Chapter Text
Macy was used to Nick’s bluntness. It was part of who he was: calm, collected, and unapologetically honest. But lately, she’d been noticing something different. Little things, subtle things, that didn’t quite fit the image of the stoic, no-nonsense guy that he was known to be.
The first time Nick walked her to class, Macy didn’t think anything of it. It was a Tuesday, ordinary, uneventful, maybe a little too cold for the time of year. She was halfway to class when Nick fell into step beside her, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
She blinked at him, startled. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said, like it was nothing unusual.
He didn’t say anything else. Just matched her stride as they passed the lockers. It wasn’t until they had almost reached her classroom door that she turned to him with a puzzled look. “Isn’t your class the other way?”
He shrugged. “I was heading this way anyway.”
“Oh. Okay,” she said, a little too aware of how close he was standing. He turned and walked off without waiting for her to say goodbye.
It happened again the next day. This time, he was already waiting by her locker when she got there.
“Morning,” he said casually, leaning against the metal like it wasn’t a completely new and unexpected development.
Macy gave him a suspicious side-eye as she pulled out her textbook. “Did you forget where your locker is? Also, I’m pretty sure your first class is still upstairs.”
“I’m aware.”
But he still walked beside her again. Quiet, calm, like he belonged there. When they reached her class, he gave a short nod, hands in his pockets. “See you later.”
She stared after him for a second longer than she meant to.
After a week, it had become routine. He never made a big deal out of it. No grand gestures. Just a quiet presence beside her as they made their way through the crowded halls. Sometimes they didn’t even speak. He’d hold her books if her bag looked too heavy. She noticed the way his steps always slowed just enough to match hers, or how on the mornings she was clearly exhausted from practice the night before, he didn’t talk at all, just walked beside her in silence like he knew the quiet was what she needed.
Every time she asked why, he shrugged and said something vague: “Just headed that way,” or “I’ve got time.” And every time, she pretended to believe him. Until one day, she decided to press him further.
“Why are you walking me to all my classes now?”
He shrugged.
“That’s not an answer.”
“I’m just going that way,” he said, and she could hear the lie in his voice, but it wasn’t defensive. It was almost teasing.
She folded her arms. “You and I both know that’s not true.”
He didn’t deny it. Didn’t even pretend to be confused. He just tilted his head slightly and said, “Do you want me to stop?”
The question caught her off guard.
Macy stared at him for a beat too long. “...No.”
“Okay then.”
And just like that, he turned and kept walking, toward her next class, like always.
It had been overcast all day, the kind of gloomy gray sky that made everything look a little dull and sleepy. By the time the final bell rang, the sky was dark. Macy stepped out of the school building, glancing up and wondering if she would make it home before it started to rain. Her muscles still ached from practice, and she’d barely made it through her last class without nodding off. She had a shift at her mom’s store in an hour and two essays due by the weekend. There wasn’t enough caffeine in the world for a week like this.
Nick caught up to her before she made it to the end of the sidewalk.
“Hey,” he said simply, falling into step beside her.
“Hey,” she replied, trying not to let her exhaustion show too much.
They didn’t talk a lot on their walks home. Not every day, anyway. Sometimes Kevin joined them and filled the air with rambling nonsense. Sometimes Joe tagged along and talked about himself the whole way. Or Stella would go on about some fashion trend. But today it was just her and Nick. And a low, steady quiet that didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
They had barely made it out of the parking lot when the first drops started to fall, light at first, then heavier, soaking into the pavement. Macy groaned quietly and pulled her arms tighter around herself. Of course today was the day she didn’t bring a jacket. Before she could comment on it, Nick stopped walking. She turned, confused, and was immediately met with the feeling of something warm and soft being pulled over her head. She blinked as his hoodie settled on her shoulders, slightly oversized and still warm from his body heat. She looked up at him in surprise, her mouth halfway open to object, but Nick was already walking again like nothing had happened.
Macy stared after him for a beat, stunned. Then she hurried to catch up.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said.
“It’s fine.” He didn’t look at her when he spoke.
She frowned a little, glancing down at the hoodie. It was soft and warm. And somehow… safe. “Still. You’ll get wet.”
“I’ll live.”
She looked at him. His hair was wet, already sticking to his forehead a little, but he didn’t seem to care. He didn’t even glance over, just kept walking at that same casual pace, hands in his pockets like he wasn’t just out here casually throwing her entire world off balance.
They walked the rest of the way in silence. The rain got heavier, soaking the sidewalk and pooling at the edges of the street, but Macy barely noticed anymore. The warmth of the hoodie seemed to shield her from more than the rain. It was like a layer of calm over everything else she was feeling. When they reached the intersection where they usually parted ways, she hesitated. Nick stopped beside her.
“Thanks,” she said softly. “I’ll give it back tomorrow.”
He looked at her for a moment, quiet and unreadable, before giving a small nod and walking off.
She told herself she’d return it the next morning, but as she slipped out of bed early for practice, she found herself still wearing it. She could’ve taken it off. She should’ve taken it off. But morning practice was grueling, her legs were still tired from the previous day’s workout, and the hoodie? It was just so damn warm. And it smelled like him, a hint of cologne, but not too overpowering. Almost comforting. Still, she figured she’d return it later, no big deal. It was just a hoodie, just a small act of kindness.
Or at least that’s what she told herself, until she went to meet up with the gang where they were sitting at their lunch table, casually chatting before the first bell rang. Macy didn’t even have time to speak before Joe looked up at her, recognized Nick’s hoodie, and nudged Stella.
“Ohhh, look at that,” Joe said, his voice laced with mischief as he and Stella exchanged looks.
Kevin leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Dude. She’s wearing your hoodie.”
