habits of my heart (h.s.)

seven

"Be honest. Do you think he's cute?"

Natasha hesitated for a second before zooming into the photo. "Um. I mean, if lumberjacks are your type, then yes, he's very cute."

I groaned loudly, gripping my curling iron. "Nooo. Why didn't you tell me that before I agreed to go out with him?"

"I don't know, why didn't you show me him before you agreed to go out with him?"

"Okay, maybe he's a little....gruff. But he was really nice when we were talking," I said. "And he doesn't seem weird, like he's going to kill me or something."

"That's a plus," Natasha deadpanned. "My favorite trait in women is when they're not murderers."

"Okay, you know what, I don't need your sarcasm right now," I rolled my eyes. "I need your support. Like....I might have sex with this guy. Am I making the worst decision of my life?"

"I don't think you can know that until you've met him," she said. "But don't feel like you have to have sex with him if you don't want to."

"I know, but....I've never had a one night stand," I reminded her. "I feel like my time is running up before I have to start getting, you know, serious."

"Okay, first of all, there's nothing wrong with one night stands," Natasha told me. "And second of all, sex is just as casual when you graduate, if not more. Don't think about it like that."

"I don't know," I said, setting down my iron and fluffing out my hair. "I'm nervous. Is that stupid?"

She smiled at me. "Aly, I've been nervous before every date I've had, even if it's not technically a date. That's not stupid at all."

I paused for a minute before saying, "Okay. You're right. I'm ready."

She giggled, nudging me in the arm. "You're so dramatic. Come on, get your stuff, and then you should get going. You don't want to be late."

I followed her out of my room and into the living room, where Harry and Niall were battling each other in some new video game they had just discovered. I was pretty sure the only time they had left the couch the whole day was to use the bathroom--they were seriously addicted.

"You guys are actually children," I commented, leaning over Niall to grab a fry.

"Hey, hey, you're going to eat right now, stop stealing my food," he snapped, but he wasn't making any move to stop me. In fact, he wasn't even looking at me; his eyes were glued directly to the TV.

"You were supposed to keep me from texting him back," I informed him, grabbing another fry. "Well, you've been playing video games all day, so I couldn't stop myself. I texted him back."

"Now he knows you're into him," Niall said. "Big deal."

"That's not what you were saying earlier!" I cried. "You said, and I quote, never text him back! You have to keep him guessing. Well, I don't think he's guessing anymore."

"Could you keep your voice down?" Niall asked. "You're distracting me. Just leave for your date already."

At that, Harry set down his controller and turned around to look at me. "Wait, your date is tonight?"

"Why else do you think I'm dressed up?" I frowned. "You think this is what I wear when I want to play video games with you guys?"

He blinked, looking me up and down quickly. "Huh. Guess I hadn't noticed."

"Well. Now you have."

Harry opened his mouth to respond, but before he had the chance to, Niall jumped up and chucked his controller at him. "I WON! FUCK YES!" He ran over to me and threw his arms around my neck. "Thanks a lot, Aly. He wouldn't have been distracted if you hadn't come in."