She fixes her gaze on him now.
Nolan’s smile fades a bit. He isn’t angry but he isn’t smiling happy either. “It will get better. His being gone can’t be anything but good.” he sighs. “Your brother is fine. Well, maybe not for innocent laundry, but …” he grins a little. “Kokum?” he doesn’t know the word, but he can guess. “Grandmother?” Then she moves on to his hockey playing and what he wants. “Yea. I play hockey.” he admits and then looks at her oddly. “Me?” he looks at her and one idea flashes through his head, but he pushes it back. “I … I want my mom to be happy and feel safe. I …” he considers. “I’m … not sure .. to be honest. I mean .. I like hockey, but I don’t know if I want to play hockey?” it comes out like a question. “I’m still figuring some of this shit out. I even got into therapy after Brett … went to the hospital.”
Elise nods and then looks a little emotional “Kokum means Grandmother in Michif...Metis. She died three years ago but she was amazing. I know my brother is not like Brett. I used to play ringette….and a bit of hockey. I’m sure your mom wants you to be happy and feel safe too Nolan.” She moves the small fry pan off the heat as the bacon is done. She gives him an encouraging look about therapy “I’m glad you’re talking to someone. It’s healthy to do that. My dad always says…” Now she puffs up and imitates him “You can’t keep that shit in.” She laughs and shrinks back down.
Nolan nods. He notes the language, but definitely doesn’t speak it. “Yea. I know she does. That's why we moved here. A fresh start.” he laughs at her imitation of her dad. “Your dad is fantastic. He must be a great Dad … then again Dr Beaulieu is also fantastic.” he scoffs a bit. “Not that I had a lot of experience with good dads, but I like yours.”
Elise smiles “Yeah he is. And the Beaulieus are all really nice. A fresh start……” She senses there’s a lot more to Nolan “Do you want to talk about what was before here? What’s the deal with your dad?” They’ve shared enough now that she feels brave enough to ask. Now she takes the big frying pan and drizzles some oil into it and turns on the big element. She just keeps cooking and hopes that Nolan talks to her. She starts sauteeing the onions and garlic.
Nolan watches Elise cooking and then she asks about his father. He has never talked to anyone but Dr SIngh about his father. He opens his mouth to tell her he’s not ready to talk, but what comes out is. “Flynn … my father.” he blows out a breath and continues. “He’s a mess too. Right now he’s in prison. Benefiting from Human Trafficking. This is the second time he’s been in prison for that. This latest time Brett got arrested with him, but he was a minor so … someone had pity on him, I guess.” he looks into the big frying pan. “My mom didn’t know.” He defends her. “I knew some of it, but Brett kept threatening me to keep my mouth shut.” he blows out a breath. “Mom moved us here in case Flynn gets paroled early. He’s … a real charmer. Just like his son. Brett, I mean.” he moves his eyes to the floor and their feet.
Elise can tell this is really hard for Nolan and she listens, looking at him every so often as she stirs the onions and garlic and then pries the frozen ground beef from it’s package and gets it both thawing and cooking with the rest. “Human trafficking?” She’s never known anyone connected to that world. “No wonder your mom moved you all….oh my god…” Her tone isn’t judgmental but her surprise is not hidden either. She turns to face Nolan “I knew you meant Brett….so now you have a shitty dad and a shitty brother in prison and you’re safer with them both on the inside of that….” Elise blows out a breath and steps to the sink to wash her hands. When she comes back she doesn’t say anything more but steps up to Nolan and unexpectedly pulls him into another hug “I did warn you I do this….but you can say no to them…” Elise had no idea Nolan’s life was this and it broke her heart for him.
Nolan notes her surprise. He’s glad he doesn’t hear any judgement. She washes her hands and before he knows it, he’s in another hug. Automatically his arms go around her. She tells him he can say no and he replies. “Never.” and he means it. He could hug her forever. Resting his head on top of hers, he just cherishes it. “Don’t let me take advantage.” he jokes. “I think I’m getting hooked.”
Elise laughs into Nolan “I think it would be me taking advantage when I just hug you with no question first.” She smiles when he says he’s getting hooked. She was too. Then she hears the food sizzling and sighs “I need to stir that…” She doesn’t move away from him immediately. But soon footsteps on the stairs make her back up and suddenly look busy with cooking like they’ve been caught in a moment.
