The Lovely Narc

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This week we’re diving into Narc released on February 20, 2024.

Narc is about a teenage boy who agrees to help his narcoleptic classmate get home safely despite his fear of being seen associating with the school’s weirdo. Over time, his feelings for her overcome his fear.

Now that you know what the story is about, let’s set the scene.

What was I thinking when I wrote this?

Do you remember the movie Rat Race (2001)?

The movie is about a random group of people in a cross-country race to find a big bag of money. Whoever finds the bag first wins the money. 🤑

There’s a scene in the movie where one of the characters, played by the iconic Rowan Atkinson (AKA Mr. Bean), falls asleep just as he’s about to put his hands on the money.

That was how I learned about Narcolepsy. 

I thought it would be interesting to see someone with this disorder in a high school setting. Adolescence is already a confusing, frustrating, and uncertain time in a person’s life. Having a disorder where you randomly lose control of your body must make it 10x worse.

I thought, “This person must be lonely. At least at school surrounded by kids who don’t get her and are maybe a little afraid to be around her. What kind of person would she get along with?” 

Enter Alex, the only child of an overworked single mother.

Alex is a good kid but he doesn’t like to rock the boat. He cares a lot about what his friends think—typical teenager. He doesn't want to jeopardize the only social support he has by fraternizing with a weirdo.

That doesn’t stop him from falling for Nat once he gets to know her.

TL;DR?

Here’s what you need to know.

On the way home from school, Alex sees Nat collapse in the middle of the street. He helps her get out of the road and makes sure she’s okay.

When Nat regains control of her body, she is super grateful. She recently started a new treatment plan for her narcolepsy but it hasn’t taken effect yet. She asks Alex to walk her home from school for a couple of weeks while her body adjusts to the new medicine.

Alex agrees because he’s a good dude.

Alex and Nat start hanging out in secret.

Nat likes Alex.

Alex likes Nat but he’s still worried about what his friends will think.

Friday after school, Alex’s best friend, Matt, invites him over to play video games with some of the guys. Alex already had plans to spend the evening at Nat’s house. Instead, he breaks his promise to her and goes with his friends.

The next day, he asks Matt what he thinks about Nat. But Matt is more interested in his video game than in Alex’s crush.

Once he realizes his friends don’t care, Alex feels safe to pursue a relationship with Nat.

On Monday, Alex defends Nat from a bully and sits with her at lunch. He asks if he can have lunch with her from now on. She says yes.

Where are they now?

Alex and Nat become high school sweethearts.

They take it pretty slow. They’re sophomores in the original story. They spend the next couple of years getting to know each other.

Shortly after the story ends, they sneak a first kiss after dinner in Nat’s room while her parents watch Family Feud in the den. It’s a first kiss for both of them so they’re not great at it. It’s at least a year before they progress to 3rd base.

(Which is as awkward as you expect. Alex tries to make it romantic. He lights a candle in his room and he buys condoms “ribbed for her pleasure”.)

Alex introduces her to Matt and the guys. They’re friendly but they don’t become friends. Nat makes her own friends in the chess club.

Nat’s new narcolepsy treatment actually works. She has fewer episodes except for the odd one here and there when she’s stressed. She has a bad episode during midterms junior year that results in a broken nose. Alex takes her to the nurse’s office and stays with her until her mom comes to pick her up. He holds her hand on the car ride to the hospital.

Their relationship is very wholesome. They go from meeting in secret to holding hands in the halls and cuddling on the bleachers at pep rallies. Even their families get along. Alex’s mom makes it over for dinner at Nat’s place once or twice.

(She’s nice when she’s around. Loooots of accounting jokes.)

I don’t know if Nat and Alex stay together after high school. But I know they will look back fondly on that time together. They are each other’s first love. No time or distance will ever change that.

The End.

See you next week to discuss a story about suffering for love.

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