"Minds where's Stevie's pacifier at?" an extremely disgruntled Nico yells from the screaming infants room. "I don't know, try under the dresser, I don't know where Billy put it", Mindy Collette yells back from the bathroom where she's getting ready for her night shift at the landing strip.
"Ugh stop crying Stevie, please auntie needs to study", Nico pleads rocking little Stevie in her arms. "I found it, it was in the kitchen next to his bottle", says Mindy as she rushes into the nursery and puts into Stevie's mouth and just like that the red puffy and squealing baby is calm and sedated.
"So Billy's over at Buddy's bar playing cards with the boys he should be home at 11, I'll be home around one and call mom if you need anything ok", Mindy says "I know, don't worry Minds, but is it cool If I have someone over, I'm just helping him out with a project for history", Nico asks.
"Ooooh you're having a boy over, A boy who isn't Alex, is he cute?" Mindy asks with an amused look on her face. "Yeah it's a boy and yeah he's cute but I don't even know him and seems like an ass", Nico responds annoyed.
"Yeah, or whatever, just make sure if your gonna do anything, not on my bed and wait till Stevie is a sleep understand?" Mindy says smiling. "Eww Minds stop, and hurry up your gonna be late for work", Nico replies shooing Mindy out of the house.
After feeding Stevie and laying him down in his crib, Nico hears the doorbell rings and sighs. "Ugh let's hope this night ends fast Steve", Nico says to the already sleeping baby. With a kiss and turning on Stevie's nightlight, Nico makes her way to the front door where Hastings stands grinning.
"Hey" Nico says coolly as she opens the screen door and steps aside for him to enter. "Hey yourself" Hastings says still grinning as he walks to the kitchen and sits down at a barstool at the kitchen counter.
"So Hastings, what is the assignment Mr. Daniels gave you", Nico asks getting two waters out of the refrigerator and sitting down at the barstool next to Hastings. "An assignment on the Louisiana Purchase, just a thesis paper", Hastings replies.
"Oh cool, we just did that assignment it's super easy, all you really need to do is state your views and important dates, it's super easy" Nico says trying not to show how much she enjoyed the assignment. "Yeah, cool so can I get your notes I already have a thesis I just need to know what you guys covered", he replys with a grin.
For a while the two worked quietly, Nico studying for an English test and Hastings asking ever so often about her own views on the subject and to explain her notes a little better. The two also did a little talking and Nico was pleasantly surprised about how cultured Hastings was.
The two talk long after they finish working and find out they have a lot in common in terms of books, music, movies, and tv.
They also talk a little about their families, Nico tells Hastings about her older sister Tyra at University of Texas, and Mindy and her husband Billy, but leaves out the part about Mindy being a stripper and Billy's brother Tim being in prison. Hastings tells Nico about his parents working on oil rigs and how he's lived all over Texas and they never stay in one place too long. Nico realized she had never met a boy like Hastings, who was cute, smart and seemingly not an asshole.
When he tells her that, Nico can't help but feel a little sad for him. As much as Nico hates Dillon, with it's ignorance, intolerance, and unhealthy obsession with high school football, it was home and she couldn't ever imagine not growing up here.
"So Dillon is a little Football obsessed", Hastings says interruption her out of thoughts. "You have no idea, this town breaths football, even today one of the guys on the football team asked me about you, you've seemed to make quite an impression on the Dillon Lions", Nico teased playfully.
"Yeah that coach guy the one who looks permanently angry asked me if I wanted to try out for the team today", Hastings said "Already on your first day, are you gonna try out" Nico asked surprised at how interested she was in hearing his answer.
"I don't know I've never played before but who knows I might, even to just piss off my dad, he's the only man in Texas that hates football", Hastings says grinning, he's about to say something else to her when her brother in law Billy enters the house and into the kitchen where the two are sitting. "Hey Nic, hey Nic's friend, where's my little man at?", Billy asks while getting a beer out of the fridge.
"He's sleeping, I fed him a few hours ago", Nico says not realizing the time and that Hastings finished his paper an hour and a half ago and was still there. "Billy, this is my friend Hastings, he's new to East Dillon and I was just helping him out with some stuff", Nico says gesturing to Hastings.
"Oh cool you're the new guy they want for the football team, I'm gonna check on Stevie and hit the sack you two have a good night", Billy says awkwardly sensing he should the two of them alone.
…
"So I'll see you tomorrow at school right", Hastings asks has Nico walks him to the door. "Yeah for sure see you in Daniel's class and good luck with your paper", Nico says trying not to sound too much of a dork.
As Nico watches Hastings drive off she can't help but feel excited to see the "New Boy" at school tomorrow.