Comeback

9. New beginnings?

A/N: sorry this took forever. Let me know if you like it!

Nick stares at the cup on the table as he sits at the cafe where he's meeting Y/N. He got there early, which he thought was a good decision but it has given him a lot of time to get nervous. After seeing Y/N at New Years he has been thinking about their relationship a lot and it has made him want to punch his younger self in the face. It was stupid to break up with her, but he did a lot of stupid things back then. Luckily he doesn't get much more time to dwell on it, because Y/N steps into the cafe. He smiles as he realizes she's early as well.

Nick is wearing a baseball cap to keep people from noticing him, but Y/N recognizes him as soon as she steps inside. She pulls off her gloves as she makes her way towards him and she can't help but smile as he stands up to greet her; it all feels so familiar. "Hey, you're early." She smiles teasingly as they share a brief hug.

"So are you." Nick fires back as he smirks. He's glad she seems to be in a playful mood, it instantly makes him lose the tension he was feeling. "Have a seat, I'll get you some tea." He says as he gestures to the seat across from him, but he quickly backtracks as he realizes she might not prefer tea over coffee anymore. "Or something else." He sounds a bit unsure.

"Tea would be nice." Y/N reassures him with a smile as she takes off her coat. She watches him head over to the counter as she rubs her hands together in an attempt to get warm. "You remembered." She says softly as Nick returns with a cup of tea and she sees it's her favorite kind.

Nick shrugs, but a fond smile plays on his lips. "It's common knowledge by now, isn't it?" He asks as lifts his coffee up to his lips. He's referring to some of the interviews she has been giving to promote the movie in which she mentioned her favorite kind of tea a few times.

Y/N playfully narrows her eyes at him. "Have you been watching my interviews?" She asks and he once again shrugs. "I didn't expect you to watch those." She says. "If I'd known I would have thrown in some references." She teases as she wraps her hands around the cup.

"I just wanted to know if much had changed." Nick  admits with a shrug as he looks down at his coffee. "It's nice to know your choice of tea is still the same." He adds with a smile.

Y/N watches him for a moment as he continues to find interest in his coffee. "Some things never change." She says. "Like how much I hate coffee, especially the way you drink it." She pulls a face as she looks at Nick's cup of coffee.

He chuckles in response and playfully moves the cup closer to her so she can smell it.

***

Nick and Y/N are both smiling as they step out of the cafe. It was nice to catch up and it hadn't been awkward like they expected it to be. "Well this was nice." Y/N smiles as she turns to face him on the sidewalk, preparing to say goodbye.

"Yeah." Nick nods as he looks at her. "I'll walk you home." He offers. He's not ready to part ways just yet. Being around her reminded him of how it used to be and he once again wants to punch his younger self in the face for ever breaking up with her.

Y/N looks at him for a moment. Part of her wants to decline his offer because it would make this too much like a date and she doesn't want to get too attached to him in case he'll push her away again. But another part of her doesn't want to say goodbye just yet, especially since it's been so nice to catch up with him. It just felt so familiar to talk to him again, and he did say he just wanted to be friends right? "Okay."

As soon as the word leaves her lips, Nick smiles that smile that has made her weak in the knees since she was 16, so she quickly turns in the direction of her home and starts walking before she does something stupid.

Nick happily follows her example and they walk to Y/N's apartment. Y/N is busy convincing herself that the two of them can be friends and nothing more. Meanwhile Nick sees the whole situation as a sign that not all hope is lost for the their relationship. Neither of them notices the pictures that are being taken of them walking the streets of New York side by side.