Stefan saunters in and sniffs “I smell meat things. What are you guys cooking?”
Nolan feels her press into him a little bit as she laughs. It’s a great feeling. “You cna ask anytime.” he tells her and when she says she needs to stir, he doesn’t move either. But the footsteps make them both move. Stefan comes in and asks what’s cooking. “Lazy cabbage rolls.” he tells him. “I wanted to do something. If that makes sense.” but right now he feels a little like all he’s doing is standing and looking guilty.
Stefan grins “Can we do it without cabbage?” He jokes “Since you haven’t chopped it.”
Elise makes a face at Stefan “No….vegetables are good. But we should chop the cabbage next.” She smiles innocently at Nolan “Would you be so kind Nolan?” She’s trying to look like she hadn’t just considered how to spend the next hour snuggled in his arms.
Stefan snorts and then mocks his sister in a sing song voice “Would you be so kind Nolan…..man you should hear how she asks me to chop stuff.” He reaches for a piece of bacon and Elise’s hand rapidly slaps his.
“No! We need that for supper! Baconvore back it up or I’ll sautee you!”
Stefan points at Elise and looks at Nolan “See….vicious…” He stalks into the living room and flops on the couch clicking on the TV.
Nolan smiles at the sibling banter. He moves to the sink and washes his hands until Stefan leaves, then he moves to the cabbage, pausing as he passes and murmuring. “I would love to.” and goes to the counter to chop up the cabbage. “So … school in a couple weeks … You ready?” he asks casually, not knowing how nosy Stefan is. If he’d had his way dinner would probably have burned for his holding Elise.
“Only to you Steffi.” She retorts. Then she smiles at Nolan “Thanks.” She shrugs “School is inevitable. But I am looking forward to theatre. I’m glad they have that here. Other than that...I mean pencils, paper, hoodies and toques to hide under in case I want a nap in class.” She half jokes. It’s happened. “What about you?”
Nolan begins preparing the cabbage. “Welcome.” He listens to her talk about school. “That’s right … you act.” he remembers from … was it really only late that very morning? “Me? Well, I’ll try out for hockey. I like it well enough and it sort of helps me get out my frustrations. Please don’t tell my mom that part. I’m afraid she might think … you know .. get the wrong idea. And I’m about to turn 15, so same age as ass hole until January.” he considers. “As long as I can keep my grades up with everything going on. Maybe I’ll start going to plays.” he only half jokes in his turn.
Elise nods “I’ll send you links to my old YouTube channel. We did parodies of stuff….the Banff Babes. But yeah I was in school plays too.” She looks like she gets it about the hockey and frustrations “You need an outlet. It’s a good thing. I mean there are worse things than cross checking someone on a bad day right? I used to let my stress out in ringette. I wasn’t very good though so eventually it ended.” She smiles “Well I’m 15 so you could think of it as the same age as me instead….until April.” She beams “You better come see me if I get a part.”
Nolan makes the cabbage the perfect size as they talk. “I’ll definitely subscribe.” then he laughs. “Yea. Much worse.” he replies, sardonically. He looks at her when she mentions her birthday. “I think I’d like that. When in April?” he wonders. “And I will definitely come to see you if you get a part. I promise.” he pauses and licks his lips. “Elise, can I ask you about the toque? I mean .. it’s August … Do you wear it for fashion? Or do you have a bald patch no one knows about? What’s up with that?” He loves the hair he’s been able to see, but he is curious. “Feel free to nail me with a frying pan if I’m out of line.”
Elise holds up a finger “Two channels now because I started on here during my quarantine. But you should totally subscribe to the Banff Babes because there’s a whole history there and Emma and Ava are still doing awesome things.” She smiles “April 19th.” Elise laughs and laughs about the toque question. “No it’s fine and I am not remotely bald.” She takes off the toque though to prove it. Her hair is luscious and shiny, long and straight black brown, parted down the middle. She shakes her fingers through it a bit to get rid of hat head and looks at her toque “I have a bunch of these so they’re always clean. I’m little.” She holds out her arms like she’s on display “In case that wasn’t obvious. I get chilly faster. And I’m used to Chinooks and weather that changes with no warning. Plus I like toques so I guess it’s both.” She starts opening cans of tomatoes next but leaves the toque off “I don’t wear them underwater when I dive.” She jokes and then says more seriously “And some teachers get pissy about wearing them in class so I take it off when they ask. I’m not trying to rebel.”
