WE END UP STAYING in Nuance for hours. The drawbacks of speaking to someone so interesting whilst having access to caffeinated drinks 24/7...

We talk non-stop about our families, our likes and dislikes, our interests and hobbies, and as the hours fly by, I love the way he's making me laugh. He keeps the conversation light, not asking me too many secrets, but at the same time, I feel like I would bear my soul if he asked.

By the time we're on our fourth hot chocolate, my eyes are starting to droop, and when I feel Jamie poke me gently in my side, I realise I must have fallen asleep.

He kisses my cheek before whispering into my ear, "Let's get you home to bed, shall we?"

I nod tiredly but also feel like I could stay here. The sofa is so comfy and it's warm that I really don't feel like moving.

I wait a few more seconds before finally opening my eyes properly, and when I check my phone, I gasp and cup my mouth.

"Holy crap, it's four in the morning!"

Jamie's eyebrows raise in similar surprise. "Holy shit, is it?"

It makes me groan even more because I know the others will now be safely and snuggly back in their beds when we both have to contend with the snowstorm outside. I wouldn't be home for another hour, given we had to walk back past the bar to even be half way, and the thought makes me sink back into the sofa. The thought of heading out into the whirling wintry weather makes me want to curl up in a ball and just fall asleep right here.

Jamie chuckles above me and when I open my eyes, he has his coat on, and he's donned a hat this time, meaning it really must be cold.

"Come on, Grumpy," he jokes, pulling me up before holding my coat open.

I narrow my eyes at him. "You can't call me Grumpy yet," I warn, although the irony isn't lost on me that I'm getting grumpier by the second.

Once we've waved goodbye to Luna, we head back into the snow, which had most definitely got worse. Snow banks now decorated the road we'd come from, and the road in completely covered. Our feet sink into nearly six inches of snow, and by the time we reach the corner, my feet are beyond freezing.

We don't talk much, both just wanting to get back as quickly as possible, and when my house comes into sight, I've never been more happy to see it.

As we reach the porch, I stand underneath it, jumping up and down to try and warm myself up to stop my teeth from chattering enough for me to speak. As I look at Jamie, even he looks cold, and I'm wondering whether to invite him inside just so he doesn't have to go back out in this storm.

"Do you want to come up?" I ask, shivering as my teeth continue to chatter.

He smiles. "More talking?" he asks with over-exaggerated surprise just as I try and fail to stifle a yawn.

I giggle and step closer to him. "No. Tea and sleeping." He quirks an eyebrow. "Maybe just sleeping." I don't need more caffeine now, given I needed to be up in four hours to get to my lecture on time.

He groans, tipping his head up. "I want to," he says, truthfully, touching my nose with an ice cold finger but he looks behind him and sighs before looking back at me. "But I probably shouldn't..." He looks as disappointed as I feel, but he tries to soften it for me by dropping a small kiss on my nose.

"Other than lectures, are you free tomorrow?" He asks, his voice hopeful. "Maybe we could go see a film, get some dinner or something?"

I smile, my eyes brightening at the thought that he wants to see me again, just as much as I want to see him.

I nod. "That would be great," I say, trying to hold myself back from sounding as keen I feel. "I lectures until eleven... if I even make it to them," I giggle. "At this rate I probably won't."

He grins as he steps closer, looping his arms around me as he picks me up off the ground. I yelp before resting my hands on his chest.

"So you're up for it?" He asks, his eyes burning into mine before I nod enthusiastically, my split into two by a grin that's starting to make my cheeks ache.

I watch his eyes drop to my lips and back again, and I can tell he wants to kiss me... probably almost as much as I want to kiss him. I've wanted to kiss him like he kissed me on stage... but I keep thinking to myself that I don't want to take this too quickly. However, a few seconds later, he makes the decision for me as he puts me down and tips my chin up, touching his lips lightly to mine.

Soon he's kissing me harder as he walks us backwards, pushing me gently against the wall of the porch next to the front door. His hand is freezing on my cheek but I don't care. I want to kiss him like this forever, both of us completely taken over by passion... and I know that I am in monumental trouble as I run my fingers through the hair at the back of his head. It's suprisingly soft, and as I scratch the skin gently on his neck, he moans appreciatively before slowly alters the pressure of his mouth before taking it away, leaving me wanting more. I'm breathless, not wanting this moment to end.

He kisses me once more, and then kisses my forehead before he takes a step back. "I'll text you plans, okay?" he says and I nod before he leans forward again, kissing the side of my mouth.

I nod as I move my mouth so his lips are on mine again and he chuckles before pulling away. "You aren't making this easy, you know."

I bite my lip, looking up at him through my lashes. "I know. I'm trying to do the opposite," I tell him truthfully.

He shakes his head with a smile, kissing me once more, soundly on the mouth, before he steps away properly and starts heading back up the road. Despite the cold, I watch him disappear around the corner, knowing he turns back to watch me too.

With a sigh, I wipe a hand over my forehead.

