Nicole had been a cheerleader for as long as she could remember. Cheerleading was her whole life. Her older sister had been a cheerleader, and so was her mother. It was practically in her blood. She didn't just love cheerleading, she was good at it. She was a national champion, and she had a very promising future. She was taking a full ride scholarship at a university.
One of the people that she attributed her success to was her coach, Mr. Newman. Raymond Newman, to be exact. He had been her coach for all four years of high school, and now that she was off to college, it would be a bittersweet farewell. He'd been one of the people to see her potential, and suggest she take the scholarship.
Nicole found herself in Mr. Newman's office more than she realized. They'd formed such a close bond over the past four years that she felt more comfortable talking with him than any other adult, besides her parents of course.
In fact, once she'd made up her mind about school, his office was exactly where she'd ended up. He'd greeted the petite blonde with a smile, not even curious about what she was doing in his office when she had a class to be in.
"I made up my mind," she informed him, a big smile on her face as she sat down. "I'm gonna take it."
"That's amazing, Nicole. I'm so proud of you. They're not gonna know what hit them," he replied with an equally as large smile.
"I'm so nervous," she confessed, leaning against the desk. "What if I'm not as good as they think?"
"You are as good, if not better," he assured her, before he leaned back in his desk. "Tell you what. How about tonight we go out to celebrate? I know you love Mario's; we could go there and celebrate your success. You deserve it."
Mario's was an Italian restaurant in the city. Nicole did love it; so much so that her parents had taken her there for her birthday with the team, including Mr. Newman. Although it wasn't exactly the norm, Mr. Newman had taken her and the girls to places before to eat so she didn't think too much about it.
"Sure," she agreed. "It is a Friday night. Why not?"
"Alright. I'll be around by seven," he told her and she smiled, standing up from the chair.
"Deal. See you later, Mr. Newman!"
She waved to him before she walked out of his office, leaving the man staring after her. She was his favorite, there was no denying that, but he told himself it wasn't anything more than that.
He was starting to rethink that, though, when seven rolled around and he saw her walk out of her house. Her blonde hair was in soft curls and she had on a short black dress that showed off her long legs and hugged her petite figure well. She had a purse on her shoulder and she was wearing heels.
In short, he was treading on dangerous ground. He tried to push that thought out of his mind as he greeted her when she got into his car.
"Do your parents know you own that dress?" He teased her and she laughed.
"Do they know we're going to dinner?" She countered and he held his hand up in defense.
"Hey, I thought you would've told them yourself," he said quickly as he began to drive. "Though judging from the lack of cars in the driveway, I'd say no one's home."
"You'd say correct," she said smoothly before offering him a smile. "My parents went to go see my aunt."
"Fun," he replied before she giggled.
"We'll have more fun," she assured him and he shook his head.
"You saying that makes me worried," he said pointedly and she laughed.
"Don't be. I'm not."
The two shared a look before she turned the radio up, singing along to it while he drove. Though Raymond knew that the ground they were on was rocky, he willed himself to relax. A thirty year old, shook by a nineteen year old girl? Ridiculous, but it seemed to be his life lately.
It wasn't until they'd gotten a table together and the waitress had offered them a bottle of wine that things were setting in.
"Just one," Nicole urged him and he laughed.
"Underage drinking is generally frowned upon, but I suppose one glass would be fine," he decided, and when the waitress came back, he gave her his decision.
The pair each had a glass of wine with their pasta dinners, talking and laughing together, until it was time to go. Time passed so easily together, they hadn't even noticed.
"I guess I should be taking you home, then," he said reluctantly and she nodded.
"Yeah. My parents will probably be home soon." She was disappointed, but she couldn't think of an excuse to stay out longer. She admired Mr. Newman for more than just his coaching skills.
They drove in silence before she glanced at her phone, then at him. "My parents won't be home for a while, is it okay if we stop at your place? I don't want to be alone."
"Nicole.."
"Just for a little while," she insisted, before he sighed.
They ended up at his house before they knew it and, unsurprisingly, it wasn't the first time she'd been there. It was the first time she'd been there, however, alone and at night. Somehow, things just seemed different.
"I haven't had a chance to clean up yet, sorry for the mess," he murmured as he unlocked the door.
Walking in, she looked around. "It's not even messy in here. You should see my room."
He rolled his eyes as she laughed before she sat down on the couch. "Can I get you anything? I've got some soda in the fridge."
"No, I'm okay."
He sat with her on the couch, turning on the tv. Once they agreed on a movie, he put it on. Of course, it was some romantic comedy. They didn't talk much, but little by little, she found herself moving closer to him.
He put his arm around her shoulders, but they still said nothing. The tension between them was more than they could bear, and she found herself looking at him. He really was something; he still kept in shape, and he had nice eyes.
"You're staring," he said, and she realized he was looking back at her.