Nolan considers how honest he should be and errs on the side of caution. “Um … I sort of know about the other one … I’ve watched it.” he holds up his hand. “I’m not a stalker, honest. I just … sort of wanted to make sure you were OK after … all of it.” he makes a note of her birthday. He missed it, but he can make up for it next year, and then he’s surprised he had that thought. Then the conversation goes to her toque and she takes it off. He tries his damndest not to stare, and he wants to run his fingers through it as she is doing. She turns to open the can of tomatoes and he blows out a bit of a shuddering breath. “I get it ….” she is small … or he’s tall … or maybe both. “You have great hair … really. And hugs could keep you warm.” he blinks when those words spill out of his mouth. “I mean … I .. I run kind of hot so … I …” he closes his eyes. “Um .. is there anything else I can do for you?” he opens his eyes and inwardly groans.
Elise beams that he’s watched her channel “That’s awesome and I don’t think you’re a stalker. Although sadly that channel seems to have one who just keeps making endless accounts. So as long as you’re not Trucker Dan we’re fine.” She jokes. Then as she’s dealing with tin lids he compliments her hair and says hugs could keep her warm. His hugs? Yes please. She feels her cheeks burn from blushing so hard. Was Nolan flirting with her? Then he said he runs hot and before she can stop the brain to mouth connection she blurts out “Yeah I definitely noticed you’re hot…...warm blooded….warm…” Then she just laughs “Fuck…” She mutters and then dumps the tomatoes in and stirs and flips the mixture all around “Can you chop up the bacon please Nolan...it’s the last thing.” She’s about to just confess her attraction and take on what could be a terribly awkward conversation when she hears her parents coming in the front door. They always tend towards the front since it’s where they stash their shoes and keys.
“Smells good in here!” Andre calls out as he kicks off his shoes and his keys drop into a small pottery bowl. “Steffi you let Elise and Nolan do all the work.” He teases as he sees his son on the couch.
Stefan arches and turns “Too many cooks Dad…..spoil the pot right?”
Suzette walks in, toes out of her shoes and drops her purse by the bowl. “Oh it does smell good.” she looks at her son and rolls her eyes, then moves to peek into the kitchen. “Do you kids need any help?” she asks. “And hello Nolan. I’m Suzette.”
Nolan just snorts at the mention of TruckerDan. Then Elise says he’s hot and he realizes that they are flirting. What was the matter with him? Flirting with an irresistible girl the same day his brother is sent to juvie and his mother has a heart attack. Then there are keys at the door and parents arrive and they are like a bucket of cold water. He heads for the bacon. “Yea … I can do that…” he begins and looks at her mother. “Hello Mrs … um … “ she introduced herself as Suzette but manners tripped him up. “Suzette?”
Elise smiles as her mom walks in “Hey Mom we’re almost ready here.” She head juts at Nolan “We have a very helpful guest here who can cook. How was work?” She watches Nolan trip over what to call her mother and suppresses a grin. He was so freaking polite it made him somehow more adorable. She gave herself a shake. What were they doing? Her day had begun being there for Gen and then Nolan’s mom had a heart attack. This was a very odd time to start something. Maybe it was just flirting….maybe he was just being nice...or flirting to distract from all the stuff. She kicked herself for hoping it was more because she already wanted it to be.
Andre breezed past Suzette and Nolan and Elise but called back “Hey...no toque…..are you finally becoming a normal kid? We have no Chinooks here Elise or their opposite….the weather is just the weather.” He opens the fridge and leans in grabbing a can of beer “Suze do you want a beer?”
Stefan pipes up from the other room “I’ll have a beer…...a root beer please!” He laughs at his own joke.
Elise rolls her eyes at her brother but then says “Actually I want a root beer too now. Nolan, do you want one?” She sets down the utensil and lines up behind her dad at the fridge.
