Red Strings | The Group Chat x Reader

Chapter 9 | Grocery Shopping With Nick

It's been a few weeks since the dinner, and life's been going at a moderate pace. I haven't seen the guys since, but we all talk daily in the group chat. I also have been putting their videos on in the background when I work. Sometimes it can be a little distracting, but I like the noise, and who can't take a little break from work to watch sometimes? Maybe like 20 breaks? I was currently catching up on their podcast, so it would strictly be listening and I wouldn't get TOO distracted. I stretched back in my chair, rolling out my shoulders as I began to wrap up my work for the day, but before my fingers touch the keyboard again, I get a notification on my phone.

Nick: yoooo! everyones busy and i wanna go buy stuff to try out this new recipe i found

Nick: would u be down to go with me?

I smile and decide to tease him a little.

Y/n: oh, so u only text me bc everyone else is busy????

Nick: nono

Nick: i was gonna inv u always!! that was just my way of saying its only gonna be us

Just us? I burn a little at the thought. I hadn't hung out with just one of them alone.

Y/n: yeah sure 🙄

Nick: i swear!!!

Nick proceeds to send a gif with an animated dog giving puppy eyes.

Y/n: im just teasing u dork

Y/n: ill go!! I just gotta finish work, like 30m?

Nick: ok ill head over to ur place in like 20?

I reacted to his message with a thumbs up, even though that doesn't give me enough time to get ready. I internally panic and start typing like my life depended on it. I finished the rest of my work and sign off in 15 minutes - a pretty decent record, I would say - and immediately changed out of the pajamas that I had been in all day. I freshened up with a few minutes to spare before I got a text saying Nick was here. I take a deep breath, locking my door on my way and walking down the path of my home to Nick's car.

"Hey! How was work?" Nick smiles when I step into his car.

"It was easy. Still work, ya know? But easy." I smile back and turn towards him, "how was your day?"

"Good, I just got out of the gym. Don't worry though, I took a shower," he chuckles. "Anyways, I saw a recipe for turning cauliflower into like mashed potatoes, so I was thinking maybe a chicken dinner with that as a side."

"Okaaaaaaayyyy?" I drag out the 'a', "sounds interesting."

He laughs at my reaction, "we'll see. Anyways, this might sound weird and I pressure you if you don't want to, but I brought my vlogging camera," he picks it from the center console, "you don't mind if we vlog, do you?"

I stay silent for a moment, pondering it. How will his fans react? I don't really want to ruin his plan of recording, plus it doesn't seem so bad? "I don't think I'm ready to be on camera, but I don't mind recording you and talking, if that's okay?"

Nick grins at me, "of course it's okay! Again, I don't want to pressure you into anything that you're not ready for."

That calms my nerves a little and makes me smile back. He hands me his camera and shows me how to turn it on, turn it off - all the works. I turn the camera on and point it around while Nick starts the car, and starts driving to the grocery store.

"This is kind of fun, I like holding the camera."

Nick laughs, "sounds like you can become my camerawoman."

I smile, "I like that idea, but we're gonna have to start talking about pay." My smile turns mischievous, "I'm thinking around $100 an hour sounds great to me."