Work Text:
the cover is a visual, you'll know when you read it ;) <3
"Nicky, did you contact any other agencies?" Mum asks as I sat on the couch, angling my body slightly to face her. She rounds the corner of the arm chair with 2 mugs of tea in hand and a pack of biscuits trapped underneath one arm. She smiles at me so sweetly and carefully reaches towards me with the tea in hand.
"Thanks, Mum" I reach up and carefully take the cup from her hands and slowly lower it to avoid spilling the hot liquid on myself. Her question rings through my mind.
"Also, yes. I did - I contacted Spring Homes last night and I am hoping to get a response back soon" She nods slowly bringing the cup to her own lips and taking the slowest of sips.
"That's great darling, wanna watch a movie?" I blow on the steaming hot liquid, nodding in agreement.
"Pirates of the Caribbean?" She turns to me, smiling mischievously. I give her the 'you already know', look. She giggles grabbing the remote turning on the TV and getting the movie ready for a little mother-son bonding time.
As the fire is ablaze next to the TV, Nellie and Henry were snuggled together in front of said fire on the big cloud like cushion. I smile at them, my 2 little buddies.
We are at that the scene where they talk about the hands being rough but they make eye contact, I don't know but this scene always makes my heart skip a beat. I could never understand why.
I'm in that little bubble in my head watching their moment on the TV when my phone vibrates against my leg - taking me attention from the TV and placing it on my phone instead. I contemplated not checking it as I am spending time with mum and the puppies. But knowing I am waiting for responses from companies... I felt the need to just check it in-case.
Lifting my phone up to my face, the screen gets brighter almost blinding me and the notifications show an email response from one of the companies I contacted.
Local Roof Over Ur Head is one of them and they've responded to my email I sent over 6 hours ago when I was researching houses in the area for rent. I didn't want to leave the area as I wanted to stay closer to my mum and of course, the puppies.
"Dear Mr. Nelson
I regret to inform you that we don't have any properties in the area you ask about. We don't necessarily rent anywhere that you've requested but if anything ever comes up we can keep your information on files.
Also, to answer your last question. Unfortunately due to how busy our staff can be... I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to arrange a private viewing as we tend to do open houses in groups to get multiple offers at once and accept the best.
Thank you for your interest in our company.
Yours, LROUH Co."
I sigh, even though their main branch was literally 10 minutes... which didn't make sense that they don't 'rent' properties out here. But thinking it over in my head as I watch the movie I realise and reason with myself that I only sent the emails today. So I don't need to panic just yet.
My phone beeps again whilst I'm holding it in my hand, it's another email response and this time it was from Ocean Lettings, I tap the notification to open it.
"Good evening, Mr. Nelson.
Thank you for showing an interest, whilst do we have some properties in the area you have requested. We do require 2-3 references from employers and 1 letter of resident recommendation from a previous tenant to take on new ones. It's policy that we understand and know who we are accepting into our properties and we know the new residents won't cause us any troubles. If you are able to provide those details, please let me know and I will gladly get a private interview arranged promptly. Til then, please have a good night.
Thank you, Ocean Lettings."
I sigh gently to myself, a bit bummed now... I've barely scratched past the age of 25, I've never had an employer and up until now I've been living with my mum. So, in conclusion... I have nothing for them. This sucks big time.
Time seems to fly past at this point, the movie finishes 30ish minutes later. Nellie & Henry are sound asleep by the dwindling fire behind them and both cups of tea are finished and sitting on the side tables at our sides. I turn to look at my mum to see her sleeping soundly, the credits of the movie are running slowly and quietly since I turned down the volume. The room was quiet but ambience from the TV and the fire are slowly burning. I felt at peace sitting on the other side of the couch sitting in my PJ's with my Nike socks that I got last Christmas.
Realising it's past 11 at night, I gently nudge mum awake. She slowly opens her tired eyes and looks right at me smiling instantly. I smile back.
"You okay, darling?" I nod slowly.
"Yeah, you fell asleep just before the credits mum" She chuckles a little.
"Doesn't surprise me, I'm not as young as I used to be" I nod understanding. My mum does everything humanly possible. Not just in the house, but for the community. At least once a fortnight she holds a barbecue for the neighbourhood. Organises events for the kids and even occasionally trims the neighbours dogs fur.
"I'll clear the mugs away, you head to bed" Mum smiles at me with her sweetest smile and nods. She moves to stand up and proceeds to lean down towards me and kisses my forehead and playfully swishes my hair about.
"Mummmm" I groan playfully, trying to fix my hair.
"Oh shush, it'll look worse by the time you wake up tomorrow" We chuckle together as I push off the couch myself and mum wraps me into her arms for a hug.