Suzette grins as Nolan stumbles about what to call her. “Mrs Suzette.” she places a hand under her chin, as if thinking. “No .. how about we just stick to Suzette. It’s alright.” she knows a little bit about this boy and hopes to put him at ease. “Yes to beer, please.” she tells her husband and rolls her eyes at her son.
Nolan is, in a way, fascinated with this family. They are so natural. But he keeps watching Elise out of the corner of his eye. He got a feeling .. but decided that he would die before he came close to acting like his brother. She would initiate .. whatever. Then her mother tells him exactly what to call him and he nods. “Suzette. Right. Sorry.” Elise asks him if he wants a root beer and he nods, a little more relaxed than when he first walked in this house. “Yes, please.” he keeps chopping up the bacon as he goes. “SHould I set the table after this?”
Suzette smiles at Nolan, impressed with his work ethic. “No, Nolan.” she turns to her son. “Stefan can set the table and start earning his own supper.”
Stefan hears his mother and pauses the YouTube video he’s watching. He knows not to make his parents ask him over and over. But he does groan a bit “I have been doing ALL the laundry Mom….so much laundry.” He heads for the cutlery drawer.
Andre grabs two beer and a rootbeer, knowing Elise is getting for herself and Nolan after and steps towards Suzette, putting hers down where she can reach it with a little nuzzle into her cheek and a kiss “For my lovely lady.”
Stefan makes a face “Ugh you two…”
Then Andre scoffs at his son “Someday you’ll get it. About that laundry…..you and Elise are trading. You’re on dishes and garbage as of tonight kiddo.”
Elise comes back and hands Nolan a rootbeer, not at all phased by her parents display of affection. It was sweet to her but she was passed the age of embarrassment about everything while Stefan was still in it. But she does comment on the laundry after seeing her brother’s look of protest “You leave loads in the washer forever and it makes them stink. I’m taking over the laundry. I’ll keep the vacuuming and floors too and alternate on the bathrooms.” She sets down her rootbeer and goes to grab plates to serve up the food on.
Stefan sulks but sets the table.
Suzette looks at her son. "Yes, you did do ALL the laundry, but you took like 24 hours to DO it, and you made all the clothes smell musty." that was a pet peeve of hers as well. Then she returns Andre's kiss and smiles, reaching up to caress his face. "My handsome man." and then she looks at Stefan and rolls her eyes like a kid. "Oh god, they just don't understand! I LOVE him, Stefan!" She mock wines.
Nolan listens to Suzette and keeps his opinions to himself. This was a family thing. He takes the root beer and smiles. "Thanks." He still loves this dynamic, especially with the parents. He knew his father had begged his mother not to leave him, but when they were together he was either never around or not showing his mother a lot of affection when he was. If he can, he'll help Elise with the plates.
Elise puts a serving on each plate but passes them off to Nolan to put on the table at the spots Stefan is creating with settings. She doesn’t ask Nolan, she just falls into sync with him easily. When it’s all laid out she walks back to the fridge for sour cream and a spoon and sets that in the center of the table. Her parents usually sit at either end so she gestures to the chair beside hers for Nolan with a little smile. She had considered sitting across from him but then figured her need to stare at Nolan might be creepy and way too obvious. If Nolan takes the seat she’ll sit down quietly beside him.
Stefan plunks down across from Elise and gives her a weird look about all the gesturing as he answers his mother “It’s mushy...and we have a guest. Oh sit down you two already. I’m literally starving over here.”
Andre looks at Suzette the same way he did when they were dating. He’s steadfastly and obviously in love and he doesn’t care if it grosses out the kids. As he’s about to sit though he pauses “Napkins…” He heads to a drawer as they tend towards cloth napkins and brings out a stack and passes them around. Then he sniffs one and makes a face “Yeah I smell it….Stefan you have never known the meaning of the word.”
Elise sniffs her napkin too and grimaces “Nope….I’m getting paper towels. I’ll rewash these.” She jumps up and heads back to the kitchen and brings back a roll.
Suzette sits and gives her son a look. "What does a guest have to do with expressing affection to the man I love?" she demands, then waves her hand. "Never mind.'' She also sniffs her napkin. "And thank you, Elise. It gives you twice the work, but it'll show in your allowance."
