I’ve probably spent more of my life in bed than socializing with actual human beings. Which is probably why I can count all of my friends on one hand. There’s just something about being curled up in my favorite blanket on top of fluffy pillows, the only light source coming from my laptop screen, which is much more comforting than going out and talking to people. My bed is my favorite safe-place: it never leaves and it never fails to hold and support me. Unlike people, beds can actually be reliable. Food, water, shelter, wifi, and a bed is all a person really needs to survive to be quite honest.

Pushing yesterday’s incident into the past, I awoke the next morning feeling fresh and rejuvenated. Which, believe me, does not happen very often. Then again it was already 10 AM and I was starving. I didn’t feel like eating the granola bars or cereal I bought, so instead I decided to walk to the campus café, which is owned and operated by the school and hires students only. They surprisingly had a very wide selection of menu items and served breakfast all day which I love. Did I mention I love breakfast food? No? Well I love it, and I think I just found my new favorite place. Even if I did have to eat alone at a sticky table in the corner.

I patiently waited for someone to come and take my order after being seated, already having chosen the whole grain blueberry waffles with a side of scrambled eggs and four bacon strips. My mouth began to water just thinking about it.

As I sat daydreaming about my food, a waiter arrived at my side.
“Hiii, what can I get for this gorgeous young lady?” he asked in a smooth, thick accent.
I looked up to see a tall, very handsome boy with shoulder length brown hair that was half tied up in a bun on the top of his head. Looking into his large green eyes I gave him my order and couldn’t help but smile at the dimple in his cheeks when he grinned.

“I’ll be right out with that and some coffee for you. If you need me, my name’s Harry!”
The service was surprisingly pretty quick, and I only had to busy myself with my phone for about five minutes.
“Blueberry Waffle Deluxe?”

“Yep!, Thanks.” I immediately picked up my fork and began cutting into my food until the curly headed boy pulled back the chair opposite me and sat down.
With the fork halfway between the plate and my mouth I asked, “Um…what are you doing, Harry?”

“I’m sorry, love. I didn’t catch your name.”

“Oh. Um. I’m Autumn.”

“You say um a lot don’t you, Autumn?”

“Sorry?”

“That’s a pretty name…Autumn. Autumn, Autumn, Autumn.”

“Thank you…may I ask why you’re sitting here. With me?”

“I wanted to have lunch with a pretty lady?”

“Harry…it’s only 10 in the morning.”

“Oh…right. Well really I’m on my break and I don’t have any friends here so I figured I’d try to be friends with you.”
I practically melted, he was so sweet. How could he not have any friends? He’s absolutely adorable. “Okay, Harry I’ll be your friend. But you really should get back to work.”

“Yeah you’re right. Besides I’m not actually on my break so don’t tell anyone.” He laughed. Before getting up he asked for my number and after giving it to him he stood in front of me and made me call him so that he knew it wasn’t fake. What in the world have I gotten myself into?

“I’ll call you later!” he shouted when I had gotten up to leave. “Ok!” I called over my shoulder.
__________________________________________________________________________
Much to my amazement, Harry actually did call me later. And I – possibly the most awkward and least social person on earth – was somehow persuaded to go to a party with him later on that night.

“A party? Harry, no.”
“Aww come on! It would be quite embarrassing if I showed up alone. And I don’t want the lads back in Holmes Chapel to think I’m a loser when they see me standing awkwardly in the corner in all of the pictures people will be posting online.” Pictures?! Oh gosh. I could practically hear the frown he had on his face. “Fine. I’ll go. Whose party is it anyway? And what the heck do I wear!”

“Someone called Niall, I believe. And relax! Just wear whatever it is that girls wear on a normal day. Something casual.”

“I know you can’t see me right now Harry, but I am rolling my eyes this very moment. Thanks to your fantastic advice, I’ll probably make myself look like a complete idiot.”

“Bye, Autumn!”

“Harry wait-“ Too late, he already hung up. Great.

I spent the next 5 and half hours trying on nearly every outfit in my closet – stopping only to get food or take bathroom breaks – until I finally settled on an outfit.
Walking over to the floor length mirror I had stolen from Savannah months ago, I surveyed my reflection: My chest-length curly brown ringlets were contained in a side braid over my right shoulder; my favorite old flannel; a tight pair of black jeans; and black boots. Completed with a little bit of eye liner and a simple bracelet.
I was ready with an hour to spare and decided that I should probably start cleaning up the mess I had made. Which was a pretty big mess. Clothes were thrown haphazardly everywhere in the room and I didn’t want Harry to come pick me up and see my underwear in the middle of the floor.

Just then I heard a knock on the door. Crap, he’s an hour early. What do I do?! I began wildly kicking clothes under my bed and under rugs and in the closet. “Uh. Coming.”
But when I swung the door open it wasn’t Harry. It was a girl.

“Hi, may I help you?”

“It looks like it’s you who needs my help,” she smiled. “Hi, I’m Kelsey. Your roommate. Surprise!”

I blushed. Well this is embarrassing. “Oh wow! I wasn’t expecting you until next week…clearly haha. Sorry, hi. I’m Autumn. I promise I’m not this messy, I was trying to find an outfit for a party.”

“Well it’s a good thing I love parties! What should I wear?” she asked coming in and placing her bags on her bed.

“Um…you’re coming? Ok well – uh – just wear… something casual.”

“Ok!”

I liked this girl, Kelsey. We clearly had different personalities, but she seems nice. Shoutout to God for not giving me a roommate from hell.
I texted Harry and told him he now had two dates instead of one, which of course he was excited about. Kelsey and I even bonded a little, discussing our majors and plans for the future, before Harry came to pick us up. Speaking of Harry, he and I somehow ended up matching outfits almost perfectly which made Kelsey laugh and me want to cry but it was too late to change clothes. I complained for a majority of the car ride over to the party.
“Ready ladies?” he asked extending both of his elbows and motioning for us to each grab a hold of his arms. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

“And you, Kelsey?”

“I’m freaking pumped, let’s do this!” Kelsey had the most hilariously charming southern accent. Harry and I both laughed and we walked up to the stranger’s door, arms linked.
It actually wasn’t too bad. Harry knew a few people and introduced us and I engaged in actual, real-life conversations. There were enough people so that it wasn’t awkward and not so many where I would just be sitting in a corner hyperventilating. I was having fun for once! This deserved a drink.

“Gonna go get drinks. You guys want anything?”

“I’ll take whatever you’re getting as long as it’s strong!” Kelsey winked.

“And I as well” Harry replied.

I headed back through the kitchen to find my friends, balancing three drinks. But then, my feet once again decided to challenge gravity and I tripped. All three cups went flying into the air and their contents spilled all over the nice carpet as I fell forwards and face planted onto something hard. Shit. It wasn’t something, it was someone. Even worse, it was that same blonde-haired Irish boy from before.

“Really,love. Ya gotta stop doin that. I know you think I’m hot, but this is just a little obsessive.” The people around us stared and some snickered. I tried to play it off so that it was less embarrassing.

“Haha, yeah I really should just control my sexual urges, but I just can’t keep my hands off of you!” WHY THE HECK DID I JUST SAY THAT. I’m already planning out my suicide, but I keep talking anyway. It’s like word vomit. “I just feel bad for whoever this Niall person is since this is probably his nice carpet I just ruined.” That’s when everybody started laughing hysterically.

“Hun…I am Niall.”

Notes