Nick scowled, shooting a glare at his brothers. “So?”
“That’s, like, a thing.” Joe grinned, obviously trying to instigate.
“It’s cold,” Macy said flatly, sliding into her seat beside Stella. “And it was raining yesterday. It’s just a hoodie.”
“Sure it is,” Stella said sarcastically.
Macy felt the heat rising in her cheeks. Was it really a big deal? Was it more than just a hoodie? Was she reading too much into it?
“I was actually going to give it back-” Before she could finish, Nick’s voice interrupted her.
“Keep it.”
He said it quietly, but with a kind of finality that made everyone go still. Macy’s eyes snapped to his. He wasn’t looking at his brothers. He wasn’t brushing it off or smirking or teasing. He was looking straight at her, gaze steady and unreadable. There was something in his expression, something unguarded, a flash of vulnerability that startled her more than anything else. Macy said nothing else, just sat quietly while the conversation shifted back to what it was before she was there. His words were still echoing in her head. Keep it. Not you can borrow it a bit longer or just bring it back whenever. Just keep it.
The next morning, she found herself wearing the hoodie again. Nick was already waiting for her by her locker. He looked half-asleep, but his eyes lit up a little when he saw her. Then they flicked downward, just briefly, to the hoodie she was wearing. He looked back up at her, their eyes locking, and for that moment, everything else fell away. No teasing, no games. Just a quiet moment. She was about to speak, but Nick absent-mindedly reached out to tug gently at the drawstrings, evening them out like it was second nature. Then he froze, like he hadn’t realized he was doing it until it was already done. His hand dropped away. He took a small step back, clearing his throat and blinking a little too fast.
“So,” he said, voice forcibly neutral, “you ready for your history test?”
His words jolted her from her stupor caused by him being so close. She had completely forgotten to study.
“I’ll take that as a ‘no’,” He assessed the look on her face as they started walking toward her history class.
“I guess I’ve just been preoccupied lately.” She clutched her history book to her chest as they neared the classroom, desperately trying to remember everything they’d learned the past week. They reached the door, and Nick lingered for a moment as if he wanted to say something, but instead gave her a small nod and muttered a quiet “good luck” before he made his way to his class.
Preoccupied was an understatement. Between practice, helping out at her mom’s store, and Nick, her focus had been shot. She slid into her seat, but her mind was still back in the hallway, replaying the way he had lingered for just a second longer than necessary, like he had something else to say.
“Macy, you good?” Stella’s voice snapped her out of her daze. Her best friend sat down at the desk next to her.
“I’m so screwed, I barely remember anything.” Macy laid her head on her desk.
Stella patted her shoulder sympathetically. “Well, on the bright side, at least your boyfriend wished you good luck.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
Stella merely raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicked to the hoodie she was wearing.
“It’s just a hoodie, Stella.”
“Right,” Stella smirked. “Just a hoodie.”
Macy shot her a look but didn’t reply. She did feel comforted by it; the warmth, the lingering scent of Nick’s cologne. It was ridiculous. It's just a hoodie. He’s just a friend.
Stella, of course, wasn’t about to let it go. “You know, wearing a guy’s hoodie is practically an open declaration of-”
Thankfully she was interrupted by their teacher walking into the classroom and closing the door behind him. Stella shot her a ‘this isn’t finished’ look before turning her attention to the teacher. Macy let out a small sigh of relief and began mentally preparing herself for the test she was definitely going to fail.
She decided to bring it up to Stella that night while they were having a sleepover. Macy sat on her bed, staring at the words in her textbook but not really reading them. With a small knock, Stella walked into her room, phone in hand.
“I swear, if Joe sends me one more blurry picture of his dinner and calls it ‘aesthetic’,” she said, flopping down beside Macy with a dramatic sigh, “I’m gonna block him for the rest of the night.”
Macy smiled faintly but didn’t reply.
Stella glanced over. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Macy said too quickly, sitting up straighter. “Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“Have you noticed Nick acting...different, lately?” She asked.
Stella didn’t even pretend to think about it. Her lips curved into a smirk almost instantly. “You mean the way he’s been following you around like a lovesick little puppy for the past few weeks?”
Macy’s eyes widened. “What? No, he hasn’t!”
Stella turned to face her fully, one brow arched. “Macy.” Her tone was flat. Firm. The tone she used when she knew she was right and was waiting for you to just catch up already. “He gave you his hoodie. He walks you to every class. He makes sure you never walk home alone. You think he’s doing that for fun?”
“We’re just friends,” Macy insisted, even as the words sounded weak in her own ears. “He’s always kind of... thoughtful. Observant. That’s just who he is.”
“Mmhmm,” Stella said, completely unconvinced. “Except he’s not like that with me. Or other girls. Or people in general, unless you count his brothers, and even that’s debatable.”
“I didn’t ask him to-” Macy started, but stopped when Stella gave her the Look. The one that said: Girl, really?
“Macy.” Stella leaned in a little, her voice softer now. “You’re one of my favorite people in the world. So I say this with love: you are in denial.”
Macy sank back against the pillows, burying her face in her hands. “I don’t know, okay? Maybe he’s just being nice. Maybe he’s like this with everyone and I’ve just never noticed. Or maybe I’m imagining it and I’ve made it weird by thinking too much.”
“You haven’t made anything weird,” Stella said firmly. “He’s the one making it weird. Weird and obvious.”
“Do you really think he likes me?”
Stella gave her a look that was halfway between affectionate and exasperated. “Mace. The boy looked like he was going to murder Joe for teasing you about that hoodie. That wasn’t protective friend energy. That was boyfriend energy.”
Macy laughed. “If you say so.” Maybe it wasn’t just a hoodie. Maybe she didn’t want it to be.