Nolan sits where indicated and watches the napkin drama. He spares himself the smell and just waits for his paper towel.
Dinner was pleasant after the napkins were switched out. They talked about school coming up, the Dive shop, life on the island. The Girard family kept it pretty light for Nolan after his emotionally heavy day. There was contact from the clinic even after supper. Sharon was doing well but sleeping and the nurse on duty recommended just letting her have the rest she needed. Stefan did the dishes as was his duty now and then he got a message to go online and game with some old friends from Banff and he disappeared into his room. Since the living room was Nolan’s bedroom as a guest, and it seemed Elise was being a great host and becoming friends with the boy Andre suggested he and Suzette watch something in their room and said goodnight. It was getting later and they tended to crash earlier than their teenagers. They trusted Elise to handle things.
Elise sat on the couch with Nolan as they were now suddenly alone “Do you want me to clear out and give you your bedroom for the night?” She asked casually “Or we could watch something together...I’m easy to entertain so you choose.” She was sitting at the opposite end of the couch with her legs leaning to one side. She had on black leggings and bare feet with a red plaid shirt over a black tank top. Kind of her uniform. The toque had not gone back on though. It was still on the kitchen island.
Nolan actually had a nice evening. Dinner was good. Conversation was light. He got reassurance about his mother. And finally it got a little later and he found himself alone downstairs with Elise. She started by asking him if he wanted her to leave him alone and he replied without even thinking. “No.” he sat with her. “I mean .. TV sounds good. If you’re okay with that.” he sat back and took in a deep breath. This had been a roller coaster of a day for him. And Elise had been the best part of it. He looked at her hair and grabbed the remote. “Um … Looks like a Parks and Rec marathon …” he clicks over in the middle of an episode and sits back on the couch. He leans back and then looks up at the ceiling, not knowing what to say. Part of him wants to tell her that he has no idea why but he’s really comfortable around her and would love another hug … or six … But what comes out of his mouth is a little more streamlined. “Thanks, Elise.”
Elise was immensely relieved he wanted her to stay. Then she gasps happily “Oh I love this show…..oh my god this one is great.! The Women’s studies class….I love Andy….he’s so dorky in a good way…..And I played April in one of the Banff Babes parodies. I think I bombed it….I haven’t got her whole resting bitch face thing going on at all. Stop smiling Elise...Ava kept saying…” She laughs and stretches out her legs accidentally putting her foot on Nolan’s thigh “Sorry…”
Nolan is happy with the episode. He grins. “I’ll watch that one first thing.” he promises of her parody. “I can see how that would mess up April, though.” she stretches out her leg and puts her foot on his thigh. “No .. no it’s .. it’s fine.” he tells her, looking at her. “You can get comfortable. It’s fine. You’re fine. It’s fine.” he sounds nervous, but not dissuading.
Elise nods “Yeah I make a better Ann or Leslie….” Then he gets all nervous and cute again while telling her her foot is fine and to get comfy so cheekily she fully stretches out and puts her legs across his from the knee down and crosses her feet. “You sure?” She’s totally teasing him now and looks like she’s amusing herself. Her feet are very tiny and her legs are light and slender.
Nolan grins. “Leslie knows what she wants and goes for it.” he almost says no but then her legs are on him and she asks if he’s sure. “I … yea .. I .. if you … yea.” he stammers and drops his hands .. on her legs. He snatches them up as if they're hot. “I’m sorry.” he isn’t sure what to do with his hands, so he moves the one to rest on the ouch under her feet and by his thigh. That leaves his other hand. He can put it on the cushion, but then its near her waist. Or he can put it on the back of the couch, but that makes him look mockingly cool like some kind of ass hole bad boy. So his hand hivers over her leg as if he wants to touch her but won’t or cant. She hasn’t told him what she wants and he’s realizing that anyplace his mind goes comes out cringy and unwanted. But he wants to touch her. Hell he wants more.
Elise watches Nolan and feels that little jolt again when his hands drop on her legs just briefly “It’s ok…” It really is with her. Then he rearranges his hands and one just hovers awkwardly and she decides to be helpful and takes his hand in hers boldly and drops both their hands together just under her knee on top of her legs “If I’m making you uncomfortable I can move. I was kinda being cheeky. You’re SO polite….” She giggles a bit. Elise couldn’t stop looking at him now.