"Goodnight Nicky, love you darling" I quickly give her cheek a wee kiss and she moves to get around the couch and heads upstairs to bed. I smile at the puppies still snoozing away and head to the kitchen to wash the mugs out with water before shoving them quietly into the dishwater and heading upstairs myself.
Before Mum closes her bedroom door for the night, she blows me a kiss.
I open my bedroom door and quickly do what I need to do to prepare for bed, brush my teeth and swish some mouth wash. I leave my hair alone as it will only get worse, according to my mummabear.
Getting under my covers, I think of the days ahead of me and try to think positively. I let the sleep take over and fall asleep quickly.
the following morning
Waking up was always a breeze for me, I felt refreshed today and my heart was swimming with positive vibes. I had the best dream, I found a place and the person that helped me understood my nerves and was super nice and patient with me and before I even knew it... I had signed the lease and my mum was helping me move into the new place before the dream was over. Such a good feeling to know I am dreaming good things about the things I want right now.
With these feelings rushing through me at lightning speed, I threw my duvet cover off my body and practically skipped to the bathroom. I looked directly into the mirror and laugh at myself at my own reflection.
Mum was right, like always. My hair was a right fucking state. Nothing a quick wash, towel and brush couldn't handle so I got right onto that. Grabbing my toothbrush and toothpaste I did my morning routine to get ready for the day.
With my hair all fixed and dried, my teeth brushed and my breath smelling minty I got myself dressed. I might have felt good today but I also felt lazy.
So I grabbed some dark navy joggers and a plain t-shirt and shoved my khaki green hoodie on-top of it. It was comfortable but presentable - well at least the top half anyway. I didn't have any plans for today.
I trot downstairs to make some breakfast, it's quiet outside with the odd bark here and there.
I'm immediately greeted at the bottom of the staircase by both puppies.
"Good morning you 2" I give both Nellie & Henry a scratch behind their ears and gentle push past them.
I stretch both my arms upwards to wake up my sleepy muscles before getting a bowl and clean mug from the cupboard and placing them both on the middle island.
Cereal and tea for breakfast fills my soul with so much happiness. I open the fridge to get the milk for both parts of breakfast and grab the box from above me and take them both to where I am setting up.
As I pouring myself some cereal, I flick the kettle on and that's when I hear the bedroom door upstairs being opened and shut again.
Mum's awake.
She comes down in her morning robe, yawning and scratching away at her head.
"Morning Mum", I smile at her whilst I grab yet another mug to make her some.
"Thanks dear, I'm gonna make some toast, want some?" I was making cereal but the thought of toast had my belly growling.
"Sure thing mum, want a bowl of cereal too?" She smiles at me opening the bread bin and takes out the bread.
"No, thank you though. 1 or 2 slices?" Considering I was having a heaping serving of corn flakes, I didn't want to fill my belly too much too quickly.
"Just 1 please" The smile on her face stays put as she pulls 2 slices of bread from the packet and tosses them into the toaster. That's when the kettle clicks, alerting us that the water is boiled.
"I'll make us both the tea, you eat your cereal, sweetheart" I nod, pulling the stool out from under the breakfast counter.
"Okay Mum, let me know if you need any help" She nods coming to me and kisses my cheek. I chuckle at her sweet nature and dive right into my breakfast whilst I wait for the rest.
Mere moments later the tea was right by my wrist and the toast being buttered and cut in half was on the other side of my cereal.
My phone buzzes against my leg in my jogger pockets, I take one more spoonful of cereal and pull out my phone.
Looking at the screen, I see another email notification. Scrunching my eyes with confusion I tap on the notifications and my phone immediately scans my face and automatically opens the email app and shows me the email.
I see it's a reply from Spring Homes... one of the companies I did contact regarding finding a first time home. They've replied..
"Good morning, Mr. Nelson.
I've read over your email you sent in yesterday afternoon. We do in-fact have a couple of properties in the area you've requested on. And as luck might have it I have one properties 3 streets away. I noticed from your application you sent in that your address isn't that far from it. I also read on your email that you suffer from anxiety and you'd prefer a private viewing of any openings? I'd like to personally help you out with this. If you'd like to view this property this evening - we can meet then?
I look forward to hopefully meeting you, Mr. Nelson.
Charlie Spring, Manager of Spring Homes"
I read the email over and over again... I've stopped eating my cereal as my spoon lays still in my hand handing mid-air. My tea is luke warm and the toast my mum made has become butter-melted and it's lost the toasted crisp.
"Nicky, darling... are you alright?" I nod, my eyes still scanning the email.
