I Fell In Love With A Stranger (Dylan O'Brien LS)

Chapter 2

Jessica

Black skinny jeans.
Black peplum top.
Red leather sandals.
Red leather handbag.

I checked myself in the mirror one last time, smoothing my shirt as my gold ID necklace rested against my collarbone. My hair was straight, makeup simple but bold—gold eyeshadow, sharp black liner, red lipstick.

I looked ready.

Which did nothing to calm my nerves.

I was sitting on my bed when my bedroom door swung open.

"Thanks for knocking," I said dryly.

Danielle plopped down in front of me, hands folded in her lap, smiling like she knew something I didn't.

"What?" I asked.

"Dylan O'Brien is in the living room," she said casually.
I froze.

"He's here already?"

I glanced at the clock. 2:59.

"He's early," I muttered, standing up.

"Why is he here?" Danielle asked, following me.

"He's taking me to lunch," I said, grabbing my bag.

Her eyes widened. "Seriously?"

She spun me around. "Go head, girl!"

"I'm nervous," I admitted, closing my bedroom door.

"Why?"

"Because I have a crush on a guy I never thought I'd actually meet," I said as we walked toward the living room.

"That might be it," she nodded.

When we stepped inside, Dylan was sitting on the couch, hands clasped together.

"Hey," I said, smiling.

"Hi," he replied, standing up.

"You look nice," I said, sitting beside him.

"Yeah... you look great," he said, eyes flicking over me just long enough to make my stomach flip.

"I think you've already met Danielle," I said.

"Yeah," he replied.

"Well, are you ready?" I asked, standing.

"Yup."

I opened the door.

"Have fun, you two," Danielle called.

We both laughed.

Dylan

She looked incredible.

The elevator ride down was quiet—charged, but quiet. I stood beside her, close enough to feel the warmth of her arm.

"You have a nice living room," I said.

"Thanks," she smiled.

The elevator doors opened and I let her step out first.

"My car's this way," I said.

Once we were inside, I pulled onto the road.

"Music?" I asked.

"Sure."

A country song came on. We both burst out laughing, and I quickly changed the station.

One Direction's Kiss You started playing.

She reached over and grabbed my hand.

I glanced at her. "Really?"

"Leave it," she said, smiling.

"Are you a fan?" I asked.

"Fan? No. Directioner? Yes."

"Good," I said. "Because I am too."

She laughed. "We're gonna get along perfectly."

She sang along softly, her voice smooth and natural.

"I didn't know you could sing," I said.

"I probably sound like a drowning cat."

"You don't," I said honestly. "You sound amazing."

She looked at me. "Really?"

I nodded.

We pulled into the park.

"Ooh, a picnic," she said.

"I hope that's okay."

"Of course it is."

We set up under some shade, sitting cross-legged across from each other.

"This looks really good," she said.

"It gets better," I smiled, checking my watch. 3:34.

Jessica

"Let's play twenty-one questions," I suggested.

We went back and forth, laughing, learning little pieces of each other. It felt easy. Natural.

When the questions ran out, he laid on his side, propping his head up.

"You never asked my birthday or favorite color."

"I know your birthday," I smirked. "Favorite color?"

"Blue."

"Mine's lavender," I said, dipping a grape into Nutella.

He tried it and made a face.
"It's... interesting."

"At least you tried."

When we lay back on the blanket, the silence felt comfortable.

Our faces were close. Too close.

I wanted to kiss him.
But I didn't.

"Wanna dance?" he asked.

"To what?"

He pulled out his phone.

What Makes You Beautiful played, and he held out his hand.

We danced badly. Loudly. Laughing until we collapsed onto the blanket.

"This was fun," he said.

"Really fun."

"Sing for me," he asked softly.

I hesitated. "I don't sing for people."

"I already heard you."

I sighed. "Fine. But don't record me."

I sang. When I finished, he just stared.

"That was incredible," he said.

"Thank you."

I sang one more. When I finished, his hand rested on my knee.

"You're amazing," he said.

Dylan

We packed up as the sun dipped lower.

I took her hand as we walked to the car, our fingers fitting together easily.

She smiled.

At her building, I parked and turned to her.

"I had fun," she said.

"Me too."

She leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"Later, Dylan."

I watched until she disappeared inside before driving away.

And for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like anything was missing.