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

Sixteen

(Aria's POV)

Coffee with Dan obviously didn't go down as planned. Was I disappointed? A little bit. But not because of the last minute YouTube meeting or the fan, that came with his job, I understood. Mainly I was disappointed with the timing, but mostly in myself. I told myself I'd be more open, I mean he called me beautiful for gods sake, and I changed the topic to small talk about work. Any other girl would have called him handsome at least, because he was. Everyone knew that.

But the hug. Now that made me feel something, and I hope he felt something too. He didn't let go as quickly as I thought he would, he lingered. Or maybe I was just imagining what I'd hope he'd do.

I told Grace about it last night when I got home and she said that he liked me. I don't know if she's saying that because she truly believes it or only saying that because she's determined to get us together. Her proof to her theory being paying for my drink, him staying as long as possible before he had to go, and the hug. I wasn't convinced, even if he called me beautiful.

What I needed was unbiased advice from someone who didn't know me as well as Grace did. The only person I could think of was Bianca. But she may be too much of a stranger for this. We talked at work all the time, but she's only worked twice. Either way, I needed advice. I was just too inexperienced and confused.

The sunlight from yesterday had disappeared and the overcast had returned. It called for rain again so I quickly walked to work, not wanting to be damp in the store. Maybe I'd text Dan when I got there and ask him on another coffee date, or was it too soon? Probably too soon.

I enter the store, feeling just like the weather outside. Kinda gloomy, kinda happy, without a doubt confused. Why couldn't this just be easy? Sure, I didn't want to just jump into a relationship, but at the same time the lack of mixed signals would help. A lot.

"Hey Aria!" I hear Bianca say the moment I come into view. She's definitely becoming more comfortable around here.

"Hey. You're very cheery today."

"A Youtuber I like just put up a video so yeah, I'm very cheery!"

A smile begins to tug at my lips, "oh yeah? And who may that be?"

"His name is Dan, danisnotonfire."

What a coincidence this was, "I've heard of him. He seems funny."

"Oh he is! Him and his roommate Phil...."

I let her ramble on about him and I try to seem interested without letting on that I know him as more than just a Youtuber.

"He's kind of an inspiration to me and I always watch his videos when my parents ignore me. He's there to make me smile when no one else is."

My heart fills with sympathy, I know how that feels. How someone from across the globe can be more of a friend than people in your own town. I know what I have to do.

I pull out my phone and pray she doesn't notice me texting as she continues to ramble.

*Hey Dan! I hope this doesn't bother you, but the girl I said worked part time is a huge fan. I swear I wouldn't ask of this if I knew it wouldn't make her entire world. You're her sunshine*

"He's so cute too! Gah I'd kill to be his girlfriend but apparently he was seen with a girl yesterday morning drinking coffee. It's probably a girlfriend or someone he wants to be his girlfriend. I'm totally jealous but if he's happy, I'm happy."

My heart drops. The girl he was drinking coffee with was me. Fans were talking about me. That was weird to think and absolutely impossible to fathom.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I get Dan's reply.

*making my way over right now!*

I break out into a grin and I want to tell Bianca so badly but a surprise would be so much better. She takes off her sweater and I smile even more when I see she's wearing a Dan and Phil t-shirt. This was going to be perfect.

"One day I hope I get to meet him and tell him how much he's inspired me."

"I'm sure you will one day. Stuff like that happens when you least expect it."

"Hopefully I'll be that lucky one day."

"You will be. Trust me."

I'm damn near ready to jump up and down when I hear the door chime. Bianca is busy rambling still with her back to the door and completely oblivious to the fact that Dan is behind her.

"Ahem, could one of you lovely ladies help me?"

Bianca instantly stops talking, her face pales, and her eyes widen. She looks at me and mouths, "Is that Dan?"

All I do is smile. Her eyes fill with tears as she turns around and sees him. I have to stop myself from crying when all she does is move to hug him. Dan, being the sweetheart he is hugs her back for what feels like hours, but in reality is only a minute.

I let Bianca have her moment with Dan and I leave to sweep towards the back. I'm beyond happy for her. Even though I barely I knew her, I understood what she was going through. This was the least I could do.

All I wanted right now was to make people as happy as Dan made me.

-

"You did that, didn't you?" Bianca's voice interrupts me as I'm dusting the bookshelves.

"Hm? Did what?" I ask innocently.

She grins, "thank you."

"You're welcome."

We share a silent moment until her eyes widen, "Wait... are you the girl he was drinking coffee with?! The girl everyone is talking about on twitter and tumblr?!"

"Uh, yeah... That's a thing."

"OH MY GOD! HE WAS THE GUY YOU WERE TEXTING RIGHT?!"

I can't help but blush, "Yeah... he was."

"Ohmygosh this is amaziiiiiiiing!!! Dan Howell has a crush on you!!"

"He doesn't have a crush on me."

"ARE YOU KIDDING?!"

"Shhhh! Keep it down! We're supposed to be working you know."

"Sorry! Gah! This is just so exciting! He totally likes you, I know it! And you like him too, you said it yourself the other day."

"Okay yeah, I like him. But he doesn't feel the same way and he probably never will."

"Why wouldn't he? You're pretty, funny, creative, super nice, etc. He'd be dumb to not like you."

I'm at a loss for words, she was another Grace. Both were saying the same things and all it was doing was confusing me more. It was giving me hope, probably false hope too. I wanted him to like me, I really did, but there was a part of me still tainted from my past that was refusing to let people in. Even though the majority of me wanted to destroy the walls around me, there was still a little yet dominant part of me that was screaming that I was better off alone. Yesterday I was so set on showing him that I was able to let people in but now I was hesitant again and I didn't know why. It was beyond irritating.

"Remember when I said you shouldn't let an opportunity pass you by?" I hear Bianca say, ripping me out of my thoughts. "This is one of those opportunities. Go for it, take the risk. Follow your heart and don't push him away."

The isolated part of me was screaming at me to ignore her advice but despite it's protests I knew she was right. I couldn't let him go.

A/N IM SEEING ONE DIRECTION IN EXACTLY ONE WEEK AND THEN IM SEEING 5SOS 5 DAYS AFTER!! I DON'T KNOW HOW IM GOING TO HANDLE IT!! IM GONNA SOB BUT IM SO EXCITED!! sorry just needed to let that out! hope you're enjoying the story!