Tis the Season

Brooklyn stood just outside the airport, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater as she waited for Niall to emerge. She couldn't help but worry that this whole thing was risky, that she should have stayed home and waited for Niall to call or text her once he was settled back into his flat. After all, they did talk nearly every single day he was home so wouldn't he be sick of her by now? Even if he did mention her meeting him when his plane got him so they could go to his favorite late night diner. Maybe he changed his mind.

Before the girl could change her mind a familiar head of blonde-ish hair appeared outside the automatic doors and, as if they were both magnets, they locked eyes. Niall's lips twitched into a grin and he moved towards her, weaving through crowds of people trying to get in and out of the airport.

“You know,” the Irish boy started as he set down his suitcase and stopped in front of Brooklyn, “I was hoping you'd show up when I told you what time I got in.”

The girl laughed as they embraced in a tight hug. The pair stood there, their arms woven around each other for longer than was necessary but neither wanted to be the first to let go. After talking nearly every single day since meeting at the music store and their walk back to Brooklyn's flat they'd grown quite attracted to each other. But neither wanted to be the first one to really show it. They were both scared of the little limbo they seemed to be in, unsure of whether or not they were on the path to a relationship or a really great friendship. But Niall did mention a date when they Skyped and Brooklyn was hoping that would be enough to put them on that path.

“Are you hungry?” Niall asked as they finally pulled apart. Brooklyn was staring at the area above Niall's head and the Irish lad was staring at the space beside Brooklyn's. They were both a little rosy in the cheeks from their elongated hug. “Cause I could eat a horse.”

Brooklyn nodded and gave a small smile. After a moment of deliberation she decided to dive right in. “Making good on your date offer?”

“Of course,” Niall chuckled. “Don’t think I forgot.”

The pair shared a smile before walking in a comfortable silence to Brooklyn’s car. They loaded Niall’s things into the trunk before hopping in and heading toward Niall’s favorite late night diner.

“You gotta get the upside down, inside out waffle here,” Niall announced as they pulled up to the diner.

Brooklyn shot him a curious glance as she killed the engine. “The what?”

“Come on,” Niall laughed as he hopped out of the car and strolled toward the entrance.

Brooklyn followed after him, laughing as he tripped over the entry way and nearly tumbled to the floor. He shot her a playful grin over his shoulder and motioned for her to continue following him towards the back of the large diner. They found a booth to share in the back corner and Brooklyn sighed when she slid in. It was already much better than the first time they met up at a diner; there weren’t any springs anywhere near her here.

Immediately after sitting down a waitress appeared with two menus and a pad of paper to take their orders. Niall ordered a Coke and Brooklyn got an iced tea. As soon as the waitress was gone the Irish boy gave his counterpart a bright smile and took her menu.

“Do you trust me?” He asked as he set them down on the seat next to him.

Despite herself, Brooklyn nodded. She could guess where this was headed and she hated to give up control but something about Niall made it seem less scary.

“Let me order for you? They have the best stuff here.”

Brooklyn bit her lip and contemplated it for a moment. She wasn’t a picky eater and this was what she’d been expecting but she wasn’t sure. What if she didn’t like what he picked? She didn’t want to let him down.

“Okay,” she agreed after a pause. “But I can’t promise to like it.”

Niall grinned. “I can.”

The brunette picked up a napkin from the dispenser, balled it up and tossed it at Niall. “You’re a right cocky jerk,” she teased.

Niall wiggled his eyebrows at her and Brooklyn giggled, fully prepared to grab another napkin to toss at him again but their server returned with their drinks.

“Ready to order?” She asked, a fond smile on her face as though she knew what was happening at the table.

“We’ll both have the inside-out, upside-down waffles. I’ll have strawberry and,” Niall paused for a moment and glanced at Brooklyn. She opened her mouth to supply a fruit but the Irish boy beat her to it. “She’ll have raspberry.”

Brooklyn grinned as the server nodded and turned away. “How did you know I liked raspberry?”

Niall shrugged. “Lucky guess?” He offered with a laugh. “No, we seem to like the same things and I love raspberries.”

The brunette nodded and unwrapped her straw. “So how was your flight?”

“Good,” Niall nodded as he unwrapped his own straw. “I had the complete Bublé collection to keep me company.”

“Jerk!” Brooklyn joked, tossing her crumpled straw wrapper at the boy sitting opposite her. “I can’t believe I let you steal that from me!”

“Ah, come on love, I’ll let you have a listen,” he teased.

“Careful,” the brunette warned, “if you let me listen I might steal it right out from under you.”

Niall laughed. “I could just play you the songs,” he offered after a moment. “I’m no Bublé but I do alright.”

“You sing?” Brooklyn asked, surprise evident in her voice and on her face.

“Don’t look so shocked, B,” he laughed. “I play guitar too.”

“I’m just surprised ‘cause I do too is all,” Brooklyn said, disbelief coloring her tone as she shook her head. She thought she knew most things about Niall but this was a surprise. And somehow it just made him that much more attractive. She always had a thing for guys with instruments.

Niall’s eyebrows shot up and he stared at her questioningly. “Can I marry you?” He asked jokingly after a moment.

Despite it being a joke and knowing that it was one, Brooklyn’s cheeks still filled with blush. “We should play together sometime,” she said, avoiding his compliment.

“Yes,” Niall agreed, smiling to himself. “Yes we should.”