"Yeah... 2 seconds mum" I drop the spoon into the bowl and tap reply immediately.
"Hi Mr Spring,
Thank you so much for replying to my email. Yes, I do reside still at the address on the application. I am looking to find my first place and I was hoping to get somewhere soon. Being close to my mum appeals to me a lot and possibly being only 3 streets away sounds fantastic. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. I'd love to meet with you when it's suitable. If you can let me know the address and time and I'll be there.
Thank you again.
Nick Nelson"
I lock my phone and put it on the counter, I fold the toast to my side in half and eat it, the butter melted through just enough. I went to grab my tea to see the cup gone.
"Uh, mum?" I turn around to her coming back to the island with another mug, steam coming off it. I smiled at her.
"You got a little distracted so I thought I'd freshen it up. Everything okay dear?" I nod as she puts the cup down.
"Yes... everything is good. I might have just gotten a private viewing for a place 3 streets away from here... from a housing place called Spring Homes" Mum's smile only grew as she sipped at her tea.
"Sounds good baby"
For the rest of the morning, I waited for a reply back from Mr Spring - but I heard nothing... I was getting a little worried as the day went on so I tried to distract myself.
I took Nellie & Henry for a walk to the park to give mum a wee break, she was in the middle of doing some dishes from lunch time and mentioned they needed to get some exercise. So I offered to take them for her and told her to make some tea and sit down and watch TV afterwards. She thanked me as I grabbed the leads from the coat pegs in the hallway and just shouted the word "Walkies" and I had both puppies at my feet waiting patiently.
I was throwing the ball for Henry as I threw the frisbee for Nellie. That girl loved to run and jump.
I watched as the puppies caught eye of each other and started to play fight no more than 10 feet away from me, it made me laugh at their childish nature.
I take my phone to text my mum to make sure she was okay when I saw another email notification arrive to my phone not 7 minutes ago. I hated being on my phone when I was out with the dogs, I loved spending time with them so I turned my phone on silent so my full focus was on them entirely.
Quickly checking the dogs, I opened the email and it was a response from Mr Spring.
"Hi Mr Nelson, that is great news.
I can meet you in the next 30 minutes at this address: 355 Lovemore Road.
Please bring anything you may need for the viewing - I will answer as many questions you may have to best of my ability.
See you soon, Mr Nelson.
Charlie Spring, Manager at Spring Homes"
I noticed the time... I got that email almost 10 minutes ago. I looked at my appearance and realised I was not in the appropriate attire.
"HENRY NELLIE" I fished the leads out of my pocket and lowered down on my knees to get to the puppies level.
"Right you two, I need to get home. You need to be good for Gran, you understand" They looked at me, not saying anything.
"If you hear me, give me paw" I held out both hands and immediately each one of their paws landed in one of my hands. I smiled at them, they were both so smart.
We headed home after doing another quick pee and poo check and with 10 minutes to spare we walked through my front door.
"Have a good time at the park dear?" I unclipped the dogs and hung the leads.
"Yeah, um... I need to head back out and I'm not sure how long I am going to be out for" I watched as mum turned her body towards me on the couch, a hot cup in her hand as a soap was playing on the TV.
"Okay... has one of your friends asked you to the mall or something?" She sounded cautious and I don't blame her. She already knew I still had one or two friends from high school...back in the day I hung with a bunch of boys but one in particular, no sorry... 2 in particular she didn't like but he moved away, the other stayed but I didn't stay friends with him. My real friends unfriended him and stayed with me.
"Um no... but I do have plans with them next week, as you already know about" She smiles nodding.
"I have a viewing with Spring Homes... I got an email when I was out and he said I've to meet him on Lovemore Road" My mum's face lights up when hearing the address.
"Oh wow... I grew up on the street. It's a lovely area sweetie"
"Really? That's pretty cool actually" I looked at the time, the street isn't that far but it is at the same time.
"I need to grab my passport and then head mum" She nods at me patting them couch for the puppies to come to her. Henry jumps onto the couch as Nellie sits at her leg.
Grabbing my passport from the hallway drawer, I look at my appearance once more but realise I don't have any time to change.
"Fuck it, see you soon mum. Wish me the best"
"You don't need it lovely, if he won't let you have it... that's the companies loss" I blew my mum a kiss from the front door and left.
"What the heck?" I looked at the sky, from the time I walked into my mum's house with the dogs to this second... it went really dark...
I needed to head if I was going to make there on time, good thing I knew where I was going otherwise this would be such a failure on my part.
I kept looking down on my clothes and thinking I should've just threw something else on... maybe a pair of jeans, but I can't do anything about that now. Sucks. I hope Mr Spring doesn't look at me in the wrong way.
