Shady's obsession

4.

I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous as I walked towards the coffee shop. Hailie and I had exchanged numbers and had been texting back and forth for a few weeks, but this was the first time we were meeting up in person. I took a deep breath and walked into the cozy little shop.

I saw Hailie waving from a corner table, and a wave of relief washed over me as I made my way towards her. "Hey, Hailie!" I exclaimed, giving her a quick hug.

"Hey, Hazel! I'm so glad you could make it," she replied with a smile.

As we settled into our seats, I couldn't help but admire how put-together Hailie looked. She had on a cute little sundress and her makeup was impeccable. I, on the other hand, had thrown on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

Hailie noticed my gaze and laughed. "Don't worry about it, Hazel. You look great," she reassured me.

I smiled back at her, grateful for her kind words. As we chatted, I found myself becoming more and more comfortable around Hailie. She was easy to talk to, and it was clear that she genuinely cared about getting to know me.

We talked about everything from our favorite TV shows to our hopes and dreams for the future. It was refreshing to be around someone who was so genuine and down-to-earth.

Before I knew it, it was time for me to head home. "I had a great time, Hailie. We should do this again soon," I said, giving her another hug.

"I'd love that," she replied, smiling. "Let's make plans to hang out again next week."

I left the coffee shop feeling happy and energized. It was clear to me that Hailie and I were going to be good friends, and I couldn't wait to finally focus on making connections with people other than my boyfriend.