Finally... It could start

2 months later

Two months have passed since the beginning of the project. The group of five lived well together. Nolan even opened himself a little bit, despite still being introverted. The Institut received good results from those two months and Lynch was the first one to be happy about it. Today, the applicants were not having class this morning due to a change of schedule. They decided to do a little activity all together which concludde to all agreeing to play billiards. After the rules were explained, Calvin was the first one to start. The boy kicked in the ball and did well. After him, it was Flora's turn. The blonde girl positioned herself correctly and didn't wait more before kicking in it. Under the surprise of all, one ball went into one of the holes.

"Since when do you know how to play billiards?" Asked Shawn, kind of jealous.

"My grandpa was playing often. He taught me."

Then it was Iris turn. But the girl never played billiards before and had struggle to position herself correctly. Naturally, Shawn stood behind her, helping the brunette to position her stick correctly before kicking in the white ball. She didn't reach any balls, but at least she learned something. Then it was Nolan's turn. The boy positioned himself and kicked in the white ball. Under the surprise of all, he put two balls at a time in the holes.

"Wow, you're not bad." Declared Flora.

"Have you played before?"

"Never."

Since Nolan reached to put two balls, he could continue to play. With this, the boy reached to put two other balls.

"You. You're way too good at this." Said Shawn.

Nolan smiled. He liked being complimented. They continued to play billiards until it was afternoon and had to go back to school. There, all were listening to the teacher, except as always, Nolan. The boy preferred again, drawing on his notebook. But as he was focused on his drawings, Flora suddenly sat next to him.

"What are you drawings about?" She asked.

"Nothing." Answered the boy by covering his drawings with his hand.

"Oh... sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"I just don't like to show my drawings."

Flora gave a quick look to Nolan's hand, distinguishing two letters, similar to her name. Softly, she took off the boy's hand from his drawings. All of their names were written, except Nolan's. They were written in black and red.

"You wrote our names?"

Nolan stood silent.

"I'll take this as your way to tell us that you like us." Took back the blonde girl. The boy crossed the blue eyes of the girl. Instinctively, he sketched a soft smile. He liked being seen like this. The end of the day arrived fast and all left the school leading back home.

"Hey, we could have a little party." Proposed Shawn.

"Tonight?" Asked Calvin.

"Yeah. It'll be cool."

"Are we even allowed to do that?" Questioned Iris.

"The first rule is to stay together as much as we could." Replied the redhead boy.

"A party is the best thing to do that!"

"I have no problem with that but no alcohol." Declared Flora.

"You're not funny."

"A party can be funny without destroying your body." Replied harshly the blonde girl. Shawn grimaced but he wasn't entirely disagreeing with her. He was just no liking people being too serious every time.

"I'm okay with it too." Said Calvin who was quickly followed by Iris.

"Cool!" Smiled Shawn, happy. But as they all continued to talk about the party of tonight, Flora noticed something. She kept looking around her for a moment before...

"Someone has seen Nolan?" She asked suddenly. All stopped. Looking around them, there was no sign of the boy.

"So now he is disappearing like that?" Said Shawn.

"Maybe he took another path to go back home." Declared Calvin, rationally.

"I hope, he is okay."

Despite this sudden disappearance of Nolan, the quartet came back home. As soon as they opened the front doors, they led to the kitchen. But all stopped.

"Nolan?" Said Flora, confused.The boy stood in the kitchen, taking out products from bags.

"Where were you, buddy?" Continued Shawn. "We kind of freaked out for five minutes."

"I bought things for the party." Answered the boy before the group noticed the products in question. It was chips, drinks, no alcohol as asked, candies and else.

"That's kind of you!" Said Iris, smiling.

"You could have told us." Declared Calvin.

"Sorry. I wanted to make you the surprise."

"Well, thanks."

All being happy about Nolan's little surprise, they quickly took a look at the products. As all were discussing between each other, Nolan dressed a smile. He liked seeing them like this.

****

The night arrived quickly. Calvin and Flora decided of the music to put for the party while Shawn and Iris were setting the tables with the snacks. The two were having fun by the way, playing with each other and even becoming more and more close to each other. In the kitchen, Nolan prepared the drinks. The boy served four drinks of cherry and strawberry. He filled them up, watching the liquid with interest. He was lost in his thoughts for a moment. It looked like...

"You good?" Asked suddenly Shawn who arrived to the counter without Nolan noticing it. The dark haired boy raised his head to him, without answering. "Are the drinks ready?"

"Yeah." He said with a soft smile.

"Cool, thanks buddy!" Replied Shawn before grabbing the four drinks and leading to the others. There, he served them and all started to drink a sip of their beverage, already liking it.In the kitchen, Nolan stood there, watching them. But he wasn't smiling. He looked more... mean. His face was serious. Out of any emotions while his eyes were watching his friends having fun with the music that Calvin and Flora just put. But when one of them turned to him and crossed his eyes, Nolan dressed a smile. Then he drank a sip of his drink. Immediately his eyes turned differently. Just like seconds ago. He was about to like this party.

****

After party

The next day, all were sleeping on the couchs, deeply lost in their dreams. As the front door opened, Nolan came back home. Leading to the living room, the boy looked at the quartet with a neutral face. He liked seeing them like this. Suddenly the phone rang. Automatically, it woke up the quartet, slowly and hardly for some. Calvin was the first one to get back to his thoughts properly. Hearing the phone, he led to it and picked up.

"Hello?" He said, still a little bit in the fog.

"Calvin? This is Ross, from A.P.I," Declared the man at the phone.

"Oh hi."

"How are you all doing?"

"We're doing good."

"Perfect. We have a good news for you. Since this is the holidays, you have the right to go back to your families."

"Really? That's a great news."

"A taxi will take you all to leave the house. Your families have been called to wait for you at the train station."

"Thank you sir."

"It's our pleasure. It's part of the process too. Well, I'm not taking you any longer. Have all good holidays."

On those words, Ross hang up quickly.

"Was that the Institut?" Asked Flora before Calvin turned to her and realized that all were up.

"Yes. Mister Ross told me that we could go see our families for the holidays."

"What? That's so cool!" Shouted out Shawn.

"I'm glad that it arrived so soon" Said Iris.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go pack up!" Declared the redhead boy before leading straight up the stairs.

****

When all had their stuff ready, they waited in the hall, ready to leave.

"What is Nolan doing?" Asked Shawn, impatient.Suddenly, the dark brown haired boy went down the stairs. But when all turned to him, they noticed that he didn't pack his stuff.

"You're not leaving?" Questioned Calvin.

"No." Answered Nolan simply.

"Your family must want to see you." Said Iris.

"I have no family." Replied the boy too suddenly which took by surprise the rest of the group.A quick silence took place, as Nolan's answer threw a chill.

"Are you gonna be okay here alone?" Asked the oldest of the group.

"Sure. Don't worry for me. Have a good time with your families." Ended Nolan with a smile before a car klaxon was heard. The taxi was there. Without waiting more, the quartet left the mansion, letting Nolan alone. As they passed the doors, the boy looked at them with a neutral face. But when the door closed, he dressed a smile. Finally... it could start...