Now That You're Here (Reader X Rachel LIS)

Chapter 1

You sat on the brick, checking KiK on your phone, looking up when you saw someone get pushed over onto the grass. At Blackwell, this was common, so you looked back down at the phone almost immediately. However, you couldn't keep yourself from looking up again, and instead of seeing the person on the ground still, you met large golden-brown eyes and a shy smile.

"Hi!" She peeps at you. "I'm Rachel, and I... I'm new, so I have no friends."

Her left ear has a blue-Jay feather hanging off a ceremonial piece of wood, attached to an earring piece. It peeked your interest, as she did in general.

"I'm (Y/N)," You said, offering your hand out to her. "Nice to meet you."

She shook it gently, brushing a strand of strawberry blonde hair out of her eyes a little. "Nice to meet you, too."

You stood up now, looking at her earring still. You wondered if it meant something, but eventually just shrugged it off and offered to give her a tour of the female dorms.

"So... Do you need a tour?" You asked, giving a warm smile.

"Yes," she said, smiling shyly once more. "That'd be nice, thank you."

Blushing a little from the smile, you took her hand softly and opened up the door, asking what her room number was.

"I think the key says two-twenty-four? Here," she said, offering it out to you.

You took the metallic object in your hand, staring at it intently before getting a good number out of it. She'd been right, it was two hundred twenty-four. You handed the key back to her and had her follow you up the stairs.

You let her have some time to warm up to the second floor, and let her get a good idea of where she'd practically live for the rest of her Blackwell scholarship, when she asked you where your room was. You didn't want to be rude, but of course, you didn't exactly want to offer that to a stranger either.

"It's actually 221," You said truthfully, deciding against lying. "Uh, Victoria moved."

"So it's just three down?" She asked, cocking her head to the side a little bit, smiling gently.

Ignoring the little blue butterflies in your stomach, you answered her question. "Yeah," you said. "Just three, I can show you now if you want?"

"Nah," she said sadly. "I have homework."

"On your first day?" You asked, thinking. "That's messed up."

She giggled, another butterfly erupting up your throat. "I know, right?"

There was something about this Rachel that made you want to be closer to her, to let her stay longer. Wanted to be her best friend.

"Well, do you want to do your homework together? What class are you taking?" You asked, (Y/E) eyes sparkling in the light, glinting out towards her.

"Sure!" She said, not short of enthusiasm. "Uh, photography."

"Alright, well..." You started, bringing out your room key from your back pocket. "Grab your stuff, just knock on the door when you get there, okay?"

She nodded, turning to open her door, the key clicking twice before she got it open and disappeared inside the open doorway. You walked the rest of the way to your room, disappointed that she was taking so long. You twisted your room key inside your doorknob, easing the door open gently, only to see your huge mess and unbelievable amount of rock and indie band posters. This had to be cleaned up before Rachel got here, it'd be a horrible first impression on your room and personality.

You started by cleaning all the clothes up off the floor and proceeded into folding them and putting them into the closet neatly. And... That's where you ended as well. Your room was a little cleaner then it had been, at least there was that.

Knock, knock, knock.

You walked over to the door, easing it open a little, seeing your new friend with a couple books, a camera, and a few Polaroids she'd brought to compare shooting styles with you. Of course, you'd been taking photography as well. You held the door open wider, allowing her inside the room.

"Thanks," she said, dropping the books gently and neatly into your desk. "Whew."

You smiled warmly again, getting a feeling that smiling would be one of your favorite emotions around Rachel. You already felt as if the two of you were best friends, and you liked that feeling. You wanted to be her best friend, whether somebody else befriended her and you stayed her true best friend, or if nobody else came along.

"Anytime." You said, heart pounding, meaning it.

"I mean it," she said, wrapping her arms around your neck in a tight hug. "I just met you, and despite your bad-girl looks and personality, you're already my best friend!"

You hugged her back with one arm, and then broke away. "I should introduce you to Max," you said, then, looking at the clock, you added, "tomorrow."

Her hair brushed against your cheek gently, more butterflies rustling in your stomach.

"I could use more friends," she said, chuckling. "But now, you'll always be my best friend. You were the first, and if the others break away, you'll be the last. Right?"

"That's right," You said, staring at her in her golden brown eyes. "I'm never leaving you."

She props herself up on your bed, bringing out a paper and pencil, along with sitting her camera easily onto the soft bedcovers. You gave her several answers, and she finished her homework eventually. You took turns taking pictures, erupting more of that beautiful laughter from Rachel as you did so. After that, you sat and chit-chatted for awhile, asking Rachel many questions, including where'd she'd came from, and other things. She answered them all, giggling at some of the answers you gave to her questions.

It was eight now, you'd actually chatted for an hour straight. Rachel seemed to be having fun- you had an idea.

"Hey, Rachel?" You spoke up. "I have a question."

"Hmm?" She hummed.

"How would you like to just spend the night tonight? I mean, I have some clothes you can use that are too small for me-"

She hushed you and nodded yes, smiling warmly again. "Yes," she said. "I think that'd just be smart, right? It's already too late, so.."

"That's what I'm saying," You said. "You can have the bed, and I'll take the couch."

She smiled. "Let's not be immature about this," she said softly. "But I'm pretty sure it isn't necessary to do anything like that. It's not like we're going to do anything."

You nodded, handing her the clothes and turning around.

She turned back around, staring at you contently. After another two hours of doing nothing in particular, she said, "I think it's time to go to bed."

You yawned and nodded. "Yep, I'm hella tired."

Not waiting for her, you walked over to your bed and plopped down, pulling the covers over you. When Rachel curled her arm around your stomach, curling around your frame, pulling you into a cuddle, it sends chills down your spine. Why was she doing this so early into the friendship? And why did she like you in general? Nobody else did.

She kissed behind your ear softly.

"You're so cute," was the last thing you heard before drifting into sleep.