How I Met Dan Howell

Chapter 3: The Tall Brown-Eyed Boy

I wake to my alarm on my phone blaring 'Teenage Dirtbag' by Wheatus. I've loved the song ever since I saw Dan and Phil lip-sing to it on their radio show streamed by BBC Radio 1.

I turn my alarm off and sit up, still drowsy, and check the time on my phone.

8:37 A.M.

Great!

We have exactly 23 minutes to get ready and get to Gavin's apartment for breakfast. I turn to my left and see Mackenzie, still asleep. 

"Mack, come on. Time to get up."

"Ugh, I don't wanna. Too sleepy."

"Do you want to be late to Gavin's place? We have to be there in less than half an hour."

I watched her as her eyes flung open, get up, and run to her room, almost falling on the way there, all in a single motion. I head to the bathroom to see how I look.

I look like a train wreck. My hair is curly and messed up, and I don't have enough time to take a shower, so I just take my comb out of my bag and part it on the left side. I take off the old makeup and reapply fresh eyeliner and mascara. I look at myself in the mirror.

Eh, I don't look too bad. I mean, I'm far from pretty, but when I put a little effort into how I look, I sometimes feel a bit better in general. I look at my stomach and know I need to lose weight. I'm not obese though. Sometimes I just don't feel comfortable in my own skin.

I look in the mirror and decide that I look decent to be in public, run down the hall to the second door on my right, and head into my bedroom.

I walk in and as soon as I look, I notice the white walls. Some would say it's plain and bear, but I say it symbolizes a clean, fresh start. 

I walk over to the closet on my left, and see all my shirts and pants are all hung up. I know that Gavin hung them up because they are in order of color and shade; exactly how I told him I preferred them to be. Stupid OCD. I look through my clothes and decide on my nice, black polo. I may dress like a tomboy, but I like it that way. I know I'm a girl, i just happen to think boys clothes are more comfortable. I grab a pair of dark colored jeans and put them on and head to the bathroom to get a final glimpse of my outfit, only to bump into Mackenzie on the way there.

"Hair check?" I say, as it has always been our thing if we are late. We hardly ever use full-length sentences if we can help it. It's just easier.

"Hair check," she knowingly responds.

We go in and check to see if we seem at least half-way presentable. Mackenzie is wearing a pair of skinny jeans and one of her many church camp shirts. I never went because I didn't go to church. I never really had a religion and I don't to this day.

"Wow, you look great," I said, honestly.

"Thanks! You look great, as well. You ready to go?"

"No, I'm still really tired. But yeah, I guess I have to be."

"Yeah, same. Let's go. We only have a few minutes to get there."

We run out of the apartment and head down the stairs. By the time we are in the lobby, we are exhausted. Well, I was exhausted.

"Taylor, come on, we have to go now."

"Just give me a sec." I sit and regain my lost breath. "Ok, let's go."

We run out the door and out to the sidewalks and are greeted by the amplified noises of buses, cars, and most of all....people. Great, I'm going to look like an idiot running down the sidewalk like a lunatic. We run down about 4 blocks to another set of apartments. We walk to the front and press the intercom button that says 'Simms' next to it.

"Hey girls!!"

"Hey, Gavin," we say in unison. I swear....

"Come on up. I got food!"

"FOOD!!!!" I yell, not caring about the 20 people around me. I'm starving.

We hear the buzzer go off, indicating allowance through the front door. We head up to his apartment, which is up about as high as ours is, panting by the time we get there.

"Mack, how are you not tired from going up and down these stairs?!" I asked, perplexed.

"I'm used to it. Remember? I was on the basketball team in middle and the softball team in high school."

"Yeah, but I did a lot of running too. I was on the wrestling team."

"I don't know what to tell you, Taylor." She says as we spot Gavin's door and we both knock at the same time.

"All I'm saying is, he better have cooked bacon," I say, a bit aggravated but the lack of food in my stomach.

"I'm sure he did, Taylor. Gavin knows you, I'm sure-." Mackenzie was cut off by the sound of a doorknob turning and the squeaking of hinges.

"Hello?"

A tall, brown-eyed boy stands in the doorway and my heart explodes. Next thing I know...I have fainted.

A/N So, Taylor, who is me, finally sees this gorgeous boy. Who is he? You'll have to read the next chapter to find out. Thanx for your support. Love y'all!

Today's song of the day is Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus