Awakened

Look Both Ways

The alarm of my phone jolts me awake. With my eyes still closed, I pat around my bed until my fingers close around my cell phone. I turn it off and check the time, 6:00 AM. I slowly sit up, fling my blanket away from me, and hastily wipe the sleep from my eyes. I stretch from side to side and sleepily stare at my room's door for a minute. I am seriously regretting waking up early, especially since it's summer vacation. Now that I'm awake I guess it's time to go on that run.

I have decided that this summer will not be spent laying around in the house all day, eating junk food, and binge-watching Netflix. Okay, I might actually do that. I mean, come on, I need to know what's going to happen in Stranger Things. Anyway, this summer I am going to exercise and be healthier. Or at least try  to. I say this every summer, but this time I really want to stick to a good routine.

Forty-five minutes later, sweat is dripping down my spine and the sides of my face as my feet pound against the sidewalk. Music blasts though my ears and prevents me from hearing each of my loud, labored breaths.

I take a break and stop running, pulling out one earbud. I gulp down my water and press the cool surface against my face, while trying to maintain my breathing under control. Jeez, am I really that out of shape?  I mean I haven't had P. E. in over a year, but come on!

The park is quiet this early in the morning. It's not like parents are going to bring their kids here at the crack of dawn. The sun has just started to rise, casting a pink glow in the sky. I can already feel how hot the day is going to be. Just another typical California day.

I glance behind me where a guy I don't know is stretching his legs across a wooden bench. I can't see his face since his brown mess of curly hair is covering it, but his toned body makes my stare linger longer than appropriate.

I readjust my ponytail, make sure my shoe laces are securely tied, and set out on the park trail to finally end my run. I need some food in my system.

With both earbuds popped in, I try to focus only on the 1975's lyrics and block out my surroundings. That's what I like about running. I can think about nothing at all and focus on being in the moment.

I look down at my watch. I need to be home before seven and get ready for work. I'm about to cross a small road when, out of the corner of my eye, I register a small vehicle heading straight towards me. All of a sudden, there's a honk and a whoosh of air and I'm being flung back. I let out a small scream as my body smacks hard on the ground. My earbuds are splayed next to me, my bottle lying in the middle of the road.

Vaguely, I hear someone speaking to me and I look up. It's the guy from before. The one with the curly brown hair. I thought I left him far behind me, though.

I stare into his green eyes in shock as he asks if I'm okay. I slowly nod my head. "Yeah, yeah I think so."

He sighs in relief and runs his hands through his hair. "Thank god! I kept calling out to you but you wouldn't turn around," he motions to the earbuds, "Now I know why."

I vaguely register an English accent. I have never really heard one in person before. Only in movies and television shows.

He helps me up and I groan, dusting myself off.

"Thank you so much," I say breathlessly. "If you hadn't been there..." I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "Thank you."

"It's no problem, really. I just did what anyone would have done," he says as his eyes trail down to my leg. "You should get that scrape cleaned up before it gets infected."

"Oh, I'm not hurt." But sure enough when I look down, blood is already starting to seep through the top layer of my injured skin.

"It's the adrenaline," the mystery boy explains, "It's going to start stinging in a bit."

I nod even though it doesn't.

"What's your name by the way?" he asks while sticking one hand in his pocket.

"Y/N Y/L/N," I reply. "I live just down the street." Why did I offer that information?

He grins. "I live a couple blocks down. I just moved here this summer." He sticks out his hand for me to shake. "I'm Harry by the way. Harry Styles."

I shake his hand and smile. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise. Do you always run this path? I don't think I have seen you here before."

"I just started running this past week actually. I'm trying to exercise more."

He smiles. "How is it going so far?"

I shake my head. "Well, you saw what just happened. I think it's a sign I should stop."

He laughs. "Then how are we supposed to see each other again?"

Oh. "Maybe I can stick it out for another week and see how it goes."

"Sounds like a plan."

I end up asking him questions about himself since he practically saved my life.

By the time we part ways about twenty minutes later, I know that he is seventeen-years old just like me, starting at my high school later this fall, and that he has a sister. We exchange cell numbers and decide to run together the next morning.

"Just in case I need to keep you from getting hit by a car," Harry jokes.

I roll my eyes, smiling.

The whole way home all I can think about is the way he smiled and how his green eyes seemed to look right into me. And those dimples! How can I forget about the dimples? I have to admit, he is pretty cute. Hopefully, I will see him before tomorrow rolls around.