Before their conversation could go any further their waitress returned with their food. Brooklyn stared down at the plate in front of her. The so-called inside-out, upside-down waffle looked like anything but. She could kind of see the makings of a waffle underneath the fresh raspberries but it didn’t look too appealing. Even so, she grabbed her fork and took the tiniest of bites just in case it was awful.

It tasted like heaven in her mouth. She glanced up at Niall to tell him as much only to find he was already staring at her with a dreamy sort of smile on his face.

“What?” She asked, grabbing a napkin to wipe at her mouth just in case she somehow managed to get some food on her face.

Niall shook his head. “You’re cute is all,” he admitted, his cheeks flushing crimson.

“Oh,” Brooklyn laughed nervously as her cheeks mirrored his. “Well so are you but this food is heavenly.”

The Irish boy laughed before digging into his food. “I’m glad you like it,” he said with half a mouthful. Normally that kind of thing would have turned Brooklyn off immediately but Niall made it work.

The girl shook her head and bit her lip, staring down at her food for a moment before digging in. The pair fell into a companionable silence as they eat, each offering a few little tidbits about how much they loved their respective fruits. Brooklyn even shared something about her family, something she never did, when she told Niall about a little fruit garden she had with her grandmother when she was a little kid.

Once they were both done and the waitress had come back to clear their plates they sat there for a moment, smiling at each other in silence. It was a stark difference from their first date when the silence was so far from comfortable it was in another galaxy.

“So,” they both started after a long moment. Together they laughed and Niall shook his head. “Ladies first,” he said with a grin as he moved to get comfortable in his seat.

“I was just going to ask if you wanted dessert,” the girl laughed.

“I was going to ask you the same,” Niall said with a grin. “We could share it?”

Brooklyn nodded and tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. She wasn’t quite sure when it happened but she was really starting to like Niall. He wasn’t exactly her type but he didn’t have to be because he was funny and sweet and she actually felt comfortable around him now. And he was someone that she could really see herself falling deep in love with.

When the waitress returned Niall ordered the apple pie with a side of vanilla bean ice cream and Brooklyn wondered if she already was in love. That was her absolute favorite.

“Either we both like the same things or you can read my mind,” Brooklyn laughed once the waitress had left again and Niall shook his head.

“Maybe it’s both,” he teased.

“Well then what am I thinking right now Mr. Mind Reader?”

“You’re thinking that you like me.”

Any witty remark Brooklyn had died on her lips. “I-uh-what?” She stuttered nervously. “How did you know that?”

Niall laughed and scooted forward to rest his elbows on the table and get a better look at Brooklyn. “’Cause I really like you,” he told her simply. “And I was hoping the liking the same things trend was gonna continue.”

Brooklyn grinned, her cheeks rosy with blush. Their waitress returning with their pie saved her from having to say anything and they both quickly dug in, eating the warm deliciousness in harmony. Once they were done and the plate was clean Niall paid the bill despite protests from Brooklyn to give him money for her food. Secretly she was pleased that Niall was paying, not because she didn’t have the money or didn’t want to but because it was sweet and a little romantic.

When he returned to the table after paying the bill Brooklyn slid out of the booth and he grabbed her hand and laced their fingers together. The girl glanced down at their entwined fingers and smiled as they made their way out. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this happy and this excited about a budding relationship.

On their way out the door Brooklyn spotted a familiar face and stared at the guy she was with. Laughing to herself she shook her head. Bumping Niall with their entwined hands she nodded her head in the direction of the girl.

“Remember that story I told you about the girl from the café with that guy?” She asked and Niall nodded. “Well that’s the girl but that’s not the guy.”

Niall crinkled his eyebrows as he squinted to get a better look. After a moment he shrugged. “Guess she gets around,” he said as he opened the door for Brooklyn. “And I guess that’s why they’re not meant to be.”

Brooklyn chuckled and shook her head. Maybe that was the case but she still couldn’t help but feel bad for the curly haired boy she had seen in the café. He looked seriously in love.

Niall opened the car door for Brooklyn and she got in and started it up. The boy beside her quietly gave her directions to his flat and she frowned once they arrived. It was late in the evening but she didn’t want their date to end. She was happy for once and it was all because of the blue-eyed boy that she once thought was the worst date in the history of all dates.

“This is me,” Niall said once she stopped the car and put it in park. He sounded sad and that sent a twist of pleasure coursing through Brooklyn. At least she wasn’t alone.

The girl nodded and turned towards Niall. “This is you,” she repeated and then shook her head and laughed at her silliness. The laugh died on her lips as Niall covered them with her own, catching her off guard.

She froze for a moment before relaxing and answering his kiss. Her arms wound around his neck and she smiled against his lips before he pulled away and grinned at her. “I should go,” he murmured softly before capturing her lips in another quick kiss.

Brooklyn nodded but she tightened her arms. “You should,” she mumbled against his lips, nodding slightly but never breaking their contact.

They remained like that for a few moments, their lips moving together in sync before Niall pulled away. “I’ll call you,” he said before placing a final peck to her lips and pulling away completely.

Brooklyn smiled and watched as he slipped out of the car. She popped the trunk for him and waved once he reached the front door to his flat. As she pulled away she couldn’t help but press her fingers to her lips. It wasn’t much but it was the best kiss she’d had in awhile and her lips were still tingling.