"Did that actually just happen?" I ask myself, pinching myself on the leg to check I'm awake.

It hurts.

"Yep. Apparently so."

***

AS I SHUT THE door, I realise I'm starting to grow a fuzzy mouth for all the hot chocolate, so I head into the kitchen to grab a glass of water to bring upstairs, standing near the radiator as I drink it.

Warmth is soaking back into my bones as I try to resist the urge to clean. I think carnage is the only word I could use to describe this room at the moment, with bottles and food left out everywhere after our quick departure earlier. It'll no doubt be me who cleans it tomorrow as well, seeing as I'm the only one who can't stand a mess... or rather I just can't put up with it for as long.

Just as I go back to the sink to grab another glass of water, the light flips on and I have to smack my hand to my mouth to stop myself from screaming.

"Fucking hell," I gasp, my hand moving to my chest.

It's Nelly, in the shirt Will was wearing earlier.

"Jeez, are you only just back?"

Nelly's tired smile is impressed as her eyes slowly accustom to the bright light after being asleep.

I nod.

"I thought you were in bed hours ago... Was it a good night then?"

I nod again and have to resist the urge to run over to her and spin her around a thousand times I'm that excited.

"Yeah. He took me down to this twenty-four hour cafe, and we just talked... lost track of time, hence the returning at four in the morning."

"Five actually," Nelly corrects me and my heart drops.

"Okay I am officially not going to my lectures tomorrow. They're at nine."

"Oof, yeah good plan." She grins as she punches my arm lightly. "I'm so glad you had fun though. I didn't know you had it in you," she winks. "Do you want a debrief all the details now? Or tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow. I genuinely nearly fell asleep on him an hour ago..." I giggle. "But I do want to talk about it." I groan as I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I really like him, Nel. Like... really like him."

She beams wider.

"Like... I haven't felt this way in ages," I squeal, surprising myself. "God... I am in trouble."

She doesn't say anything in response, but I know as well as she does that she doesn't have to. Her wide and proud grin is enough to tell me she's happy for me. She's the only one who knows what I've been through with Archie, so she knows more than anybody that I deserve this.

"Sleep tight honey," she tells me after kissing the side of my head. "Can't wait for more details."

I beam back at her, my eyes stinging with tiredness before I grab my second glass of water and follow her up the stairs, waving as I walk past her to the top floor and into my room.

I want to scream, and seeing as my neighbour Zac is away at a family birthday this weekend, I do exactly that. Well, a quiet scream.

After I've done my happy dance, brushed my teeth and got into pyjamas, I get into bed with a sigh, grateful for the warmth of my duvet and the comfort of my fleecy bed socks I'd thought to leave on the radiator... so they're lovely and toasty.

I'm just about to drop off when my phone vibrates against the table.

My eyes fly open.

It can only be one person, who knows I'll still be awake, so I hop out of bed and trot across the room to my phone.

Sure enough, a message from the unknown number that can only be Jamie.

I save his number quickly - saving him as Outlander Accountant - before jumping to the message.

It's bloody freezing! :o I think I should have come up and stayed... x

I look up at the ceiling, and then out of the window into the storn that's whirling around outside. Even in the last hour it had got worse, and I hate the idea of him walking around in a snowstorm on his own.

I hear Matt's voice in my head, "Fuck it, Tess. Live boldly, come on."

And with that I make up my mind.

Come back. Come and stay x

Those painful three dots bounce up and down nearly four times before a response comes through, and my heart is in my mouth as I read his message. He sends two in quick succession, and I swear I'm having an out of body experience all over again.

I hope you're sure...

Because I may or may not be sheltering outside your door... x

He has accompanied the message with a wild selfie of him with a pouty face, and he is indeed outside my front door. He looks beyond adorable in this photo, so I don't hesitate to save it as his contact photo.

Two secs, I'm coming x

I spin around the room, checking for any embarrassments such as knickers out on the floor or tampons out anywhere, and head quietly back downstairs, trying not to wake anybody. If anyone sees Jamie here today - or tomorrow for that matter - they would never let me hear the end of it. But tomorrow is another day, so I'll deal with that later.

Thankfully a key is downstairs in the bowl, and my finger start to shake as I get to the second lock. But seeing his dishevelled frame in the doorway gives me strength... strength I need to get the door closed again after Jamie is practically blown inside.

To be honest, I am very glad he turned around. Not just because of the fact he's here, but because I would never forgive myself if he got sick because he was chivalrously walking me home.

"Thank you so much," he whispers, his teeth chattering. "I think I would have been an icicle by the time I got home, so I turned around."

I shake my head. "You didn't have to walk me home if you were the opposite way!" I whisper. "But I'm glad you're here. Come on u-" I yelp suddenly as something cold touches my hip. "Christ!" I jump up once, making Jamie laugh, bracing himself on his knees. His fingers are like icicles.

"Sorry. I had to do that," he chuckles.

