Hopeless Romantic

Chapter 1: Meet Cute

"Grace"

My entire life I had felt alone. Not because I didn't have any friends or family but because it felt like no one truly knew me. What made me tick, what made me sad or happy or excited. Sure, I had friends who knew a few things but friends are still only so connected. I had never felt the passionate love of another being. Another person. It was degrading. It was exhausting. And most of all, it made me want to explore every corner of the earth to find someone who could fill that role.

In high school, I was never the girl guys ended up going for. Sure, there were the few I could have dated, but I either wasn't ready or they wanted the wrong thing. As I graduated and started my journey through college, the helpless feelings wagered on. As the second semester of freshman year crept up, I decided I needed to take action into my own hands. I ran to the library and as I bent over to catch my breath in front of the entrance, the door swung open and nailed me straight in the nose. I stumbled down and landed on my butt.

"Gosh, are you okay?"

I glanced up holding my nose. "Do I look okay?" I gritted out. The stranger reached out a hand. I begrudgingly took it. As he pulled me to my feet he bent down to inspect my face.

"I really am sorry, I didn't see you." As his eyes met mine my mind faltered. He was cute. Like really cute. His hair was curly and wispy and brown. His eyes were colored slightly lighter than his hair. They were filled with concern or what I assumed was concern. He appeared to be a few inches taller but not so tall his frame would be daunting. Glasses adorned his nose and his cheeks were pink from the chill. He wore a knit sweater under his winter coat and a scarf around his neck. He looked perfect. At least, perfect to me. As I finished my absorption of his appearance, I snapped my eyes back to his.

"Uh, it's okay I guess. As long as my nose looks fine." He moved his head back and forth inspectingly before righting himself and smiling. Gosh, I loved his smile too. It was slight and jovial.

"Looks good to me." He remarked.

I nod, "Good. Sounds good." He let out a breath of a laugh before turning toward the pathway.

"Sorry again for the bump," he stated turning slightly toward me as he walked away. "Nice to meet you!" As he turned fully away I let out a heavy breath. Now, I know I should have called out to ask for a name or a number or any way to have the possibility of meeting this man again but it truly felt helpless to bother. He probably had a girlfriend or a crush and it really wouldn't matter if I tried anyway so I turned myself back around and walked through the library doors.

"Sam"

Since elementary school, everyone has called me a nerd. It wasn't because I needed glasses or had bad acne, it was because I loved school. Teachers, classes, tests, quizzes. You name it I looked forward to it. What I didn't love was my classmates. Nearly every single one always felt the need to criticize what I loved.

"Sam why do you study so hard?" "Sam you're the teacher's pet!" "Sam, what's wrong with you?" "Sam no need to hide your mark we know you got a hundred!"

While some of them were true it always felt like they were bashing not just my interests but me as a person. This of course caused me to feel like I could never have any friends. I didn't lack social skills but it felt like anyone I tried to talk to felt intimidated by me or hated my guts. I had the occasional fellow who shared some outside-of-school interests like sci-fi movies or books, but most of them didn't like my focus on school and unwillingness to hang out on school nights so most of those friendships didn't last long. Thankfully, high school ended quicker than I could have hoped and I moved on to university.

University definitely allowed me to explore outside my bubble. I met great friends in all my classes and didn't feel the hatred I had in my hometown. People were friendlier, more open, more willing to inquire as to who I was. But, still, I prioritized my studies, my books, and my interests, so I often spent free time alone in the library or my dorm room. One day, however, in the second semester of freshman year I was exiting the library after having spent roughly 5 hours researching a topic for my Intro to Physics course when I bumped into someone, and by bumped I mean literally slammed the door into their face. I immediately rushed out the door to check on them. As the stranger slumped to the ground I noticed her fire red cheeks.

"Gosh are you okay?" She glanced up at me upon my question, fire in her eyes before she looked back at the ground. Her eyes were what caught my interest first. They were green, but not just green, more of a mix of blue and yellow to appear green. It felt like an analogy and I stored the thought away for later.

"Do I look okay?" She seemed angry so I reached out a hand to help her up. She took it and stood up. I moved myself lower to see if her face was okay.

"I really am sorry, I didn't see you." She locked her eyes with my own and I once again got to see the mystifying colors of her eyes. She gave me a hard look as her eyes swept me up and down. I did the same but quicker so as to avoid her catching me. Her hair was brown and every so slightly wavy. It went just past her shoulders and the top of it was stored nicely under a wool hat. She wore a blue hoodie and white sweatpants underneath a long winter jacket, her feet covered in white socks stored in light pink sandals. She had freckles that dotted mutely over her face and her cheeks were still pink, likely from the chill of the outdoors. As her gaze reached mine again, she spoke, "Uh it's okay I guess. As long as my nose looks fine." I mock inspected her appearance and smiled slightly. No flaw to be seen. "Looks good to me." She muttered what I believed was satisfaction and I let out a slight laugh, more breath than sound.

"Sorry again for the bump," I said as I turned to walk back to my dorm. Then turned slightly toward her before saying, "Nice to meet you!" I walked hurriedly back to my dorm embarrassment coloring my cheeks. I ran over the things I regretted from our interaction. Asking her for her name, her number, her major, or literally any identifying topic. Despite the regret, however, I decided that maybe its for the better I didn't find out her information. She probably has too many guys' phone numbers and mine would simply add to the weight. However, I did decide that if we were to ever meet again I would definitely get her name. 

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Note from Author: Hi! If you're reading this I'm so glad you gave my story a chance. I hope to write frequently if I can. I'm gonna just try to post when I have time since school keeps me pretty busy so multiple parts may go up at a time or sometimes it'll be a while. Each chapter is set up similarly. You'll likely get both POV's of my main characters because I always love when I get to see the responses of both main characters when I read books so I will try to do the same here. If you are really wanting a next part leave me comments and I'll try to be faster with it. I hope you will love all my characters. 

This story is supposed to be lighthearted but impressionable. I intend to write characters you love but occasionally hate only for the right reasons. While I think there is value in writing stories with characters who hurt or are in pain, I want my book to be very sweet. Like no third act breakup for bad reasons, no possessive boyfriend or player changed perfect. (though I do read both myself) This book is specifically for the hopeless romantics who want to read about a perfect, nerdy, sweetheard, written by a woman for woman. So, if that's not for you, that's cool! I of course still encourage you give it a try but if you're looking for smut, it won't be here (mostly because I can't write it but because I also want this story to be more about the love, the growth, the looks, the romance because that's what I want in real life of course). If you want mutual crushes, shared looks, blushes from both parties, and a cute nerd male lead then pleaseeeeee read ahead. 

Anyway, thank you for giving my story a read and I hope you enjoy! 

<3