Breathe

Chapter Three (Unedited)

Casey 

It's been fifteen minutes and Niall hasn't replied. Not even a blunt rejection which I have no doubt is coming at any second now. Every second passing I'm getting more and more humiliated with myself. I probably look so desperate. 

I can't believe I asked him to hang out. He only asked me if we wanted to be study partners not friends. Niall was probably only trying to be nice. It isn't that hard to read my face like an open book, to see that I'm introverted. I'm aware that I look like a drowning puppy most of the time. 

Casey heads down to the dorms lounge room and situates herself on one of the numerous couches. She settles in with her new Stephen King book and her Ipod, hoping to lose herself in a different reality.  

An hour passes before she deems herself safe to go back to her room. On the short walk to her room, Casey checks her phone at least twenty times. Making sure her phone volume is on and the message actually went through. Of course it did, it's 2014, almost every message sent makes it to it's recipient. 

Jennifer and her friends are sitting in different seats all around the small dorm room. Obviously unwelcome, Casey awkwardly makes her way to her small bed. Not sure how to make small talk or even if it would be kindly received, she plugged in her headphones and started to watch a movie on her laptop. She can feel eyes boring into her and a queasiness in her stomach. 

Casey wasn't a fan of confrontation. She never stood up to Jennifer's belittling and just let it happen. She wanted to get to the root reason of why Jen had a dislike to her. She had tried to relate to her, even take her out to hang out. All of advances for friendship was abruptly declined. Taking out her ear buds, Casey decided it was now or never to try and disprove any ugly things that may have been said about her. 

"Hey you must be Jennifer's friends. I'm Casey."

The glares sent her way proved that she was not highly thought of by these people. At least they can't say she's a snob or rude. 

"Yeah we've heard about you. I'm Jesse. I really like your top. Where'd you get it?"

Jesse was actually being friendly and nice. She was wearing a sorority shirt and donning a big smile. Casey couldn't tell if the smile was authentic but at least one of them was treating her like a human. 

"Oh thanks! I got it from Target actually."

Right after the words left her mouth, Casey's phone started ringing. 

"I better take this. It was really nice to meet you guys."

Casey walks out of the tension filled dorm room to see who was on the other end of the phone. The name Niall lit up on the screen. Why didn't he just answer with a no instead of making it multitudes worth by having to hear the words coming out of his mouth?

"Hey Niall. What's up?"

"Hey Cas, I just saw your text. I'm sorry for taking forever to reply, I was at practice. If the movies still on I would totally be up for it!"

"Oh no it's fine. I'm sure it's still showing. I'll meet you at the theater?"

"Yeah sounds great! See you there."

"See ya!"

Casey

This is actually happening. I had almost forgotten about the invitation I had sent to him. I wonder if this counts as a date? I'm not going to look too deeply into this. No need to make things awkward. Well more awkward than they're already going to be. 

The night had a brisk, cold feel to it. Casey didn't feel it through her jacket and anxious feelings. Turning the corner, the campus theater comes into view. In front, with a huge smile on his face, is Niall. The contagiousness of his happiness, erases the unease she's feeling and replaces it with dozens of butterflies. It was a nice replacement to the usual ache she felt. The feeling of comfortableness felt foreign to Casey but she prayed it would stay familiar to her. 

The next few hours would be a welcome vacation from her painful reality. 

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for the shorter chapter! I've had writers block for the past few days :P I'll try to update this story at least once a week. Thank you so much for reading! Please leave comments or vote :)