Nolan feels a tiny jolt as Elise takes his hand and puts it where she wants it. “I’m not … uncomfortable.” he tells her, looking at her, nearly mesmerized. “I … manners …” he isn’t sure how to tell her how it feels for him. “Elise … I’m not him …” he tells her. “Maybe that makes me TOO polite but … I can’t ….” he sighs. It’s an odd feeling. He wants to be around her. Wants to talk to her. Wants to touch her, but if he isn’t a thousand percent sure she is consenting, he can’t do it. And he already knows that might be the most ironic problem he’s ever had in his young life.
Elise listens to Nolan looking seriously at him and taking in the words “Not him….not Brett?” She looks pained “Nolan, I know you’re not him...oh my god….k that maybe explains the mixed signals.” She sighs and just says it “I like you...I mean I like like you.” She laughs because it sounds like such an elementary school way to say it. “And I’m not….worried you’re going to do something bad. Believe me, I’ll tell you if you if you do something I don’t like or don’t want. But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself in saying all this….because I keep wondering if you’re flirting with me or just being nice. Since you’re so polite.” She smiles and tries to steel herself for any answer.
Nolan blinks. Had he been sending mixed signals? He’d been trying to be polite and non invasive, but also to tell her… “Not Brett .. not my father.” he sighs. “I don’t mean to send mixed signals because I like like you, too.” he looks relieved when she tells him that she will let him know if he steps over the line. “Elise. I … I’m kinda .. no … I am TOTALLY new at .. all of this.” he admits. “I … guess I’m flirting? I’m trying to flirt, because I want you to like me. I just .. totally have NO idea what I’m doing.” he pauses and takes a deep breath. “Will you go out with me?” he asks in a way that makes a sentence a word and then closes his eyes as if he expects her to slap him for his cheek, laugh at him or explode like a video game character.
Elise exhales in relief. He did like her. “Nolan you’re you. I like you and yes I’ll go out with you. And for the record you were actually flirting and doing a damned good job of it.” With his eyes still closed she leans forward and pulls him into a hug since they seemed to have some comfort with hugging now and she really liked hugging him. She’s at a bit of an awkward reach since she had been leaning back so her hug is a little outstretched.
Nolan sags in relief. It was mutual. Mutual was good. “I was .. thank you …” and then she is hugging him. He thinks it's probably OK and tries to adjust them so they are both sitting, but she may wind up in his lap. “God, Elise I can’t tell you how much better I feel now.””
Elise is easy to move since she’s quite light so with little effort she does end up in Nolan’s lap and figures he’s done it on purpose, which she’s fine with. She keeps hugging him and just snuggles into him laughing into his shoulder “Me too…..I know I’m not dealing with your stuff. I wasn’t sure if I should even say anything because I didn’t want to add to the pile of it….but I’m here for you and I’m really glad you ended up in our house. I’m really sad it’s because of what happened to your mom though…..and Gen...and Dante….and you for your whole damned life. I guess I felt selfish making it about whether or not you liked me when there’s all THAT.”
Holding Elise is the best feeling Nolan can ever remember feeling. It’s like a .. tingling all through his body. He scoffs a little. “Elise.” he pulls back without loosening the embrace. “You are the best thing to happen to me all damn day. More..” he nods a little. “I’m sad about that too, but now .. I can face it. I don’t know what that means but it's how I feel. My whole life has been kinda .. strange. I’ll tell you all about it someday, I promise. But I felt the same as you.” he takes in a deep breath. “OK … we’re going out. Anyplace you want. I’m gonna be old fashioned, at least this time. I’m paying. Maybe the next time you can and we can switch off or something.” he doesn’t realizes he’s suggested there will be a second date.
Elise smiles sweetly at Nolan and nods and then has to giggle “We’re planning dates while I’m sitting in your lap. This is adorably ass backwards. Alright...what do you like to do on the island? They have a movie theater….we could go to a movie. Maybe your whole life being strange is just a part of you….like so you can face anything else? Like your mom and her health? We should maybe wait to go out….I can help you with her. I mean if she wouldn’t be freaked out...some girl she doesn’t really know in her house.”
