Femi here!
First off, considering that you made it to this page, thank you very much for checking out my fan fiction. Just a few quick reminders before I let you be on your way.
Please be advised that this story contains suggestive themes and some mature language (ages 13+). I will also include a warning at the beginning of chapters that contain content that may be upsetting to some readers. Read at your own discretion.
This fan fiction is based specifically on the high school life portion of My Candy Love. Some characters and their backgrounds have been changed to suit the story, so it will obviously stray from the canonical storyline, if you care about that sort of thing.
I am writing at my own pace, so there is no regular update schedule. However, this story means a lot to me, and I intend on completing it.
That's all! Hope you enjoy reading :D
Prologue
"Help me understand. Just what is your obsession with those drums?"
He bit back bitter words, silently suppressing the anger surging in his chest.
"Just how long are you going to keep this up? Coming home late every day and banging away in the garage until you're too tired to do anything else. Is this how you plan on keeping up your grades?"
His father's harsh words grinded away at his appetite until looking down at his mother's cooking evoked only a feeling of repulsion rising at the back of his throat despite his hunger.
Open your eyes! You can't live like this! What will you accomplish? What good will this do you in the future? GET IT TOGETHER AND STOP WASTING TIME!"
His hands slammed against the table as he shot to his feet causing the dining table to rattle violently, knocking over his glass. His father flinched but retained his composure as the spilled water trickled onto the rug beneath their feet. Even he himself was taken back by his own outburst.
"Nathaniel!" his mother exclaimed.
Having none of it, Nathaniel stalked out of the room. His act of defiance further enraging his father.
"Insolent boy! You are in my house and you will treat your parents with respect! You have the audacity to turn and leave after that aggressive behavior? We are not done here!" But Nathaniel was already on his way out.
As he hastily slipped on his coat, his mother's voice drifted into the corridor. "If that boy expects dinner waiting for him tomorrow after throwing a fit, he's wrong, but that didn't help either, Frank. Yelling at him while he was trying to eat was cruel."
"Cruel? The only time he ever shows his face anymore is when he is forced to eat with his family! We have been letting him off easy for too long. He needs to learn to take this family and his responsibilities seriously!"
"Well, some of us are actually trying to eat," a third voice cut in.
Nathaniel could picture his sister's face so red that her light blonde eyebrows were visible, bunched up above the ridge of her nose as lava would at the mouth of a volcano ready to explode.
"Did anyone even stop to think about how I would feel-"
He made sure to slam the door on his way out.
The fading sunlight was warm on his cheeks as he took the steps down the porch, but as soon as he turned the corner, the autumn chill caught him in the shadows of the suburban houses. Grumbling, he tugged his coat tighter and continued walking. With no destination in mind, his feet defaulted to the path he walked nearly every day. Nathaniel soon found himself at the edge of the neighborhood, making his way down the zigzagging road on the hillside behind the high school.
"5, love!" A stark voice pulled his attention to the tennis courts across the street from the base of the hill.
On court number 4, a singles match was underway with the players immersed in an intense rally. On the school-facing side of the court, a small crowd was gathered outside the fence watching in awe. The object of their spectacle was a player decked in Sweet Amoris colors, white and rose. Nathaniel could not make out her face because it was hidden under the shadow of her visor. He was not a fan of tennis, but he was captivated like her spectators by the way she skillfully moved about the court despite the intensity of the match.
The ball was barely visible, zipping back and forth across the net. The opposing player grunted as the ball forcefully struck her racquet, but she managed to return it with an equally powerful backhand. The Sweet Amoris player parried it back with ease and prepared herself for the ball again at the baseline. Seeing this, her opponent hit the ball with little strength, causing it to fall short just over the net. The Sweet Amoris player reacted by dashing forward as the ball was only inches from the ground. The audience held their breath as she managed to catch it on the very edge of her racquet and gently tapped it back over to the other side. Not expecting her opponent to make the reach, the other player was unprepared as the ball hit the green asphalt. The game belonged to Sweet Amoris.
Nathaniel, now standing behind the crowd, applauded softly as both players met at the net to shake hands, his anger forgotten. Upon exiting the court, the tennis star proceeded to remove her visor to wipe the sweat from her forehead. When she bared her face, Nathaniel swallowed.