I put my finger to my lips as I hear either Sophie or Paul move around in the room by the kitchen.

I gesture with my hand for Jamie to follow me and put my fingers to my lip again, telling him to keep quiet as he unzips his coat. He follows me quietly up the stairs, and when I get him inside my door, I pull him in further and feel myself relax, knowing no one saw us.

I watch his eyes glaze around my room, as any eyes would in new surroundings, and he smiles as he takes in all my photos on my wall, my collection of Funko characters and my vast collection books all double-stacked along the long wall.

"This is cute," he says, shrugging off his coat.

I have the smallest room in the house, given I'm the only person in the house that doesn't an other half, but it works for me. I'm barely ever in here other than when I'm sleeping, as I'm either out studying at uni, downstairs or in lectures, so having the smallest room has never bothered me.

As I focus in, I realise he's staring at my Avengers poster.

"How excited are you for the next one?!" he whispers excitedly, making a weird noise. I giggle as I realise it may have been a squeal. But to be honest, I couldn't agree more.

"My heart was in my mouth at the end. And no post- credit scene..."

He shakes his head. "Aw, don't." He shows me his arm and he has goosebumps. "I walked out feeling depressed and empty... but excited."

He kicks off his boots and puts his socks in them, and it suddenly dawns on me that I'm about to have a boy in my room. And a boy in my bed. And that hasn't happened for nearly two years...

"You okay?"

I shake myself out of it. "Yeah... No, I'm fine. Sorry. In my own world for a moment..." I'm rambling, but again the fact that I am rambling isn't making him run for the hills give me hope. And it's hope enough that gives me the strength to step forward, put both hands on his hips and step up on my tiptoes to kiss him.

He kisses me back, his arms pulling me close. He's a lot taller than me, and as I put my arms around his neck, he picks me up and encourages me to encircle my legs around his waist as he spins around slowly.

As he sits down on the bed, my knees either side of his lap, he pulls away and rests my forehead on mine.

"Erm..." he mumbles, looking down at the space between us. I'm trying to ignore both the dampness in my pants as well as the hardness in his, so I look into his eyes, determined not to look down.

"Yeah?" I ask, breathless.

"Erm... are you okay if I sleep in my boxers?" he asks shyly, and I want to laugh at how odd a question that is. But when I see he's serious, I pull my forehead further away and smile. "Or I can keep them on. And my shirt."

I shake my head. "It's fine. Whatever's comfy," I say, climbing off him and onto the bed, going to the other side of the bed so he can just climb in the side closest to him.

If I'm being honest, I want his shirt off. But I will then have no control over what happens next, so I'm also kind of glad he keeps his shirt on. The thought of him in boxers sends a thrill right down me and I have to try and curb my smile as he slides in the bed next to me.

And it's awkward for the first few minutes... As it's literally the first night, he lies as close to the edge as he can get, and I do the same, both trying to give the other as much space as possible. But when I fall down the gap between the bed and the wall twice and Jamie almost falls out his side, we both laugh and I feel the tension ease as I sit up with a huff after my third attempt at getting comfortable.

"Okay. Giving each other space is not going to work," I say irritably. The tiredness is well and truly kicking in now, despite this extremely handsome boy in my bed.

"And what do you propose?" he asks, turning around but keeping his distance.

I lie down and shuffle very slightly closer. "I propose we snuggle."

He chuckles as I say it with an entirely straight face before rolling my eyes as if snuggling was a major inconvenience.

"Which do you want to be?" I ask.

"Which what?" he asks, not getting my meaning.

I close my eyes and roll them behind my eyelids before opening them again. "Spoon. Big or little?" I ask, laughing as his eyes finally light up as he understands what I'm getting at.

"Oh! Sorry! Big, I guess. I am like double your height after all," he chuckles, moving the pillow closer to me as I meet him in the middle.

He kisses my nose before I turn myself over, slotting myself back into his hard but comfortable chest as he puts his arm protectively round my middle. I feel like my belly does a somersault as his hands graze over the bare skin, but I hope he doesn't notice.

After a few minutes of shuffling to get comfortable, which involves a change of position with my head now resting on his chest as he wraps an arm around me. I can hear his heart beating really fast, but soon it slows, and I feel his body relax a bit more.

It's quiet in the room after a moment, with no sound except mine and Jamie's breathing, and for another second I cannot believe this is happening. I cannot believe that tonight had happened... and that the only boy I had any feelings for at all, was now sleeping next to me, in my bed, with my head on his chest. I'd taken nearly seven years to tell Archie how I felt about him, and then here I was, able to act like this with a boy I barely knew... sleep in the same bed with someone who I'd only spoken to just over eight hours ago.

But then those words float into my head. Archie's words: you deserve to be happy, and you deserve someone who can make you happy. And with those words, my mind is finally able to quiet. And as I match my breathing to Jamie's, using his heartbeat to help me drift off, for the first time in over a year, I'm falling asleep with a smile on face... and I couldn't be happier.