hands off my heart || n.h au

t h r e e

Early Monday morning, Jena finds herself standing outside of Coffee Time even though she has promised herself that she'll stay away from that place until the holiday is over, which is when Niall will leave. Again.

It's a habit — getting her cappuccino before she heads to Bread & Butter — and she finds that her need for coffee, one that she doesn't make herself because for some reasons she always messes up the taste (sometimes it's too bitter, sometimes it's too sweet), outweighs her fear of running into Niall again.

Besides, Jena has accepted the fact that she can't avoid him forever. They live in a small town and some things are inescapable. What she can do is go on with her life and pretend like her stomach isn't twisting at the thought of coming face to face with Niall.

Taking a deep breath, she pushes open the door to Coffee Time and steps inside.

Instead of being greeted by the sound of the bell ringing, she's greeted by the sound of Niall's laughter — loud and infectious and so, so familiar that it makes her want to turn around and leave. But she ignores that need; she can't crumble now.

At least Niall has his focus elsewhere so he probably won't notice that she's just walked in.

Or so she thought.

Because the moment she walks in, Georgie, the barista and the owner of Coffee Time, greets her with a loud 'Jena!' and in an instant, Niall's gaze lands on her. She can feel his eyes on her like he's willing her to look at him but she fights the urge to do so.

Georgie excuses herself from Niall and takes her spot behind the cash register, a wide smile curving her lips. "Morning, Jena. What can I get for you?"

"Morning," Jena mirrors the smile. "Can I have a cappuccino to go please? Thanks."

After paying for her order, Jena steps to the side to wait for her drink. She can feel Niall's attention on her and the weight of it feels like a physical pressure on her chest, pushing the air out of her lungs.

And then he starts to speak to her and Jena almost forgets all about the vow she made to herself.

"Hey."

Though her heart has vaulted into a throat, Jena manages to meet his eyes and offers him a small smile. "Hey."

"I didn't think I'd see you here this early," he says. Does that mean he's planning on avoiding her too?

"I have to open the bakery today," Jena tells him.

"You two must have a lot of catching up to do," Georgie interjects as she pours milk into Jena's drink.

Jena and Niall exchange a look and though it's a brief look, some sort of understanding and agreement pass over them. Other people don't need to know that things between them have changed. That they've not only gone two years without seeing each other. They've gone that long without talking to each other as well.

"Looks like you don't have to spend Christmas all by yourself after all," the other woman adds. Jena remembers telling Georgie that she'll be spending the holiday alone this year. She didn't think it'd be brought up in front of Niall. "Your other half is back."

"Yeah," she says, her throat thickening.

Niall lowers his head and whispers, "Where are your parents?"

Jena tries to ignore his sudden proximity and the effects it's brought upon her, and instead focuses on calming her traitorous heart. "They're on vacation."

Before Niall can ask more questions, Georgie returns with a cup of her cappuccino.

"Thank you," she says to Georgie as she accepts her much needed coffee.