Needing to be there in 5 minutes, I started to move a little faster when I was completely caught off guard... WITH RAIN.
"You're joking... you've got to be kidding me on right now" The longer I stood in the middle of the street though, the more I got soaked... it was heavy.
"This can't be happening" I sigh to myself but start running as the standing held me up a few minutes.
Once I got onto the street I needed to be on, I started to slow down. I was looking around the area trying to find someone, anyone.
I eyed the door numbers... 350, 352, 354... I realised I was on the wrong side.
"Oh god" I quickly made my way to the other side and I seen the number 355.
I was at the right place but there was no sign of Mr Spring. I take my phone out and it's a couple minutes past the agreed time. I had hoped he hadn't already left.
"Oh no" I swipe my face to try and wipe off the rain I'm being covered in.
"Are you okay, sir?" I turn to the sound of the voice making its way to my ears. It was deep but soothing with a hint of worry and caution thrown in. I see his face and I'm transported... I'm rendered speechless.
"I...I" I close my eyes to take a breather and re-open them to look at him, was I just imagining how spectacularly gorgeous he looked... the raven-coloured curls, the deep-ocean blue eyes, the jawline so sharp it could cut you and his lips... oh man those lips were just something else... I was transfixed the second I saw his face.
"Are you okay?" His voice, the question - it snapped me back for mere seconds to realise I must've been creepy as hell just staring at him.
"Yeah, sorry... I'm waiting for someone. I'm viewing this house" I watch as his smile widens at my words, he grows only more beautiful. My smile only grows and I'm sure my eyes are just...expanding.
"Well... you must be Nick Nelson then?" I nod, but realise he actually knew my name.
"Wait.. are you Mr Spring?" He nods, a small blush appearing on his cheeks. He moves past me, I follow his direction and watch as he moves closer to the door and walks to get out of the rain.
"Please forgive me, the rain isn't friendly with my hair" My attention trails off to the thought of what his wet hair would feel like between my fingertips.
"Also, please just call me Charlie" Again, his voice snaps me out and I'm moving my feet towards the archway of where the door provides temporary shelter.
"I'm sorry I've shown up like this, I'm soaked through" I try to laugh it off - but I see Charlie's eyes going down and then back up.
"It's quite alright, I'm sorry you got caught in it. If I had a known, I would have offered to collect you and give you a ride" It was my turn to blush this time at his now-late-but sweet offer.
"Thank you" He nods.
"Oh yeah, sorry... hold on" His hand fumbles around all his pockets, looking for something.
"Finally... actually thought I forgot these" He lifts up the keys he gets from his back pocket. Those keys were sitting against his ass-cheek. Was it soft or firm?
The sound of the keys jingling in his hand and finding the lock on the door snaps me back. I really gotta focus here.
"Here we go" he pushes the door handle down and opens it and gestures for me to step inside. I step inside as Charlie reaches beyond the door and turns to switch on - the entire hallway lights up and I see a side table with random photos decorating the walls. Just walking into the hallway, I felt at home, immediately.
"So, here we are" I look around smiling, I could imagine my life here.
But why am I imagining Charlie here too?
"It's really nice, I like it a lot" My nerves were shot and I was scared of being alone but I wanted it more than anything.
"So, tell me..." I turn to him as he leans against the side-table. He crosses his arms and his leg folds over the other slowly. He smiles at me, shakes his head to move the curls out of his face as he continues on with "more about yourself?"
I feel my cheeks burn at his question...
"I'm 25, I have 2 dogs, I still live with my mum at the moment but wanting my own place, I love playing on the piano and football but I want to be a teacher when I'm older" He smiles nodding at me.
"You didn't mean in that way... did you?" He slowly chuckles shaking his head.
"No, but I'm glad I got those details, at least I don't need to wait til I was gonna ask later on" silence fills the hallway as we BOTH blush at his words.
I'm too shocked to answer.
"But given the answer you've just given me... I don't need to know anything else about you. Since I am the manager of Spring Homes... it's up to me who gets what properties" My smiles grow with each word he speaks and I can feel myself blushing more and more too.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" He walks towards me, his hands clasp together at the front of him.
"I will let you sign the lease for this place under one condition" I cock an eyebrow confused.
"What condition is that?" He stops in front of me, a tad to close but I am not complaining in the slightest.
"The first night you stay here officially... cook a meal for our first date?" He pulls his bottom lip inside, almost like he was scared to bring forward the question. I'm more speechless than before but somehow, something in my heart - jump starts me back into reality.
"Consider it done"
....and the rest is history with Nick's new home anddddddd his new love ;)