Malarie (Mal) is a 21 year old, city raised woman who works at a Waffle House in central California who so desperately wants to live in a small town. She is an early gen Z and feels like she doesn't fit in with her surroundings, she would love to ju...
I find myself laying in bed, my face squished against a pillow, contemplating the interaction hours earlier between Harry, Ree, and I. I don't know what to think. When I'm in the moment, I'm thinking that it's great, but after I always overthink and over analyze. So I'm laying here, going through every bit of the interaction.
Do I really want to go through with this potential friendship? What about my plans to not put anymore roots down. Don't be silly Mal, I can make a friend and still have a clear goal. He isn't that big of a distraction. It will be good to have another friend. Not that I need one.
I go back and forth, back and forth.
I'm brought out of my thoughts when my doorbell rings. I get up out of bed and head to the door. I'm more put together, clean cloths, hair put back in a clip, and my face clean. As I open the door, I am shocked to see Harry again. Third time in the last 48 hours. Alrighty then. He's wearing the same cloths he wore earlier. It's now 4:00pm and Ree had gone home. "Hey" he says with a smile. "Hey" I reply back, giving a smile. "Look, I know a lot has happened in the last, I don't know how long, but I feel like.. I need a pick me up, and I thought maybe you could use one too. Want some coffee?" He offers with a polite smile. I'm slightly taken back. "Ummm you know what". I can't stop it, the words fall out of my mouth before I even have time to think.. "I would love that. I'm just gonna go get dressed.. one sec". I say. He steps in the door, letting it close. As I turn back to my room to get dressed, my smile falters into panic.
Why did you do that?!?! I think to myself. I thought we decided to not put down roots? It's ok, it'll be ok. It's just coffee. And yeah, he's right, you do need a pick me up.
After having a lot of confrontation in my mind, and if anyone heard my thoughts, they would think I was crazy.. I go to my closet. Picking out some jeans and a loose button down, comfy, casual, fit for coffee. "Ok, looks good" I say to myself, smoothing my hands over my shirt.
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I take the clip out of my hair, messing it around with my hands to make it look better, and with that I make my way out of my bedroom and out to Harry.
"Hey, ready love?" He asks. "Yep" I smile, as we walk out of the apartment. As we get to the front doors of the building, I realize we haven't talked about how we are going to get to the coffee shop. And which coffee shop we were going to. Suddenly I feel anxious. Cursing myself for forgetting about my social anxiety. Come on Mal. You can do this.
"Hey.. um which shop are we going to?" I ask, hoping my voice doesn't sound so shaky. "Oh there's a new one just down the road, it's called beach wood, I think? But yeah, I thought we could go there." He asks. I smile, "oh.. yeah ok, let's go". I smile, still feeling a little anxious.
I watch him walk over to his car and unlock it. I stay sanding here in middle of the lot. "Are you.. gonna get in?" He asks tentatively. A kind smile on his face. I didn't realize he was driving.. but ok. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have gotten into a car with a man that I have only known for a few weeks, and not know all that well.
