FALLING IN LOVE AT A COFFEE SHOP | D.H [✓]

Nine

(Dan's POV)

Today I'm meeting up with Aria at Takk again. I have to say, I'm really enjoying whatever we have right now. I'd like to say we're friends at this point despite not knowing each other for very long and I hope she feels the same way. I'm excited to see her again but the nerves are still there. I'm always terrified I'll say something stupid or we won't know what to talk about. I guess we'd have to figure it out.

I get dressed and head out of my room and go to tell Phil I'm leaving until I realize he's still asleep. It's funny, before her I'd always be the last one out of bed but now I'm getting up early. Willingly too. He'd figure out I went out when he wakes up so I leave the flat and begin the walk to Takk.

The walk is short and I soon arrive to see Aria already sitting at her usual spot. I wave at her through the window and smile when she returns it. She stands up as I walk in and we go get our food and drinks after we say our formal "hellos" and "how are yous."

She always looks lovely no matter what she wears. Today she's wearing a black sweater and black ripped skinny jeans. Her choice of colour, or lack of it I should say, makes me smile. We were similar in that way.

"I watched some of your videos by the way, they're actually really funny and relatable." she says.

I blush. I didn't think she'd actually end up watching them.

"Oh thank you. They aren't that great but I'm trying."

"Aren't that great? Are you kidding? They're amazing and the amount of subscribers you have shows that."

"I guess... I just can't praise myself I guess. I find it weird and I always feel like I can do better."

"Well I think you should praise yourself more but I definitely get where you're coming from. I can't praise myself either. There's always someone out there that can do something better than me."

"I doubt that, you seem pretty awesome to me."

A slight blush creeps onto her cheeks or I'm just imagining it. I hope I'm not.

"I never asked you, why do you want to work in a publishing company?"

"Um, I'm not entirely sure to be honest. I guess I like being around books and everything and I enjoy writing so it seemed like something I'd like."

"You enjoy writing? Have you ever considered being like an author or journalist or something?"

"I did actually... I've always wanted to be an author and share stories with people but I'm not a very good writer. There are so many amazing authors and stories out there, I feel like I wouldn't be able to compete with that. I'm too much of an amateur."

"So? If you enjoy writing you should do it, despite others. Yeah, there might be better authors but one day that could be you."

"Yeah I guess so. I don't know. I've never let anyone actually read my stuff so I don't even know if I'm decent or not."

"I'd love to read your stuff. If you wanted to of course! It's your decision. But I'm here."

She smiles, "I'll think about it."

"Good. I just think you should do whatever you have to do to be happy."

"What would I write about though? I don't have many good ideas."

"You could write about anything. Yourself, another realm, I mean you could even write about me."

Dan, why the hell did you say that?

Her lips curl up into a smirk, "you huh?"

I nervously laugh and lick my lips, "uh yeah, sure. I mean you could write about literally anything."

Now you've done it. It was about time I slipped up and said something stupid.

"Hm, the incredible adventures of Dan Howell. Youtuber, Internet cult leader by day and secret agent assassin by night."

I laugh, "Sounds like a bestseller to me. I'd buy it."

"Maybe it could turn into a movie too, who could we have play you?"

"Definitely someone with abs. That way it matches perfectly."

She bursts out into laughter and I join her. This was so ridiculous and I couldn't help but love it. I'm happy she didn't take my comment about writing about me the wrong way.

"So Phil convinced you to do YouTube, yeah?"

"Yes, he did."

"How'd that happen? Were you friends in high school?"

"No actually. We met over the Internet. I watched his videos and we started talking on there and then we would Skype. He convinced me to start YouTube and one day we met up and shot a video together. We became best friends after that and moved in together. It's been pretty great."

"That's really cool. It's funny how when we were younger we'd be warned to never talk to strangers on the Internet and now people find their best friends over it."

"Right? Times sure have changed."

"They really have."

"So you and Grace are friends right? How'd you two meet?"

"Here actually. When I moved to Manchester I knew absolutely no one and I had no idea where anything was. One day I was just walking and I found Takk and I decided it was one of my favourite places in the world. She always made small talk when I ordered coffee and eventually the friendship just grew because I came in everyday. Now she's my best friend and I wish I knew her back in high school, it sure would have made the experience nicer."

"I'm surprised you didn't have a lot of friends in school. I'd definitely be friends with you."

"You probably wouldn't have. I was the definition of a dork and outcast. I mean I may as well have been invisible. But then again, I had a habit of pushing people away. I was always afraid of getting too close to someone just to have them turn on me and leave."

This makes my heart sink. What could have happened to this girl to make her build her walls up so high? But then again, why was she bringing them down for me?

"Anyways enough of my sad childhood. Let's talk about something else."

We continue to make small talk until she has to leave for work.

"I had a nice time, thanks for meeting me again." I tell her.

"Anytime Dan, trust me, I really enjoy your company."

"I enjoy yours too. Think about the writing thing for me, okay?"

"Okay."

"I'm serious, I really think you should consider it."

She pauses but soon smiles, "Okay, I will. For you."

My cheeks heat up again and she leaves the coffee shop leaving me breathless once again. What was it about this girl? I feel like I'll never know the answer. All I know is that I wanted to make her feel loved and not alone. I want her to feel like she can trust me and won't ever have to put up those walls to block me out. As long as I had power over myself, I'd never leave her, as long as she wanted me here.