Time after time

I want to dance with somebody

Elle POV

Chloe had invited me to come shopping with her after my classes on this Wednesday afternoon. Despite the fact that Chloe was originally Noah's best friend, I realize that she is becoming one of my very good friends as well. She doesn't seem to have hesitated for a second to take me under her wing since she came back to Boston. She offered to help me with my required classes and introduced me to her roommate, Rebecca, who is studying pre-med, to help me with my specialty courses. Today, she was happy to show me around downtown Boston and show me her favorite shops. While walking together on the sidewalk, Chloe asked me:
- How did you find your first day at university, Elle?

I hadn't really stopped to ask myself this question until Chloe asked me. I was fortunate that Noah did this class with me this morning. It was great to be able to know someone in that unfamiliar auditorium. And even that, doing this psychology course together, Noah and I, will probably give us a common basis to analyze and talk about what we're experiencing. But later that afternoon when I met a girl I'd met in that class, she referred to me as Flynn's girlfriend without trying to find out my name. It's not that I don't like being connected to Noah, on the contrary. But at the same time, I hoped to be known to myself as an individual as well. Chloe took a few minutes to think about what I told her before telling me:
- Probably not in medical school, but actually elsewhere on campus you're probably going to be known as Flynn's girlfriend, Elle! Does that bother you?
- I think I'd like to be known for who I am and not just who I am through my boyfriend. Even though my relationship with Noah is a part of me.
- At first, surely people will be curious about who this girl is that our quarterback has fallen madly in love with! I was also curious when we first met to find out what kind of girl could have seduced a guy like Flynn to literally see her in his soup.

I laughed at Chloe's description!
- I quickly realized, Elle, that Noah had found an amazing girl that helped him feel like himself. He's not the same when you're not around. I think people will only realize the positive effect you have on each other. And then they're going to want to get to know you. Look at how it went with Greg, Abby, and Rebecca. And even Caleb told me last Saturday at a restaurant that he considered you one of the nicest girls to be around.

I smiled at Chloe's comment. It's only a matter of time before I get to know the people on campus. In fact, Noah's presence simply allowed me to arrive at Harvard already having a group of friends.

Chloe and I spent a good part of the afternoon picking out a dress for Friday night. This was the first university fraternity party I'll be attending and I enjoyed getting Chloe's opinion on what's better to wear. She's better at her advice than Lee and I secretly suspect Noah was more than happy that Chloe offered me some shopping since it saved him from coming with me. I hadn't really taken the time to shop for clothes since I arrived in Boston. And let's just say that my wardrobe isn't really adapted to the cold temperatures that are going to arrive quite quickly according to Noah. I was hesitating between which items would be the most practical when Chloe told me:
- You don't have to choose, Elle. Anyway, Noah is paying and he told me to make you buy whatever you need.
- He can't do that! It's not up to him to pay to dress me.
- And why not? He wants to take care of you, Elle. I think he's very aware that coming here is a big financial effort for you. Either way, soon you're going to get married and he's going to pay for the rest of his life to dress you.

I was silent for a while, so much so that Chloe asked me what had disturbed me:
- It seems like I'm having a hard time letting someone take care of me. Like I'm less vulnerable if I take care of myself, all by myself. I don't know why," I said, looking at the ground.
- Do you think it has anything to do with your mother?" asked Chloe with sympathetic eyes.
- Maybe! You feel so vulnerable when the person who took care of you the most disappears. Did I protect myself from others so I wouldn't feel abandoned again?
- That would be worth watching, Elle, but let Noah take care of you! You're going to be stronger if you form a team. And then, you wash his clothes well! I used to charge him my time when I was doing his laundry last year. Think of it as your paycheck!