Nolan looks panicked for a second. “Fuck … I did it wrong?” he has a playbook in his head. Dates before kisses but hugging was part of kissing. He looks pained. “I’m sorry, Elise.” he sighs. “Well … It would be nice to actually go to the theatre instead of staying home and cleaning while mom thinks I went. But you’re right.” he rests his head on hers. “Maybe … if you want to help … “ he laughs a little. “If you’re with me, you’re fine. Mom will tell me she’s fine and to go out and have fun. And I will … “ he considers. “Is it a date if it’s in my house with my mom? You know dinner? Sort of like here without the musty napkins?”
Elise was both patient and compassionate. Nolan had had a strange life and a hell of a day. She reaches up and runs her hand over one side of his hair “Nolan you didn’t do anything wrong. I was kidding. Plus there’s no order. It’s not like math. We won’t get a different answer if we answer the equation in the wrong order. I’m not an expert...on math OR relationships. I’ve had a few and they’ve been...well I dunno learning experiences where I probably didn’t learn as much as I should. But as for dates...I mean this.” She half hugs him again “Is rather date like….and sweet. We didn’t plan it and that’s ok. And yeah we can have dinner with your mom and call it a date…..heck we could watch grass grow and call it a date….a really long date because that can take a while.” She's trying to be funny now. “I do want to help if you need it.”
Nolan leans into her hand when she runs it over his hair. He listens about other dates and it sounds like they didn’t go so well. “You know more than I do.” he tells her and leans into the hug. “So … dinner with Mom, then watch the grass grow. Sunset next. Then sunrise.” he doesn’t consider the implications of that last one. “I … probably do need the help.” he admits. “Maybe not AS much tomorrow night, but … maybe come over around 5? I should have Mom resting and know what the doc wants then. And she’ll be thrilled to meet you. Someone to help me help her.” he chuckles.
Elise giggles at his progression “Sunset then sunrise?” She clear her throat “In the same 24 hours or different days?” She’s totally kidding and from his last stress about it she decides to be clear “I am teasing you Nolan and ok for 5pm. Can I bring you guys anything? Sushi stuff? I have a lady I buy things like fish eggs from….guess she’s my sushi supply dealer. I keep telling her to open a shop. She used to have a whole restaurant….”
Nolan realizes what he’s said. “No .. not like that .. I mean not now…” he stumbles until he realizes she’s kidding. He looks relieved. “Yup … 5 and sushi would be great because we all love it.” he looks impressed. “You have an egg dealer. Cool.” Elise is still in his lap and he looks at her. “Can I give you another hug?” he asks. “Hell, I might even sleep tonight …”
Eiise just smiles at him. They had run out of Parks and Rec as they had been ignoring it and talking. Time had sped up maybe...but it also felt like 5 minutes since supper. “Yes you can give me another hug. I guess it might be a hug goodnight then….it’s getting late.” She leans forward and starts to hug him first and then turns her head and kisses him on the cheek.
Nolan has no idea what time it is, but the roller coaster day he’s had is catching up to him. Elise begins to hug him and he feels her lips on his cheek. Most likely he can feel that cheek moving as he smiles. Once the kiss is done he looks at her and hesitantly shoos her off of his lap. “Yea … it’s getting late. Man I can feel it.” he stretches out on the couch and its actually a little short for him. The sheets are on one end, but he was only planning to stretch and then stand and pull the couch. He does, turning his head into the pillow. He can smell Elise and he hugs it to him, nearly oblivious to her still being there. “Mmm … night Elise… than….” he is half curled up in the pillow and doesn’t manage to finish the sentence when he falls deep into sleep.
Elise gets up and sees Nolan is really exhausted. She’s not surprised by it at all. “Oh do you want to pull….” And he’s already lying down and starting to drift. She looks at him scrunched on a too small couch and sighs with a smile “Goodnight Nolan.” She takes the light quilt and lays it over him, tucking it around him a bit. Then she leans down and gives his now sleeping face another light kiss on the cheek before tiptoeing up to her room. She falls back on her own bed and pulls out her phone and is pretty sure Gen is asleep but sends her a text:
Coffee tomorrow? I have to tell you a thing about a boy.
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