Jitters - Hallick

437 Words

An Open Heart is an open wound to you

It had been quite some time since Nick had actually looked forward to taking someone out to dinner. His ex had been very particular about everything that they did. She had to have the perfect dress and his tie had to match and they couldn't go anywhere cheap or somewhere that didn't have a vegan menu. There were so many rules and regulations that it took any kind of romantic feeling out of it. Often times she would end up mad at him and he'd get a verbal beating all the way back to his apartment or hers depending on if she could handle her fur allergy. It was less and less that she'd ever wanted to be at his apartment after he got Max, but he was fairly certain it wasn't because she had an allergy and it was much more likely she just hated dogs.

While he had been sitting on all of the thoughts of his past relationship, he couldn't say he missed any part of it. He'd thought he had been in love with her, but now he could tell he'd just wanted to be loved by someone and she couldn't even give him that. Halley was his ex's polar opposite and he had never liked her more. She loved Max, she wasn't high maintenance or vegan or pretentious about where they went. Of course it was a first date and he fully intended on taking her somewhere nice first, but he wasn't the type to just settle for dinner. Not when he could finally enjoy someone's time that enjoyed him back. He'd been sure to keep all of the details of the date to himself, knowing full well that his family couldn't keep a secret. It was good, he thought. A fun date.

But he was nervous.

He didn't have time to sit in a car and compose himself, oh no, he had to do it at home which was feet away from her. Nick stared at his reflection and straightened his tie. After feeling utterly ridiculous as he took a picture of his suit, he sent it to Emma for approval. With her okay, he took a deep breath, patted his pup on the head and walked out of the apartment before he could start freaking out about what was about to happen. His hand shook the tiniest bit as he tapped on her door, standing there with his other hand deep in his pocket.

The scariest part is letting go..

233 Words

An Open Heart is an open wound to you

Under her jaw-dropping gaze, Nick felt uncomfortable. Emma had picked out the suit, the tie, the shoes. He felt out of place all dressed up, even if he should be used to it. Being ogled at didn't help because he was most definitely not used to that. He felt his face redden and he looked down with an awkward laugh, "Uh thanks. You look...uh...wow." But it wasn't the dress, it was just her that he couldn't get over. She had a smile that distracted him from anything else most of the time anyway.

Her joke made him laugh and he lifted up his pants slightly to show off his socks. They might not have been minions, but they were his lucky batman socks. "I figured they went with the suit a bit better," Nick smiled up at her. He offered his hand out and cleared his throat, "You uh, you ready to go?" Oh god he hoped desperately that his nerves wore themselves out as the date went on. The last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable because he was. There were no regrets asking her out. He just was very unsure of himself anymore.

He could thank his ex for that.

The scariest part is letting go..

310 Words

An Open Heart is an open wound to you

"You really shouldn't encourage me," Nick laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. God knows his family did. Every Christmas it was the same, a pair of crazy socks and boxers to match. Since he was five years old. It never changed. Which was exactly why he never invited anyone to his family's house for the holidays. Public embarrassment was not how he liked spending his holidays. However, he supposed this year he would have someone to bring to the holiday shenans.

Nick cleared his throat and found his face extremely warm after she pressed her lips to his cheek. He looked down briefly and then glanced up at her with a smile, "Well I can't just tell you. It's all a surprise, but you dressed great for both activities." To be honest he was extremely distracted by her hand on his cheek and the fact that he hadn't even flinched. He was certain that he would have, but she had a calming touch, gentle and her hands were so warm. Much different than the ones he had grown used to that were not so gentle with him. He did his best to shake the thoughts of his ex away again for the rest of the night.

His hand reached up and he took the hand that was pressed to his cheek, lacing his fingers through hers, "All I can tell you now is that food is first on the list. And hopefully we'll get to skip the small talk step of the first date." Nick glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and smiled as he released her hand to open the passenger door of his car for her.

The scariest part is letting go..

275 Words

An Open Heart is an open wound to you

Upon arrival at the restaurant, Nick was quick to get out and open her door for her again, eagerly reaching for her hand. Mostly because he couldn't stand it any longer, but also because he was excited to eat. It was a nice restaurant, one that he remembered from growing up, significant and something that his ex hadn't tainted. Once she was out of the car, he did his best not to drag her to the entrance. It was playing one of his favorite songs and the smile on his face was bigger than he ever could remember it being before.

