Overthinking It || j. m. (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

1.

Chapter 1

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I always imagined that the first time I talked to James McVey, I'd have one of those cliché moments that girls have longed for since the first romance novel hit the shelves of the first bookstore. You know what I'm talking about- the casual bumping into you, his eyes growing wide at the sight of the most beautiful girl he's ever seen, and the way his perfectly shaped lips form his first words to you that will forever stick in your memory. And then from there the rest would he history.

The problem was I wasn't beautiful, or normal, or even the tiniest bit desired. You could call me the 'ugly duckling'- the one everyone looks at with perplexed faces because I was the 'odd' one. With my dulling rainbow-dyed hair, I was labeled as the outcast and sentenced to life with one friend, eating lunch in the corner of the cafeteria for all my years of high school.

Now don't expect me to give a long explanation on why I choose the dyed hair or the weird fashions, because I honestly don't have a definite answer. Taylor says it's because I want attention from everyone, but truthfully I would only want attention from one person. That one person who's been the secret target of my affections since second grade- the gorgeous and godlike James McVey.

For ten years I've wanted him to say just a single word to me, maybe a "Hi!" or even a "Hey!" after our magical moment of clichéness that only happened in my dreams. But I was left to the seemingly never ending admiring from a far and the nervousness every time James walked by me without even giving me the slightest glance.

He floods my thoughts every second of every day and with every day that passes by I remind myself that if it's supposed to happen it will, eventually. Now I never thought the universe would decide that the most embarrassing day of my life would also be the day all my dreams would finally come true.

I was in art- my favorite class in all my years of school- and I was sat on a paint splattered stool in front of a blank canvas on the easel that stood with the others in a semicircle around the classroom. The distinct smell of the paint, the complete freedom to express yourself in each brushstroke and every sculpture, the easy A+ that shows up on my report card for just showing up- all these things contributed to my love of my last period art class. But one thing that stood above them all was getting to see James' bored face as he suffered through the 50 minute period.

My arm hovered perpendicular to the white canvas, waiting for something to inspire me so that I could paint a picture. Our assignment was simple- draw something that inspired you, something that when you see it you instantly become happier.

My amber eyes were aimlessly scanning the room, looking for anything that would lead me down the pathway to inspiration when suddenly they landed on James.

He looked bored, like always, in his simple gray v-neck that was stretched along the neckline, showing off his defined collar bone, and his black skinny jeans that had a rip on the knee of both legs. His golden hair was gelled up perfectly towards the sky and his slim, yet toned arm was held up to his canvas with a paint brush held firmly in his hand. A pair of black earbuds were jammed into his ears and his head was bobbing slightly to the beat of the music. Everything on his face from his high cheekbones to his angular jawline screamed boredom but his piercing blue eyes looked focused on his project.

Turning my attention back to my own project, I began to slowly construct my muse, my inspiration, my James.