How I Met Dan Howell

Chapter 4: Pinch Me

"Taylor? Dan, I think she is starting to wake up!" someone shouts. "Tay, you alright?"

l wake up to Mackenzie's voice. I try to take in my surroundings, but I have a splitting headache. My head feels damp. Oh, it's a cool rag. No doubt Mackenzie knew what she was doing when I fainted. I look around and notice the white walls and a scary-ass mask on the wall.

......

Wait

I know that mask

And this black couch with Pokemon pillows.

Then I realize...

Oh...My...God

I'm in the apartment.

I'm in THE apartment.

I'm in the apartment that I've seen on my computer screen so many times. Now all that's missing is-

"How is she? Has she-" I see the tall, brown-eyed boy who had opened the door right before I blacked out. I looked at him, and it was like the first time I had ever seen this man, even though I have watched this person on my screen for hours on end, admiring him. and I was in his home.

"Are you alright, Taylor?" I melted at the sound of his voice, the same voice I have heard through my headphones through the latest nights and the earliest mornings. And he knew my name.

"Tay, are you OK?" I hear Mack next to me, concerned.

"Yeah, sorry. I guess I'm just really hungry," I look at the man and say, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you, let alone faint at your doorstep."

He looks at me, confused, and started to chuckle. "There's no need to be sorry. You needed help, so, I allowed you and your friend in so she could take care of you. Would you like something to drink? I could get you some ibuprofen."

"Uh...," I couldn't utter a single word as I admired him with his long sleeve, dark gray hoodie, infamous black skinny jeans, black earrings, and his completely on-point hair!

"Just some water, please. I'll get her some ibuprofen. Thanks, Dan," Mackenzie said.

"Sure, no problem." He looks at me one last time before heading to the kitchen.

"Are you alright? How's your head?" Mackenzie asked, once again.

"Mack, I'm fine. Don't worry. Ok so...pinch me; I must be dreaming," I say as I roll my eyes.

She reaches towards my arm, pinching me, causing me to shriek. Dan rushes back in with a glass of water, spilling half of it on the way.

"Shit," he curses under his breath. "What's wrong? Is everything alright?" Dan asks, concerned and almost frightened.

"Oh uh, yeah. Sorry, I was just...worried about my friend, Gavin. That's who we were looking for in the first place." I explain nervously. God, I still can't believe it.

"Gavin had to take a call, something about his job. He should be back by now, actually. I'll be right back. I'm going to go check on him real quick and grab you your ibuprofen. Will you be ok?" Mackenzie looks at me, looking concerned.

"Yeah of course. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"Where's the bottle at?" she asks.

"Open the bottom front zipper pouch on my backpack. It's somewhere in there."

"Ok, I'll be back. Give me two seconds."

Mackenzie stood up and left, on her way to check on Gavin. I took in my surroundings once again, only to notice that Dan was still in the doorway, watching me.

He saw that I had noticed and got flustered.

"Oh um, here," he says, handing me a glass of water. He walks down the hall and opens the door. He grabs a cloth, probably to clean up the water he spilled.

"Thanks, I'm so sorry again. I'm such an idiot sometimes."

"That's quite alright. I guess we all faint at others doorsteps from time to time," he says, jokingly.

I chuckle a bit. "Yea, I guess I was just really hungry. I haven't eaten breakfast yet," I explain.

"Oh well, it's already 10 til 11:00. Would you like something? I can go grab some lunch, if you'd like."

"Oh no, I'm fine, really. There's no need to inconvenience you anymore than I already have," I say as I go to stand up, only to feel dizzy and almost fall.

"Oh God," I hear Dan says, as he rushes to catch me. "Taylor, are you alright?" he says, looking at me with his dark brown eyes that you can get lost in. "Taylor?"

"Yeah, sorry. Just kinda...spaced out for a second."

"Here," he say, motioning towards the couch behind us. "just sit down here until your friend gets back."

I do as he says and I sit down. He sits next to me, leaving a bit of space between us.

We each sit in awkward silence for a few minutes until Dan speaks up.

"So, I guess that's one way to meet new people," he says jokingly.

"Oh my god, I'm so dumb. You don't even know me and I'm in your house," I say, freaking out.

He places a hand on my shoulder and says,"Hey, it's cool. How about this: Why don't we just start over? Hi," he takes the hand off my shoulder and puts it out in front of me. "I'm Dan."

I stare at his hand trying to think of what to say. Should I tell him I've seen his videos and idolized him for years? No, that's kinda stalker-creepy. Should I tell him I have my own Youtube channel and ask if he knows me? No, he doesn't even know me. It's not like I have nearly as many subscribers as him. Oh god, Taylor. You're so stupid sometimes. Just tell him your name.

"Hi, I'm Taylor," I say, as I reach out to shake his hand.

A/N Yay! Taylor and Dan finally met. As you can see, I try to make the story very descriptive so it's interesting. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Love y'all.

Today's song of the day is Uma Thurman by Fall Out Boy