"Okay, so, it's a little quirky and kind of weird you know, but it's great really. The owners are really awesome," And would probably drop dead when they saw him with such a pretty girl. Entering the restaurant, there was PopArt covering the walls, a jukebox in the corner and waitresses on rollerblades. He couldn't quite pinpoint what kind of theme they were going for, but he loved it and it had been his mother's first job after she had him.

Nick cleared his throat and looked down at her, "Fair warning, you may get hugged and bombarded." Just then his eyes lifted to an older couple that caught sight of him and he knew it was over.

"Nicholas Brody Adams, you are late! We've been holding this table since...Bert! Bert he brought a lady! Oh get the camera!" A little white-haired lady came flailing towards them.

The scariest part is letting go..

299 Words

An Open Heart is an open wound to you

Nick's free hand went to his forehead and he couldn't help but laugh at the older woman that used her 'mom voice' on him. He grinned down at Halley and laughed again, "I told you." He kept a tight grip on Halley's hand, despite how in his element he was. She was experiencing something that he'd always wanted to show someone. It was the inner workings of his life, a lot of influence came from this place while he was growing up and she was the first girl he'd ever thought to bring to the restaurant.

Gerty came rushing over to them and Nick held his hand up, "Alright, alright, Gert. I'm sorry, can you please tell him to put the camera away. You're gonna scare her off." Nick laughed again and shook his head. The older woman shushed him and he sighed, he should have known this would happen. "Bert, buddy, one picture. One. C'mon you guys."

The old woman hurried her husband over and moved Nick closer to Halley, "Put an arm around her like you mean it, Nicky. She's beautiful!" With shaky hands the older man lifted the camera and snapped a few pictures, disregarding Nick's protests. "Alright, alright, we're done. Nicholas, introduce us!" She managed to say before throwing her arms around Halley and squeezing, "You're just the cutest thing I've ever seen!"

"Gerty..." Nick sighed, "Halley, this is Bert and Gerty, they're the owners of this joint. And they've also known me for my whole life."

"Oh yes, his mother worked here right after she popped! We babysat this little stud muffin when he was still in diapers!"

The scariest part is letting go..

332 Words

An Open Heart is an open wound to you

With the pictures done and the over all excitement dying down, Nick eased into the conversation. His arm was wrapped securely around Halley's waist, despite the paparazzi putting their camera down. He didn't mind the feeling of it though, having her so close to him as she listened so intently to what the older couple had to say. Nick also took notice that Bert stood by Gerty quietly the same way that Nick was doing with Halley. The similarity made him smile before Gerty began getting into the embarrassing side of his life.

"Okay, alright, we don't need to be talking about me in diapers. Please?" He laughed and glanced down at Halley when she made her comment. At that, he smiled and shrugged, "I mean, obviously I was."

Gerty giggled and nodded, "He looked just like his mother and was the most well-behaved little boy I'd ever had the pleasure of getting to know. Oh and that stutter! Ugh!" The older woman clasped her hands over her heart and giggled again. "He had the tiniest, sweetest little voice. But he hardly ever used it and when he did, oh it was just so darn cute!" Nick scrunched his nose at her and laughed too.

Of course, with the idea of it being a date at first in mind, Nick had just planned on the two of them having dinner, but seeing the way Halley reacted to them, he couldn't help himself. "Whattaya think about them joining us for dinner, Hal? You could get all caught up on the ridiculous and exaggerated stories they have about me and my mom." Gerty did her best, he could tell, to remain calm and collected though she was clearly beaming at the idea. And Bert, good ol' Bert was just standing there with his arm around her and smiling.

The scariest part is letting go..

260 Words

An Open Heart is an open wound to you

His nickname coming out of her lips made him groan and roll his eyes into the back of his head, "Oh no, not you too!" Nick smiled at her and took a moment just to enjoy the fact that he'd let her into his world, the deepest part of his life and she hadn't run out screaming five minutes in. Gerty and Bert were probably the harshest critics when it came to women that would suit him which was why he hadn't even considered bringing one around until now. He knew that they would gravitate towards Halley for the same reasons that he had.

Nick looked back at her and smiled, "How d'you feel about arcade games?" Only a few doors down from the restaurant was Nickelworld and to be honest it had been around long before him and he imagined it would continue to be around long after. Arcade games were his biggest weakness, it had been since he was a little boy. Superheroes were one thing, but gaming? Man, he'd stuck to it like glue.

"Just down the stretch there's a vintage arcade that has all of the original pinball machines and PacMan. I think they even have Mortal Kombat which I must say, you probably won't want to play me at because I'm pretty good." He arched an eyebrow and smirked at her, trying to restrain himself from dragging her there.

The scariest part is letting go..