Page 21 of Already Falling

Reid

:[ no, i think it got lost in one of the many moves

Annika

for what it’s worth, I would have said yes

Who am I right now? Where did all this charm come from? Reid just brings something out of me. I don’t feel weird admitting to him something that is so vulnerable. Although, I am tempted to throw my phone across the room so I don’t see his reply. Buzzz bzz

Reid

I'm glad you said yes again.

The sun wakes me up as it creeps through the cracks in our window shades. Chloe is already up and in the bathroom. I can hear her humming a song to herself. Then I remember what happened yesterday, and I immediately lunge for my phone and read the last texts again, noticing another came in after I fell asleep.

Reid

I'm glad you said yes again.

Do you want to get some coffee tomorrow morning?

It was real. It actually happened. Reid admitted that he had a crush on me in middle school too, and now we are going to have a romantic beach date on Saturday and a coffee date tomorrow. Tomorrow? Did I really agree to two dates already? Panic fills my brain as I try to figure out what to wear and how to do my makeup. Despite having a full week until our date, it’s all I think about now. I fling myself out of bed and pace over to the bathroom, where Chloe is braiding her waist-length hair.

“Reid Parker asked me out.” I don’t have time for good mornings.

Her eyes bug out, and she drops her hair tie to the floor, letting the braid loosen. “What? Who? When? How? When? Who?” she says, swinging her head from side to side.

“Okay, you’re broken. Let me explain.”

I tell Chloe every detail from last night. How he saved me from Trey and beat me in ping-pong. How he was centimeters away from my face before I heard her screaming, which she profusely apologized for. I told her everything and even reluctantly told her how I’m excited but not sure I should be.

“You were there, Chloe. I was heartbroken when he moved. I vowed to never love again.”

“Yah, but you were twelve and overly dramatic. Give it a chance. It’s one date. You’ll at least get a free meal out of it.”

“You’re right, but also, what if I fall in love? I mean, I practically loved him once already. I don’t know if I have time for that! I’m already behind in two of my classes. Besides, you told me to play the field. I’m freaking out!” I dramatically fall on my bed.

Chloe lets out a little laugh. “Hey, crazy lady, it’s one date. Cool it. Plus, you are having a coffee first. You can always back out after. Besides, you are doing what you wanted, going out on dates. Go out with Reid, then move along,” Chloe says as she sits next to me, petting my head.

“Something tells me it’s not going to be that easy with Reid.” I take a pillow and squish it against my face.

“You are the most dramatic person I know. Have I mentioned that before?” she says.

“At least once a week,” I say, tossing the pillow up at her.

My Monday morning class ends at nine-thirty, so I’m going to be terribly early for my coffee date with Reid. Is it even a date? It sounded more like a coordinated run-in. I kept my outfit casual today, flared ripped jeans with a loose band T-shirt. My hair is braided into pigtails on either side. I can’t be bothered to try on Mondays, even if I’m about to see my childhood crush again. Except for my eyeliner, I always have time to do a winged eyeliner look.

The coffee shop is one of the three the campus has spread around. One is by my dorm, where Dane works, another is by the sciences buildings, and the third is near the main entrance and student bookstore. The inside is a simple scheme of dark wood with green accents, just like the other campus cafes. A few students are sitting at the tables, working on their laptops. There are some armchairs by the windows where a couple is chatting. I stand in line, looking at the menu, despite knowing exactly what I’m going to order.

“Fancy seeing you here,” a deep, raspy voice says to me, coating me in warmth.

I turn and see Reid standing in front of me in the flesh and not a figment of my imagination. He’s wearing dark wash jeans and a faded red Nirvana band T-Shirt. It’s as if we coordinated on outfits.

“Are you following me, Parker?” I tease him and nudge his side.

He laughs and scans my face, so I quickly do the same now that we are in the daylight. Even as years passed, he didn’t cease to make my nerves tickle, my center ache, and my breathing uneasy. It’s probably just my crush resurfacing, that’s all. Nothing more than that.

“What are you ordering?” He breaks my gaze and looks at the menu.