Storm [H.S.]

chapter 4

Willow and I walk to the closest dining hall to our apartment which is just a couple of buildings away. It's a beautiful August night and as I look around at the campus, I feel so happy I picked UOC. I almost went to a state college in Georgia because I didn't want to leave my mom but I knew I had to come here when I got the scholarship.

Right now in Georgia, it would be hot and humid. The air here in California is so clear and breathable, even though it can get just as hot.

We head straight to the food when we walk in. The line isn't too long and I eventually grab a salad that looks like it has a ton of veggies in it. I then grab a ranch packet and a water and tell Willow I'm going to get us a table.

I sit down at an empty table and start pouring the ranch all over my salad. God I love ranch. As I'm mixing it up, Willow sits down across from me with three pieces of sausage pizza. She has the biggest smile on her face.

"I'm glad you have an appetite." I look at her amused.

"Nothing can keep me away from pizza." She says with her mouth full. "Do you want a bite?" She holds up the slice to me.

"No thanks I'm actually vegetarian." I tell her.

"Oh really? Nice." She continues to shove pizza into her mouth.

We don't talk much at first while we eat because we're both so hungry. Eventually I slow down and Willow only has a slice left.

"So where are you from? You never told me." I ask her curiously.

"You never asked." She smirks.

"Touché Peterson." I smile.

"I'm from California. I moved around a lot growing up but lived in Santa Barbara since I was 14." She says taking another bite of pizza.

"Wow Santa Barbara. I've always wanted to go there."

"Well then you will!" She exclaims. "My dad still lives there with my brother so you're definitely coming home with me the next time I go back."

"Really?!" I smile. "Thanks Willow I'm so happy we became friends. I've never clicked with someone so fas-" I stop talking when I notice she's looking behind me to the left with a confused expression. Her eyes slowly move back and forth between me and where she was looking behind me.

"What's wrong?" I ask confused.

She looks at me. "I thought you said you didn't know who Harry Styles was."

Huh? "I didn't. Not until you told me about him."

She looks behind me smiling with her perfect teeth. "Then why is he staring at you right now?"

"What?" I blurt out turning around to look in the direction Willow is.

That's when I see him again. Green eyes. He's leaning against the far wall in a group of guys but he's not interacting with them. He's looking at me. Just like last night, I'm caught in his stare. A deer in headlights.

"That's Harry Styles?" I ask Willow breathless without breaking eye contact with him.

"Yep." I can hear the amusement in her voice from just one word. "You know him then?"

No fucking way. Green eyes from last night is my volleyball coach? This can't be happening. A slow smile forms on his lips because he probably knows we're talking about him. I quickly turn back to Willow.

"Oh my god." I breathe.

"What?" Willow asks on the edge of her seat.

"I met him last night at Sam's." I confess to her. "I didn't know he was our coach."